Why I'll Never Compost Again
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Composting, as we all know is quite possibly one of the best things that we can do to increase fertility in our garden. Composting's benefit to the environment are unquestionably a superior way for dealing with organic waste than allowing it to rot away in a landfill.
But the fact remains that only a very few of us ever bother to do it. There are a number of detractions but at the top of the list there are three main reasons that share a commonality among those that I have surveyed. It is unsightly, it is odoriferous and it takes too much time.
The traditional method has been to build a three sided framework with cinder blocks or wood that will help keep organic wastes in place. The open front allows for easy access for adding additional material and turning the pile. It is relatively inexpensive and has served well over the years but unless you have a barn or shed to hide it behind, it does nothing for your property's aesthetics. In recent years there have been a variety of plastic bins and barrels that have come on the market that are considerably more visually appealing than a pile but they are far from inexpensive. Unless you are able to purchase one locally the cost of shipping can be exorbitant!
The smell of a pile gone bad is not something that any of us would say is pleasant. For the process to work correctly there must be a proper ratio of carbon to nitrogen based inputs, adequate moisture levels must be maintained and the pile needs to be turned often to ensure it doesn't turn anaerobic and start to stink. While a pile that is maintained correctly should not stink up a neighborhood, the fact remains that very few piles are maintained correctly. What results is a big stinky mess that is likely to annoy your spouse and the neighbors.
Time is also a consideration. It takes months for a pile to sufficiently breakdown to a form that is ready for amending your garden. During this process there must be at least one additional pile or plastic barrel, because it will never be ready if you are constantly adding raw organic material.
All these factors do nothing to help advance the cause nor do they help encourage newcomers to become involved. This has been a quandary for me for years. How can you promote composting when there are so many factors that are a turn off the general public?
The biggest problem with traditional methods is getting the correct carbon to nitrogen ratio. It is difficult to understand and comply with.
Rarely do we generate waste in the needed ratios so that they can be mixed and added to the pile. So what do you do with all those kitchen scraps in the meanwhile? You can easily see how the temptation to throw it all on the pile sabotages the process.
What if you did not have to worry about how much leaves or grass clippings you needed to mix with kitchen scraps?
As long as we are fantasizing, what if you could just use your kitchen scraps and did not have to worry about adding anything else? What if you did not need to build a structure or have to buy an expensive tumbler? What if there was no smell? What if it only took a few weeks for it all to break down so it could be added to your garden? What if we could use all the stuff we could not otherwise use? Things like meat scraps, citrus peels and oils or grease? What if we woke up and found out that it was not a fantasy?
Well, it is a reality!
What might come as a surprise to you is that this is nothing new. It has been around for long, long time! But why haven't I heard of it, you ask? The answer is simple, the profit motive! Since this process is naturally occurring it can not be patented, there is no incentive for a corporate conglomerate to advertise it or promote it.
Well I am not going to leave you hanging; I will give you a link to the place where you can get it for yourself. But first I will remind you that this information is not going to do you any good unless you put it into practice. All I ask from you is a commitment to do this for yourself and use it for your own garden, flower beds or lawn first. Then after you see how effective and cheap it is to make your own quality compost from the waste you would normally throw away I want you to share it with all your gardening buddies. Just think how much of an impact this will have on not just your garden but on our environment as the word spreads by word of mouth. Are you ready? Simply follow the link listed below. |
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Author Resource:-
For information about The Only Way I Will Ever Compost Again!
Greg Traver is a syndicated columnist and an outspoken advocate for sustainability issues. He publishes two websites including a top ranked Organic Gardening Blog. Visit GregTraver.com for more information.
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By :
Greg Traver
Submitted
2011-10-04 16:55:09 |
Article From Article Mayhem
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