Delos Plac — home composting | delosplac.com
The ordered procedure for a first pile: shredding, layering, watering to the right moisture and the first turning schedule.
Step 1 — shred. Break the plant matter down before it goes on the pile: stalks, woody prunings, coarse leaves. Shredding the plant matter is one of the aids that shortens decomposition, alongside adding water and ensuring proper aeration by regularly turning the mixture.
Step 2 — layer. Alternate brown layers with green layers, starting and finishing with browns so the stack has structure at both faces. Each brown layer should be deep enough to leave air gaps; each green layer should be thinner, since nitrogen-rich material drives the reaction.
Step 3 — water. Add water as you build so the whole stack feels like a wrung-out sponge. The air/water balance is critical to maintaining high temperatures of 130-160 F (54-71 C) until the materials are broken down.
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Step 4 — let it rise. Aerobic bacteria and fungi manage the chemical process by converting the inputs into heat, carbon dioxide and ammonium ions. Expect the core to enter the working band within days of a correctly built stack.
Step 5 — turn. During the hot phase, turn the heap every 4-7 days to restore oxygen. Turning also moves cooler outer material into the core so the whole volume gets treated; after a turn the core should reheat within a few days.
Step 6 — read and correct. If the core stays cool, add greens and check moisture. If the heap is sodden, add browns and turn. Fungi, earthworms and other detritivores take over as the hot phase winds down, and the materials break down into humus in a process taking months.
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