The Principles of Composting

Recycling and Repurposing for Our Future

           There’s a reason why composting has become such a staple in the local farming community. It’s an incredible way to recycle organic matter, reducing waste that could end up in our landfills. But there’s a lot more to it than putting stuff into a pile. 

What is Composting? 

           Composting is a process where yard trimmings, kitchen waste, and other raw materials are combined and broken down to create a new organic matter. This soil-like material has been nicknamed “black gold” because of what it can do for your garden and lawn. Just to name a few, it can act as fertilizer, and natural pest control, and can improve the water-holding capacity of your soil. You are taking what was deemed garbage and destined for the landfill and repurposing it into something amazing.

The Science Behind the Composting Process

          The composting process requires a few things to be able to work properly. Because decomposition won’t be fully successful without these essentials.  

1. Carbon 

2. Nitrogen 

3. Moisture

4. Oxygen

5. Microorganisms 

 This is for a basic compost pile, so if you don’t have all of these elements available, that’s ok too. There’s more than one way to compost, but the science is the same no matter what form you choose to use, so it’s good to know how it works.

Materials Needed for Composting

           The items in your pile will be considered either brown or green materials. Carbon is a brown material. Carbon-rich items are essential because they supply energy to the microorganisms as they break down the raw matter. Brown items are typically wood-based, such as dry leaves, branches, stems, sawdust, tree bark, pine needles, and newspaper. 

 Nitrogen is the green material. Nitrogen-based items provide amino acids and proteins needed for the bacteria and fungi to do their job. Green items are food scraps, coffee grounds, grass clippings, and green leaves. A pretty good rule of thumb is to include ⅔ Carbon and ⅓ Nitrogen materials in your pile, but at most ½ of each. 

           In the presence of moisture and oxygen, microorganisms such as bacteria, bugs, worms, and fungi help decompose the biodegradable materials into a humus.

           The composting process can take between a few months to 2-3 years to break down, although your compost pile can be ready in just 2-4 months, as long as it’s well managed. There are 3 stages of decomposition your pile will work through. 

STAGE 1: Initial Organic Decomposition

            In this first stage, mesophilic organisms (which live in temperatures between 68-113 degrees Fahrenheit) begin to break down the materials into smaller pieces. This stage is relatively short, only taking a couple of days as the core temperature of the pile begins to increase. 

STAGE 2: Complex Organic Breakdown 

            When the temperatures are too warm for mesophiles, the second stage starts as the thermophilic microorganisms (thriving in temperatures 113-252 degrees Fahrenheit) begin to take over. These temperatures let the thermophiles break down proteins, complex carbohydrates, and fats into particles. This stage can take days or months depending on conditions within the compost pile. 

STAGE 3: Final Break Down 

            As the thermophilic microorganisms use up those materials, temperatures begin to drop allowing the mesophiles to regain control of the decomposition process. In this final stage, the organic matter is broken down into usable compost. 

“Black Gold”: The Final Product

           When all of the waste is broken down and the compost is ready to use, the internal temperature of the pile will drop noticeably. The finished product will be very dark, and look like rich soil with a very earthy smell. It’s ready to use, so spread it on your garden and lawn liberally, and watch how it transforms the quality of your flowers, grass, produce, and soil. 

Sustainability: More Valuable Than Gold

            Now that you understand the fundamentals of the composting process hopefully your interest is piqued. If you need more information check out our other composting blogs! At Four Roots we see the importance of environmental efforts and sustainable farming practices. Through education and opportunity, we can help others gain the knowledge necessary to bring the earth's bounty to its full potential. Because believe it or not, your trash can be turned into treasure.