By Aaron Delong
Why Do We Compost?
Managing
fertility is a key component of long-term success in any garden. At Karmê
Chöling, we rely on our compost as a primary source of achieving this goal.
Compost acts as both a slow release fertilizer in our beds, as well as an
organic matter builder in our soil. It also helps to reduce the waste stream
produced by the center.
What Do We Compost?
The
answer is: what have we got? Our compost is primarily composed of kitchen scraps
(excluding meat, dairy, and some cooked foods), garden residues (plant debris),
and cow manure (supplied by the farmer who hays our fields). Kitchen scraps and
fresh plant debris are considered 'green' materials: materials rich in
nitrogen. Older garden residues, such as woodier plant debris, straw and
leaves, are considered 'brown' materials. Brown materials are rich in carbon.
By striking the proper balance between brown materials and greens (about 20:1,
carbon to nitrogen), we can create a compost pile that is both nutrient-rich
and structurally sound. Cow manure is a vital component for us, intrinsically
providing nearly the ideal balance of carbon and nitrogen, as well as being a
good microbial activator in the pile.
Often,
we chop up our compost ingredients before putting them in the pile. Sometimes
we use a machete, sometimes we use a chipper-shredder machine. Chopping up
materials reduces particle size and gives microbes and bacteria more access to
their food source, speeding up the composting process.
How Do We Compost?
We
build our piles in a layering method: a layer of brown materials is followed by
a layer of greens, followed by a layer of manure. The sequence is then
repeated. Our piles, when finished, are about ten feet by five feet by three.
It is important for any pile being made to be sufficiently large enough to
create an internal environment where bacteria and microbes can thrive. Three
feet by three feet by three is considered a minimum requirement for this goal.
At Karmê Chöling, we build bigger, hoping to attain internal temperatures
between 130 and 150 degrees Fahrenheit. This ensures weed seeds will be killed
and any potential diseases will be sterilized. Over 160 F, however, and harmful
bacteria can enter the pile; bacteria that might negatively affect plants were
the compost to be applied to a garden bed.
Turning the Pile
Compost
happens, whether we tend the pile or not, but how fast the process occurs
depends in large part on how much effort we put in to facilitating the decomposition
process. Probably the hardest part of making compost is turning compost, but
this action is critical towards speeding the breakdown of the organic materials
in a pile. Turning introduces oxygen into the pile, allowing the bacteria
inside to breathe and helping to elevate temperature. It also keeps the pile
from turning towards anaerobic respiration in the absence of oxygen, a
development that can slow down decomposition and lead to the buildup of toxic
components in a pile. Often, when a pile 'stinks,’ it stinks of anaerobic
respiration.
To
turn our piles, we simply move the contents with a pitchfork from one place to
another, hopefully nearby! We try and put the parts that were on the outside of
the pile to the inside, and the parts that were on the bottom on top. This
maintains an even rate of decomposition throughout the pile.
Water
In
addition to size, oxygen, and carbon and nitrogen-rich materials, water is a
crucial factor in the composting process. Too little water slows everything down,
too much cuts off oxygen flow. The general guideline is that a compost pile
should have the moisture content of a wrung out sponge. Occasionally, we will
add water to a pile if it seems to dry. Often, we will cover our piles with
cloths or tarps to prevent them from becoming too wet in the rain. We build our
piles on old pallets, as well, to aid with drainage and aeration. Excessive
moisture is one of our principal composting challenges at Karmê Chöling.
The Finished Product
The length of time
it takes to create finished compost depends on time of year, time spent
managing the pile, and quality of materials used. Generally, in peak season, we
manage a finished pile in eight weeks. The original pile can be expected to
diminish to half its original volume during the composting process. The
finished compost itself should be a black, crumbly soil with a slightly greasy
texture, high in organic matter content, holding a good supply of nutrients
that will be gradually released over a long period of time.
We apply finished
compost at a rate of about one wheelbarrow to every eighty square feet, lightly
working the fertilizer into our garden beds with a rake. We can plant
immediately thereafter.
Composting can be
a lot of fun. There is an art to the process, a mixture of chemistry, alchemy,
and common sense that changes with each pile we build. There is also a
satisfaction in taking our 'waste' materials and using them as a foundation for
future growth. In that sense, composting is a metaphor any meditator can relate
with.
