The Pet Poo Pocket Guide by Rose Seemann

Author:Rose Seemann [Seemann, Rose]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781550925883
Publisher: New Society Publishers

Composting

Start up: easy or moderate, depending on complexity of enclosure

Learning curve: moderate

Maintenance: easy, moderate or demanding, depending on ambition and dedication

Needs: Carbon (“brown”) waste source; access to private property; end use for finished soil enhancements; digging/turning tools

Helpful: moderate physical strength; enclosure; tumbler

Advantages: easiest if dogs do business in yard; odorless if done correctly; fragrance “high”; emits carbon dioxide — a greenhouse gas much less potent than methane

Disadvantages: process stops outdoors below 40°F (4°C); potential scavenger attraction

End products: finished compost for nonedible plants; good eco vibes (upcycling D/CW plus using compost reduces water waste and improves soil structure)

Composting is the perfect technique for cheap, chronic slackers who nonetheless (love the word) enjoy getting physically involved with the sight, feel and smell of what they are doing. That might describe dogs … or people like me. Composting trundles along with you or without you. You can space it out for months without guilt and then get the process humming along again.

You don’t need a lot of money to compost. In fact, our frugal forebears perfected the practice as a way to avoid the cost and effort of moving waste while generating a freebie crop booster. Composting is very forgiving. If you goof up, you can get back on track fast. When the compost heap freezes, it will perk back into action as temperatures rise. You can speed it up or slow it down. Thermophilic hotshot microbes and their mesophilic friends do all the work with little effort on your part.

I suspect I might be hooked on the delicious scents of diverse microorganisms that live in compost pile and, in fact, all good dirt. These critters release fumes that boost levels of serotonin and norepinephrine like a mind-altering drug. Scientists call it “geosmin,” the same chemical feast that gives vegetables that grow underground their succulent earthy taste. It’s hard to turn compost on a warm day without feeling happy.

Composting is not rocket science. But composting that involves D/CW should not be approached in the same frivolous way as composting food scraps or yard waste. We will discuss the differences later. For now, here’s a quick overview of the process.

•Casual composters simply throw what’s handy into the heap.

•Start with a balance of “green” nitrogen-rich materials (grass clippings, fruit and veggie peels, coffee grounds) and carbon-rich “browns” (autumn leaves, paper, straw or sawdust). Organisms that decompose organic matter use carbon (C) as a source of energy and nitrogen (N) for building cell structure, while the dry carbon material bulks up the “green” and keeps air flowing.

•A nice C/N ratio for food scraps is 3/C to 1/N. For raw manure (N), a good ratio is around 30/C to 1/N.

•Never use pressure-treated/composite chips or sawdust, which contain arsenic and chromium. Do not add grass clippings or weeds that have been treated with insecticides or herbicides. Keep seeding weeds out of the mix.

•Rough up the soil that will be a base for your compost pile. This will help open the door for microorganisms in the soil, so they can move on up and help with degradation.

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