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OSU Extension Master Gardener Program

Composting. When things aren’t working. OSU Extension Master Gardener Program. Presented by Teri S. Holmes. KEYS TO COMPOSTING. Moisture Aeration Microorganisms Volume—3ft x 3ft Surface Area Carbon/Nitrogen Ratio—”brown” stuff and “green” stuff—25:1 is ideal. Acceptable materials

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OSU Extension Master Gardener Program

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  1. Composting When things aren’t working OSU Extension Master Gardener Program Presented by Teri S. Holmes Ask a Master Gardener

  2. KEYS TO COMPOSTING • Moisture • Aeration • Microorganisms • Volume—3ft x 3ft • Surface Area • Carbon/Nitrogen Ratio—”brown” stuff and “green” stuff—25:1 is ideal Ask a Master Gardener

  3. Acceptable materials Clean paper Coffee and tea grounds and filters Dryer and vacuum cleaner lint Eggshells Fruits and vegetables Grass clippings Hay and straw Houseplants Leaves Nut shells Sawdust Shredded newspaper Wood chips Unacceptable materials Dairy Products Fats, grease, lards or oils Meats, fish bones, or scraps Pet wastes (dog and cat primarily) Diseased, insect-ridden plants Black walnut leaves or twigs Coal or charcoal ash COMPOST MATERIALS Ask a Master Gardener

  4. Diagnosing Failure to Thrive • Pile doesn’t seem to be decomposing: • Is the pile dry? • Add water until sponge wet • Has the pile “compacted”? • Aerate pile • Is the pile too wet? • Add dry carbon material • Do you have sufficient “mass”? • Add more compostibles to the pile. Ask a Master Gardener

  5. Diagnosing Failure to Thrive • Pile doesn’t seem to be decomposing: • Is the pile in contact with soil? • Remove any barriers between soil and pile/bin. • Are materials chopped/shredded? • Shred/tear/smash/chop materials into smaller pieces to create more surface area. • Is the pile exposed to the elements? • Do not seal pile off from weather elements (e.g. cover and seal with black plastic). Ask a Master Gardener

  6. Diagnosing Failure to Thrive • My pile STINKS!!! • Is the pile too wet? • Add dry material • Is the pile compacted? • Aerate • Have you added meats, fats, or oils? • Remove IMMEDIATELY! Consider disposing of all material and starting over. Ask a Master Gardener

  7. Other Issues • Help!! I think animals are living in my pile! • Don’t make your pile attractive to wildlife: • NO meats, fats, or oils. • Cover/bury spoiled, overripe fruits and vegetables in the pile. • Utilize a bin instead of just piling on the ground. Ask a Master Gardener

  8. Other Issues • I can’t keep my dog out of the compost!! • No meats, fats or oils. • Use a bin with a lid • Bury all overripe fruits and vegetables • Warning: Onions are toxic to canines. • Causes a form of hemolytic anemia. • Consider fencing off the area. Ask a Master Gardener

  9. RESOURCES Composting • Leaf Composting, Recycling Yard Waste: “Don’t Bag It”, OSU Extension Service brochure L-252 http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-2865/L-252.pdf • Backyard Composting in Oklahoma. OSU Extension Service Fact Sheet, F-1744 • Composting, USEPA. http://www.epa.gov/wastes/conserve/rrr/composting/index.htm • Keeping Organics out of Landfills. USCC. www.compostingcouncil.org Vermicomposting • Vermicomposting. USEPA. http://www.epa.gov/wastes/conserve/rrr/composting/vermi.htm • Vermicomposting—Composting with Worms. OSU Extension Fact sheet, BAE-1742. • California Integrated Waste Management. Vermicomposting. http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Organics/Worms/WormFact.htm#02 Ask a Master Gardener

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