Or how I leant my compost was a little too - ahem - moist.
Ever since we started our composting regime, I've been getting excited about it. After the first couple of weeks, it stopped being a chore and just became the way we do things around here.
"Chuck it in the compost!" "Mum, can this go in the compost?!"
"Ooh, did you know that can go in the compost?"
Yes, it has become so normal, the kids have stopped seeking praise for remembering to throw the fruit scraps in. But last month, things got a little out of control.
Did you know that in Australia, we generated a whopping 7.3 million tonnes of food waste in just one year? And a massive 60% of that ended up in landfill. That means food waste is the largest category of waste going to landfill in Australia!
Now, here's the kicker - food waste in landfill produces methane, which is a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. But, there's a simple solution - composting! If we start composting our food waste instead of sending it to landfill, we could reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create a valuable resource for our gardens and farms. See more at the end of the post.
Ok, so tbh I noticed the maggots first when I emptied my lovely compost bin into the large tubs I keep in the back corner of the garden. I noticed and didn't really think much of it until lord of the flies showed up in the family room. The buzzing alerted me first, they were slow and lazy and grouped up behind the kitchen blind where a tear in the flywire was about to become my worst nightmare. I am talking loads. Maybe 50. Gross. Took a day or so to rid myself of them all and I did resort to vigorous tea towel snapping (a great Australian sport) and non-environmentally friendly methods to get the last few buggers. Blech.
Tip #1 - No need to add water
What caused such a calamity? My compost was getting too moist. At the height of summer I'd actually been adding a little water to each bowl of kitchen scraps before I added the compost to the outside tubs and I guess it was so hot (and I was layering with paper and dead leaves) that it didn't matter so much.
As I got busy with work and kid school stuff, I'd gotten a little lazy with hunting around for brown matter to keep the compost layered - even though I knew (at the time) that I should be mixing up the kitchen waste with at least 50/50 green and brown matter. I've since learned you need more like a 3:1, rather than a 50/50 arrangement for the right carbon to nitrogen balance.
Tip #2 - Don't forget the brown matter
There are three basic ingredients to good compost - carbon, nitrogen and oxygen. Carbon comes from the 'brown' matter -
Dried leaves
Straw
Hay
Wood chips
Sawdust
Shredded paper
Cardboard
Eggshells
Twigs
Nitrogen comes from the 'green' matter:
Vegetable scraps
Fruit scraps
Grass clippings
Coffee grounds
Tea leaves
Manure
Seaweed
Fresh leaves
Plant trimmings
And the oxygen component comes from keeping it aerated enough - as it's needed by the microorganisms that break down the organic matter. Adequate oxygen in your compost pile can help speed up the decomposition process and produce a high-quality compost. Which is definitely my aim - give me some of that high-quality goodness.
Layering up your brown and green matter creates the air pockets you need. That isn't enough though, you also need to turn the pile regularly (which is why big fancy composters are those roller bins styles). I elegantly role my composting tubs around the backyard to aerate them every second or third time I go out to empty the countertop compost bin into them.
Now I'm keeping a bag of scraps of paper that have materialised from anywhere - old receipts, mail, toilet rolls etc near the compost bin on the counter to remind me to layer up!
Tip #3 - Apparently flies are good
Well, I just had one thought during my infestation - get rid of them! But I've been doing a bit more reading and flies can actually be great in your compost.
They help break down organic matter by laying eggs, which hatch into larvae (maggots) that feed on the decaying material (joyous). The maggots speed up the decomposition process by consuming and breaking down the organic matter, making it easier for the microorganisms in the compost pile to do their job.
However, having too many flies in your compost can also be a problem - they can attract other pests, and some types of flies can carry harmful bacteria, such as E. coli and salmonella, which can be a health hazard if the compost is used on edible plants.
To avoid, see above and keep your compost pile covered with brown matter which can help deter flies and other pests. Whilst flies may be helpful, I never want to come into my kitchen & family room to that scene again and I will be doing my best to keep the brown matter content high (ok, also I should patch up that flyscreen).
Facts me
Composting is an easy and natural process that breaks down organic waste into a nutrient-rich soil addition. The benefits of composting are numerous:
Reducing waste: This is the big one - composting helps keep organic waste out of landfills, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and decreases the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.
Enriching soil: Compost is full of nutrients and organic matter that help improve soil health and fertility, leading to healthier plants, increased crop yields, and better water retention. Also, I don't care who you are, your first batch of 'done' compost is pretty exciting - I made soil!
Reducing the need for chemical fertilizers: Compost contains essential plant nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which can reduce the need for chemical fertilizers that can harm the environment.
Suppressing plant diseases and pests: Compost contains beneficial microorganisms that can help suppress plant diseases and pests, reducing the need for harmful pesticides and herbicides (ignoring the beneficial fly plague!).
Saving money: Composting can help save money by reducing the need for fertilizers, pesticides, and water.
Reducing erosion: Compost helps prevent soil erosion by improving soil structure and increasing water retention. (If you actually had a big garden)
Improving air quality: Composting helps reduce the amount of organic waste that is burned or sent to landfills, which can contribute to air pollution.
Overall, composting is an eco-friendly practice that can benefit the environment, economy, and our gardens. It's easy to get started and can make a big difference in reducing waste and improving soil health.
How big a difference does composting make?
According to Australia's National Food Waste Strategy, diverting organic waste from landfill could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 2.7 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year (estimate includes both food waste and garden waste).
The 2.7m tCO2e is equivalent to taking around 600,000 cars off the road for a year. This assumes that organic waste is diverted to composting or other methods such as anaerobic digestion or mulching, which can all produce valuable soil amendments and reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to landfilling. Pretty cool huh. Just watch the flies!
Stuff I didn't know you could compost, but now do
While most people know that food scraps, coffee grounds, garden waste and newspaper can be composted, there are some surprising things that you might not have realised are also compostable! Here are some unusual things that you can compost:
Loads of cardboard and paper products: great sources of brown matter, don't forget the old bog roll, egg cartons, paper towel and shredded paper (secure confidential document disposal!).
Hair and nail clippings: I mean gross, but you can and it beats them clogging up the bathroom sink (I mean bin....) Human, pet hair and nail clippings are compostable (counts as nitrogen = the green stuff).
Cotton and wool clothing: I learnt this in my month on fashion. Natural fibers (no synthetics! avoid them anyway) like cotton, silk and wool can be composted, but have to be cut up into small pieces first.
Wine corks: My wine doesn't have corks anymore. But just in case, these are good for composting. I guess you could break up your old Ikea corkboard too and chuck that in.
Dryer lint: Again, I don't do dryers because we live in WA and its against my upbringing 😉. Dryer lint is made up of tiny fibers from your clothes, and can be composted as long as the clothes are made from natural fibers like cotton or wool. Which I guess you would have to separate out (or just not buy!!) synthetics.
Old herbs and spices: When I discovered this one, I was like yes, that is me. At last, a place for all the smoked paprika which seems to have accumulated in the cupboard. Apparently they'll add some extra flavor and aroma to your compost😂.
Packaging: No hard and fast rule, but I am absolutely loving how much packaging is now compostable. Read the label and shred / tear it up before adding. Yay to all the cafes who now have compostable lids not just cups for takeaway coffee on the odd occasion I forget my keep cup.
Happy composting!
Kommentit