Wall Flower Studio Garden

Compost and organic soil is the lifeblood of organic growing...

Don't feed the plants, feed the soil - The plants will look after themselves.
The composting process will be more effective if you follow these suggestions. To get started, make a layer of leaves or other brown vegetation.

Then add a layer of green plant material. Add kitchen waste as it accumulates. Dig this into the pile or cover with a thin layer of soil. Continue adding material, alternating layers of brown material, green yard waste and kitchen waste.

Brown yard waste is generally high in carbon. Kitchen scraps and fresh yard waste are high in nitrogen. Both carbon and nitrogen are needed to build a balanced compost pile.

Fine materials such as grass clippings should be added in thin layers so that they do not compact.

Keep the material as moist as a wrung-out sponge. Covering the pile with a plastic sheet may help to retain moisture, (but I'm not sure that should be done if your garden is truly organic. Many frown on the use of any plastic in an organic garden setting.)

Water the pile occasionally if it becomes too dry. Turn the pile every few weeks or whenever it becomes compacted, too wet, or develops an odour. A garden fork, rake or pitchfork can be used to turn the pile properly and keep it aerated. Mix the material from the edges of the pile into the middle for more even decomposition.

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How to make yourself a 3 Bin Composter - -(U of Kentucky, College of Ag.) http://www.ca.uky.edu/ENRI/PUBS/enri310rev.pdf

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Composting Material Suggestions

*Cardboard -Shred into small pieces if you use it. Wetting it makes it easier to tear. If you have a lot, recycling might be a better option.
*Coffee ground and filters - Worms love coffee grounds and coffee filters.
*Cornstalks, corn cobs -Best if shredded and mixed well with nitrogen rich materials.
*Dryer lint - Compost away! Moistening helps.
*Eggshells - Break down slowly. Crushing shells helps.
*Hair -Scatter so it isn't in clumps.
*Manure (horse, cow, pig, sheep, goat, chicken, rabbit) - Great source of nitrogen. Mix with carbon rich materials so it breaks down better.
*Newspaper - Shred it so it breaks down easier. It is easy to add too much newspaper, so recycle instead if you have a lot. Don't add slick colored pages.
*Oak leaves - Shredding leaves helps them break down faster. They decompose slowly. Acidic.
*Sawdust and wood shavings (untreated wood) -You'll need a lot of nitrogen materials to make up for the high carbon content. Don't use too much, and never use treated woods.
*Pine needles and cones - Don't overload the pile. Also acidic and decomposes slowly.