Classic Gardening

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Excuse me for asking, but composting is one of those things that can drive gardeners mad. Either you love doing it, or you hate it, or you let it get to you. I’ve tried to follow the detailed instructions beloved of more scientific gardeners: a bit of this and a bit of that, not too much of one and just the right amount of the other. And in the end it can become quite a pain because, let’s face it, you have the biodegradable waste you have at any one time, and it either goes in the bin or it sits around making the rest of the garden look untidy
The best advice I found was in The Compost Book, which I picked up in the 10p bargain bin of my local public library.
It told me all I felt able to take on board about composting and – as it has turned out – all I really needed to know to get it reasonably right.
First, it gave me the golden rule: that you needed to balance nitrogen – too much of which makes things go black and slimy – with carbon, too much of which dries things right out and can stop the composting process entirely.
So, what you need is a reasonable mix of general kitchen and garden waste: vegetable peelings, fallen fruit, grass clippings and, if it's looking too runny and you don’t have any autumn leaves to hand, bung in some torn up paper or cardboard to balance things out.

The other key point is whether you are keen on a fast turnaround or are prepared to let nature take it’s time over turning your organic waste into the crumbly brown elixir of plant life.
If you want the former you need aerobic composting, done with oxygen. That, with regular turning of the material, can give you compost in a couple of weeks.
If you are in no rush, and don’t turn your bin, you get anaerobic composting – done without the assistance of oxygen. That can take months, but the results are just as good. I’ve just given a healthy dressing to my borders, following the lazy man’s anaerobic method.
My less than scientific approach is not good enough for everyone, I know. Which is why I’m happy to salute the efforts of Garden Organic the UK’s leading organic growing charity. The picture of the nice lady getting her hands dirty at the top of this post is from them. It has established a somewhat evangelical Master Composter scheme as an innovative way to spread the composting message – and essential composting skills – to gardeners across the land. It’s efforts have been recognised by The Composting Association.

Garden Organic says that anyone can become a Master Composter: even beginners. All it takes is a few hours training and the commitment to spend some time enthusing about compost, encouraging people in your local community to have a go.

Click here for information about the Master Composter Scheme and Garden Organic’s work.





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