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17
SOME “SURE-FIRE RECIPES” FOR SUPERIOR
COMPOST
There are endless combinations of materials you can use when you compost.
To make it easier for you we have included some common recipes that we have
successfully tested.
Each recipe is described in “parts” so that you can use it in any of the
ComposTumblers. You simply substitute the “parts” for bushels, buckets,
shovelfuls – for whatever your “measuring spoon” is.
Remember, for 14-day Hot Composting you must fill the Original
ComposTumbler at least 2/3 full and the Compact ComposTumbler completely
full. If you do not have enough materials to do that, turn to the section
on “Slower Composting” for instructions, and use these ratios to fill your
ComposTumbler more gradually.
Now relax, choose a recipe and method that is right for you, and enjoy your
composting experience.
THE FINISHED
PRODUCT
Compost is nature’s magic.
There are so many different uses
for compost that you will soon
find there is never enough–even
with 14-day com-post from the
ComposTumbler.
Your finished compost will be
moist, dark in color and have an
earthy, wet-mulch smell. Most
experts agree that finished compost
is generally neutral. If you feel that
you need to sweeten your compost,
you can add some lime to it, but do
this to the finished compost, not the
composting materials.
Using the compost from your
ComposTumbler will enrich the
soil by allowing air, water, and
nutrients to reach the root zone
and encourage deeper rooting,
an important factor in reducing
drought stress and the amount of
water needed to maintain healthy
plants.
But there is another benefit your
ComposTumbler provides:
COMPOST TEA
Compost tea is the liquid that
drains from the ComposTumbler’s
aeration units during the
decomposition process. By placing
a bucket or container under the
aeration and drainage units you
will be able to capture this natural
fertilizer. When diluted 10:1 (10
parts of water to 1 part of compost
tea), it makes an excellent fertilizer
for use on all of your plants.
Recipe #1
(C/N ratio = 34:1)
Fresh grass clippings 12 parts
Sawdust 3 parts
Recipe #2
(C/N ratio = 29.5:1)
Straw 3 parts
Kitchen waste 3 parts
Fresh grass clippings 9 parts
Recipe #3
(C/N ratio = 35:1)
Dead leaves 9 parts
Fresh weeds 3 parts
Dehydrated* cow manure
(store bought) 3 parts
*Be sure it is not “composted” cow
manure
Recipe #4
(C/N ratio = 32.6:1)
Fresh grass clippings 9 parts
Kitchen waste 3 parts
Black & white
newsprint* 3 parts
*See page 7 for information on how to
prepare the newspaper for composting
Recipe #5
(C/N ratio = 33:1)
Fresh horse manure 7 parts
Sawdust 3 parts
Dead leaves 3 parts
Did you notice that when only vegetation was included in the recipe, the fresh
to dead ratio is 4:1? Now you can understand why we use that as a good rule of
thumb.