Backyard compost-making

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="02c285a1erlcgo.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>FARMING SUCCESS</B></FONT><B>     |    </B><B> </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="FARMING SUCCESS"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="approach9f.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Approach followed"><U>Approach</U></A><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFF99" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="first_gardens.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MUCPP food gardens"><U>First-gardens</U></A><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFF99" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="order_form9d.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Order form"><U>Order form</U></A><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFF99" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT><A HREF="site.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Choosing a site for your garden"><U>Site</U></A><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFF99" FACE="Symbol" >   ·   </FONT>Compost</div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>  </I></div> <div> <I><B>Backyard compost-making</B></I></div> <div> <IMG SRC="3e2580a0.jpg" border=0 width="600" height="10" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="703" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 142 WIDTH="346"><div> Making your own compost in your backyard by using garden and household waste, is one of the best things any gardener can do. Backyard composting is a very basic process.  You can simply toss grass clippings, leaves and kitchen waste on a heap and let nature do the rest in its own good time. </div> <div> Compost (sometimes called “black gold”) uses nature's own recycling system.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="346"><div> Up to half of the garbage we throw away each day can be turned into compost.  </div> <div> Watch how leaves that fall off during Autumn, quickly turn into fine humus if left there to rot.</div> <div> Backyard composting will reduce the amount of waste you create in your yard and kitchen by converting it into a useable soil amendment.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 BGCOLOR=#FFCC80 HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="695"><div> <B>Ingredients for a compost pile</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 35 WIDTH="695"><div> Like any recipe, you'll get the best results if you use the right mix of <B>ingredients</B> to make your compost pile.   The key materials are:</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 309 WIDTH="346"><div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Nitrogen-rich "greens".</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="6d92cc80.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Greens provide <B>nitrogen</B>, and act as a source of <B>protein</B> for the micro-organisms that work in your compost pile.  These micro-organisms are very tiny little animals that can hardly be seen.  You can watch how they work under the lens of a microscope.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="346"><div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Carbon-rich "browns".</B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="6d82ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Browns are a source of <B>carbon</B>, and provide <B>energy</B> for the micro-organisms in your compost pile.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 296 WIDTH="346"><div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Water</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="6db4ccd0.gif" border=0 width="332" height="205" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Water</B> allows the <B>micro-organisms</B> in your compost pile to <B>grow</B> and travel in the pile to decompose the material.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="346"><div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Air</B></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="6e31ceb0.jpg" border=0 width="284" height="235" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Turning your pile each week with a garden fork will provide <B>air</B> to help decomposition and control odours. </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 229 ><NOBR><div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="6e82cde0.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="222" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="346"><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Green matter gives <B>nitrogen </B>to the compost pile.  </div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The <B>green</B> matter should consist of a mixture of bonemeal, coffee grounds, eggshells, feathers, flowers, fresh grass clippings, fruit and fruit peels, manure, tea leaves, vegetables and vegetable peelings and weeds that have not yet gone to seed</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 107 WIDTH="346"><div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Eggshells</B> are a good source of calcium and are an excellent food source for earthworms. </div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Banana skins</B> decompose rapidly and are loaded with plant nutrients.  It will also help to speed up decomposition. </div> <bR> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="346"><div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Feathers</B> are very high in nitrogen. </div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Toadstools</B> will decompose very quickly and is an excellent source of many minerals.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 214 WIDTH="346"><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Brown matter are high in <B>carbon.</B>  </div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The <B>brown</B> matter should consist of woody materials, such as shredded coffee filters, corn cobs, corn stalks, dry grass clippings, dry leaves, hay, peat moss, pine needles, sawdust, shredded newspaper, straw, tea bags, twigs, wood chips and wood ash.  Wood ash is a good plant food and can be sprinkled occasionally onto the compost pile and only in small quantities.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="6ea2ccf0.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="207" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 213 ><NOBR><div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="6ec2cce0.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="206" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="346"><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The following materials should <I>not </I>be added to a compost heap: </div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">toilet waste, pet waste (or dung), diseased animal carcasses, meat scraps, fish, dairy products, fats or oils; glossy paper such as magazines; insect infested or diseased plants, and weeds with mature seeds. </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 199 ><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="6ee2cc10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="193" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="346"><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Materials such as metals, iron, glass and plastic are <U>not</U> organic matter. They do not decompose in the ground and should therefore <I>not </I>be placed in a compost hole or pile. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Do not use glossy or coloured paper as it contains chemicals.  </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Annual weeds may be added to the compost pile, but not if they have already made seeds.  </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Perennial weeds should be destroyed and NOT added to the compost pile.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 35 WIDTH="695"><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Fresh manure will activate the pile and cause it to decompose more quickly. <U>But</U>: Never use dog or cat manure because it may carry disease organisms.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 184 WIDTH="695"><div> <IMG SRC="6f4beb80.gif" border=0 width="190" height="184" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Use a few glass jars or the bottom part of a few 2 litre plastic cooldrink bottles. Put one piece of the following separately in each of the bottles: some vegetable peelings, an apple core, a scrap of newspaper, a leaf and a piece of plastic. Also try it with a banana skin. Put the samples to the side of the jar so that you can see it. Fill the jars with ordinary soil. The soil must cover the samples. Water every day just to keep the soil moist. Don't let it dry out.  Watch what happens in each jar. </div> <div>      Let the children note which of the samples changed faster than the others. </div> <div>      Which of the samples disappeared completely? </div> <div>      And what happened to the piece of plastic?