The Taste of Compost: Made Nutritious with Microorganisms

    Compost is essential to gardening, and it is the easiest way to stay away from harmful chemical fertilizers. It provides plants with nutrients by retaining moisture and suppressing plant diseases and pests. It strengthens our soil and attracts microorganisms. Soil microorganisms are broadly defined as microscopic life forms that include bacteria, archaea, viruses, and eukaryotes like fungi. Why are microorganisms important? Think of it this way, humans take probiotics to fight diseases and keep us alive and functioning.

    In the same way, soil microorganisms are needed to break down matter (such as dead animals and plants), improve soil structure by propping up nitrogen fixation, and promote overall detoxification. Learn more about nitrogen fixation in our “A Love Letter to Green Beans from Nitrogen Deprived Soil” installment. We have two places in our garden to create compost: the wired bins and the rotating bins. After adding compost material to our bins we rotate them frequently to keep them fresh. In the wired bins, we stir to keep the compost fresh. We take donations (that can be dropped off in the white bin near our rotating bins) and place them in our compost bins. The four main ingredients to compost are nitrogen, carbon, water, and air. North Castle’s recipe for compost deciphers these 4 categories: 

    Nitrogen - Green materials such as grass clippings, fresh leaves and twigs, vegetable and fruit trimmings, coffee grounds and filters, and non-meat eating animal manure. Almost any organic material with moisture or ‘life’ still in it is considered a green material.

    Carbon - Brown materials that have released their nitrogen are usually dry and brittle. Dry leaves and grasses, straw, wood chips, corn stalks, shredded newspapers, paper towels, napkins, and cardboard are good carbon-rich examples.

    Water - Adding water to the pile will balance the correct moisture level. The proper moisture should be about the same as a damp wrung-out sponge. Few drops should fall when the material is squeezed in your hand.

    Air - Oxygen is very important to the organisms working in a pile to break down the organic material. Bacte- ria, fungi, microorganisms, and insects need oxygen to breathe and air space to move throughout the pile.

    Remember, patience is key! Drop of your compost donations here: 6426 Merle Hay Rd, Johnston, IA 50131