compostinginstructor

Compost Starter. Do you really need it?

So much like compost activator, compost starter is a great thing to have in your corner to speed up the compost process. It is not required for having that perfect compost when all is said and done – compost can still be produced without it. The fact remains though that it can be quite helpful.

Compost starter is typically a natural biological activator that really gets the compost going, and aids in the decomposition process. As a result, you can get to that sweet black gold in no time! Since it is all natural, it is 100 percent safe for the environment, and in some cases a little 4 ounce bottle can be used for up to 1,000 pounds of compost – so you can use it with ease.

If you are looking to speed up the decomposition process right from the get-go, then compost starter is where it’s at.

Composting How To: A collection of composting books

Photo available on Flickr.com courtesy of This is Green.

If you are curious about composting, there are a wide variety of books available to help you with your composting needs. Many of these books can serve as a comprehensive guide to compost, or can add to your collection of gardening books at home. Certain books such as Let it Rot! The Gardener’s Guide to Composting are quick and easy reads to really help you with your compost information. This book in particular is an in-depth 160-page analysis of composting, complete with detailed illustrations for those of you who are visual learners.

Here is a great collection of composting books:

Let it Rot! The Gardener’s Guide to Composting
Basic Composting – All the skills and tools you need to get started
Compost
Mike McGrath’s Book of Compost
The Complete Compost Gardening Guide
Easy Composters You Can Build
Home Composting Made EasyThese books can really help enrich your knowledge of composting. Combine these print resources with electronic resources on the web (ah-la this website), and you are well on your way to becoming a master composter in no time!

Make a Compost Bin

Photo found on Flickr.com courtesy of Collin J.

Making a compost bin is easy – you just have to make sure that it is where rodents can’t get at it, and that it is in a location conveniently placed to where you can get at it frequently if need be. There are many different styles of compost bins you can build, including the following:

Garbage Can Bin
Concrete Block Bin
Wire Composting Bin
Three Bin Compost SystemPhoto found on Flickr.com courtesy of Ashen Jaffer.There are a wide variety of books such as Basic Composting – All the Skills and Tools You Need to Get Started, and Easy Composters You Can Build that are excellent resources of information, and have entire chapters dedicated to the how-to’s of building compost bins, compost sifters, and other compost accessories.
There are also some great resources on the web. For example, the University of Missouri has this online guide dedicated to building different styles of compost bins available for your use.

Additional Resources:

The University of Kentucky offers this great guide to building a compost bin. The University of Minnesota has this guide available in reference to different structures of compost bins. This is also an excellent resource. And finally, let’s not forget this comprehensive how-to guide available from the Environmental Defense Fund.

The resources are out there, and we’ve managed to do some of the legwork for you! Now all that stands between you and building that perfect compost bin in your backyard is a quick trip to the hardware store to pick up a few supplies!