How to Speed Up the Compost Bin
You want compost because you know its good for your garden---but it takes so long to make, you feel you'll never get that good dirt other gardeners boast of creating. Composting requires the breakdown of organic material, and short of a fairy godmother to help you out, there really is no getting around the fact that it takes time to produce. However, there are things you can do to speed up the process. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Cut up everything you put in the compost bin as small as possible. According to Compost-Info-Guide "If there is one secret to making fast compost, it is finely shredding the carbon-rich ingredients such as fallen leaves, hay, straw, paper and cardboard. Shredding increases the surface area that the compost microbes have to work on and provides a more even distribution of air and moisture among the materials."
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Use the right mix of brown and green materials in layers. Robert D. Raabe, professor of plant pathology at the University of California, Berkely, created what is commonly called the Berkeley method or "fast composting." The Berkeley method calls for composting material with a carbon to nitrogen ratio of 30 to 1.
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Do not over-water the compost pile. It should be moist, but not wet---too much water inhibits decomposition and produces a slimy, stinky mess.
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Make a big enough pile or use a bin---larger compost heaps get warmer, as do enclosed bins, and heat is important to rapid decomposition. A 3-foot cube is the recommended minimum for reaching an ideal core temperature between 140 and 160 degrees F.
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Use a garden fork or shovel to turn the compost regularly---especially if it seems hot. Heat is great for decomposition, but too much will kill the beneficial microorganisms that do the work of turning organic waste into garden "gold." You must move the center material out to the edges and move the edges in to maintain an even temperature throughout.
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Never add anything to the compost pile once it has begun composting. According to Raabe, "it takes a certain length of time for the material to break down and anything added has to start at the beginning, thus lengthening the decomposition time for the whole pile."
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Choose a location that is protected from wind and rain. Wind can dry out your compost pile and rain will make it too wet to work effectively, so keep it covered.
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Tips & Warnings
Using black paint or plastic on your bin will warm a cool compost pile. If your compost pile must be located where too much sun is a problem, paint the bin a light color to reflect heat, and turn it more often.