</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 290 WIDTH="695"><div> <IMG SRC="6f57a1c0.gif" border=0 width="378" height="284" ALT="Presentations 12 Drawing" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 BGCOLOR=#FFCC80 HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="695"><div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Building a compost system</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 295 WIDTH="346"><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Now that you know what the ingredients for a compost pile are, you can start to implement your knowledge and start building your own compost system.  </div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Although you can start making compost right through the year, a very good time to start with a compost garden is during Autumn when lots of leaves and other dry material are available. </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="346"><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A compost pile has the following basic <B>needs</B> to be effective: </div> <bR> <div> <B>Food:</B>   </div> <div> Carbon and Nitrogen (or browns and greens)</div> <bR> <div> <B>Water:</B>  </div> <div> It must always be moist</div> <bR> <div> <B>Air:</B>        </div> <div> Oxygen</div> <bR> <div> <B>Volume:</B>      </div> <div> About 1 m long × 1 m wide × 1 m high</div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Particle</B> <B>size:</B>     </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Less than 5-7 cm </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="695"><div> You can make compost by using the “cold” or “hot” method:</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="346"><div> <B>Cold composting:</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="346"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="346" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 283 WIDTH="346"><div> Cold composting is slow but it's easy. To make compost by using the “<B>cold</B>” method, you just add to the pile whatever materials you have available.  Small households may gather organic matter too slowly to build a compost pile all at once and the cold method will then be best for them. </div> <div> Almost anything that once lived can be added to the pile.  But remember the list of things that must <I>not </I>go into the pile.</div> <div> Cover the pile with a thin layer of soil because the decomposting work will be done by the thousands of micro-organisms that live naturally in the soil.</div> <div> You need not turn the cold compost pile at all, but the decomposition process will take longer. A cold compost pile will take about six months to a year to be ready for use.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><bR> <div> <IMG SRC="6f92ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="346"><div> <B>Hot composting:</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="346"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="346" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 302 WIDTH="346"><div> A hot compost (or <B>active</B>) pile, on the other hand, requires <B>careful management</B>. It works best when a lot of matter is added at once.  </div> <div> If you want your yard to keep looking neat, you can build any simple container in which to put your garden waste.  Make use of timber, concrete blocks, bricks, logs, or by using some chicken wire to make a round or square holder.  Three of the sides must be fixed together, but the front of the bin will have to be removed when you want to turn the pile.</div> <div> The compost pile or bin should be located close to your vegetable garden, but not too close to your neighbour's house where it might offend them. If you have a fence around your house, use one of the corners of the yard to build your compost pile. Put the pile or bin in partial sunlight and away from winds that could dry it out.  Sunlight will help to heat up the pile.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="6fe2ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 364 WIDTH="346"><div> If you do not have enough organic matter to build the pile up at once, you can prepare it in layers until the pile is about 1 metre square or round and 1 metre high.</div> <bR> <div> A smaller pile won't generate enough heat to start the decomposting process.</div> <bR> <div> Compost needs air from underneath. </div> <div> Therefore, start with a 20 cm (two handwidths) of coarse matter on top of the soil. </div> <div> These coarse material can be any of the following:  shredded branches, corn stalks, vines, plant cuttings and twigs. It must be placed on top of the soil to let air circulate under the base of the pile.  </div> <div> Tread down.  </div> <div> Chop or shred as much of the materials as possible. The finer the pieces, the faster your compost will be finished. </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="346"><div> <IMG SRC="7042c630.gif" border=0 width="300" height="99" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Particle size should be about 5-7 cm (or four fingers) long.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="70145a90.gif" border=0 width="325" height="169" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 173 WIDTH="346"><div> Next add a layer of 20 cm (two handwidths) of nitrogen-rich “green” matter such as fresh grass clippings, weeds, kitchen scraps.</div> <bR> <div> Grass clippings should be damp when added to the pile.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="7062ca70.gif" border=0 width="300" height="167" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 209 WIDTH="346"><bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Add a 10 cm (one handwidth) layer of cow, horse, pig, rabbit or poultry manure to each layer of compost.  </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="70a44c60.gif" border=0 width="324" height="198" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 246 WIDTH="346"><div> Fresh animal manure is high in nitrogen and will speed up the rotting of the compost. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="70b22d00.gif" border=0 width="290" height="208" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Bird or chicken manure is high in potassium. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="70c52d20.gif" border=0 width="338" height="210" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 203 WIDTH="346"><bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Mix some wood ash and soil and add a layer of about 3 cm (2 fingers) on top of the manure.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="70e36c50.gif" border=0 width="310" height="197" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 WIDTH="346"><div> You can also add a layer of shredded newspaper, but first wet it thoroughly. </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP ROWSPAN=2><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="7102cd00.gif" border=0 width="300" height="208" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 174 WIDTH="346"><bR> <bR> <div> Continue to make these layers until the heap is about one metre high.</div> <bR> <div> Finish the layers off with a thin layer of garden soil. The soil contains micro-organisms that are needed to break down the organic matter and will also reduce the possibility of odours. </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 106 WIDTH="346"><div> Give each layer a good soaking of water. Thereafter the pile must only be kept moist, and not soaked. Dishwater that doesn't contain grease or chemical cleansers can be used to wet the pile.</div> <bR> <bR> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="346"><div> Put one or two sharp sticks in the middle of the pile to help you test the heat and moisture content.  This will also aerate the heap at the same time. Put old fertiliser bags or plastic over the heap to retain moisture and heat.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 BGCOLOR=#FFCC80 HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="695"><div> <I><B>Key points to remember:</B></I></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 104 WIDTH="695"><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Use equal amounts of “greens” and “browns”.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Mix together a variety of ingredients.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Chop all large ingredients.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Build the pile large enough to retain heat.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Turn the pile regularly to let in air.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc00000000.gif" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Keep the pile as moist as a damp sponge.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="vegetables.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Growing Vegetables: Training course"><U>Back to growing vegetables</U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>