Description

The compost is a waste transformation process by a micro-organisms and little animals (bacterias, worms) at humus rich on nutritive elements.

First at all, there’s an aerobic degradation process where temperature can achieve the 70°F, after a maturation process, which pass to a temperature more average (35 à 40°F).

The compost is a fertilizer of excellent quality and entirely natural.

Production of a compost container

The compost could be done meanwhile the available place could allow it (and in the shade at preference), or in the silo, easy to produce itself.

To note: The bigger the waste pile is, more important will be the temperature increase, and therefore the composting will be faster.

The silo is made of 2 tubs (or more) of 1m² each one and should be placed under cover of the sun and the wind.

1. Plant 8 chestnut stakes, cut straight, of 1m50 high approximately, to form the frame of the two silos; it must be at minimum of 1m10 apart from the sun.
2. Screw at top of the boards about 25 cm of large and 27 mm of thickness for the exterior walls and for separation.
3. Leave 1 day from 2 to 3 cm between each wall for allowing the ventilation of the compost pile.
4. Do the doors planting 4 chestnut stakes face to face of the 4 stakes already placed leaving a space of 4 cm approx.
5. Cut up the boards on dimensions that can permit them to glide without effort on the guide created by the 8 stakes.
6. Foresee at the same time, a removable cap, with or without hinges.

Tricks and astuteness: for increase the silo longevity, coat it with linen wood oil.

How does it work?

The compost ventilation is essential. The reversal is then so important.

It’s needed to return the pile of tub n°1 in the tub n°2 with the pitchfork technic. The first reversal will be at the end of 1 month. The next ones can be less frequent pour example: the second on 3 months, the third on 6 months.

The compost must not be dried out overall. If there so, it needs to get wet.

What we put on the compost?

All is on respecting the Carbon / Nitrogen relation (which comes from dark materials – the driest -) / nitrogen (which comes from green materials – the moistiest -).

Always is necessary to cover up the dark materials in order to avoid insects, rodents…

Some examples of green materials: salads, spinach, grass mowed…

Some examples of dark materials: dry leafs, twig, crushed branches, straws…

Some people say to avoid the citrus fruit, onions or the banana peelings, others say you can put everything on the compost. The solution? Try it by yourself, where, for caution measures, you don’t put many acid (worms not going to love that) or the food naturally vermicide like garlic or onion.

Use

The compost is ready after 6 to 9 months. If the silo is full before that, it means it isn’t big enough.

The compost is ripe when it’s blackish and without odor. Then it can be used for the vegetable garden, flower’s garden, the gardeners…

Translated by Estefanie Mendoza

Seen at

Name		Type of facility	Environment	Country	Swap?
	Rancho Margot	Activities, Community based tourism, Hotels & guest houses, Restaurants & Co	rural, montagne	Costa Rica	Yes
	A Little Eco Lodge		rural	Myanmar	No
	A Little Eco Lodge		rural	Myanmar	No
	Favela Experience - Vidigal	Activities, Community based tourism, Funds and other organisations, Hostels, Hotels & guest houses	urbain, zone-chaude	Brazil	Yes
	Trece Lunas Hostel	Hostels, Hotels & guest houses	rural, urbain, zone-temperee	Chile	Yes
	Rio Muchacho Ferme Biologique & Ecolodge	Activities, Campings, Hostels, Hotels & guest houses, Restaurants & Co	rural, zone-chaude	Ecuador	Yes

Learn more

For going further:

• ConsoGlobe, really well done and very detailed. (this place isn’t sponsored)
• compostage.info (this place isn’t sponsored)