Home Composting

Have you ever walked through a forest and smelled a wonderful earthy smell? That odor comes from humus on the forest floor. Humus comes from decomposed organic matter (rotted plants and animals).

Organic matter is decomposed by soil microorganisms into elements useable by plants. Compost is partly decayed organic matter and is used to increase the humus content in soil.

Why Compost?

Compost is an essential component of fertile soil. It affects physical properties of soil such as structure, water retention, and erosion resistance.

  • Composting is easy and can speed up the natural decomposition process.
  • Composting saves money and disposal space.
  • Compost protects the aquifer by reducing the need for synthetic lawn and garden chemicals because compost is a natural fertilizer and protects plants from disease.

Types of bins

  • Holding bins
  • Turning bins
  • Tumblers

When buying or building a bin, make sure the dimensions are between 3’x3’x3’ and 4’x4’x4’ for optimum composting - too small and the pile won’t heat up; too large and the pile can become anaerobic and smell bad.

Compost Uses

  • Top dress lawns
  • Mulch plants and trees
  • Dig into clay or sandy soil to improve texture
  • Mix into potting soil

You can find more information on home composting in the brown mailbox in The Green Zone Composting Demonstration Area, call the Recycling Hotline at 625-6800, or watch a video: Composting 101.

Exhibit sponsored by The Spokane Master Composters, a volunteer program of The Spokane Regional Solid Waste System.

Exhibit sign sponsored by Wheelabrator Spokane, Inc.

Materials to Compost

  • Yard and garden trimmings
  • Manures from herbivores
  • Kitchen vegetable waste - no meats, fats, oils or dairy products
  • Avoid persistent weeds and weed seeds
  • No need for inoculants

Requirements for a Hot Pile

  • Air (oxygen)
  • Water (pile should be as damp as a wrung out sponge)
  • Good mix of material (nitrogen and carbon in a ratio close to 30:1)
  • Sufficient volume (3’x3’x3’ - 4’x4’x4’)
  • A bin enclosure speeds the process and is neater

Composting Methods

Passive pile - may take a year or more to produce finished compost

Hot pile - tended regularly, with well prepared and mixed materials can have compost ready in 4 to 8 weeks

Soil is the surface layer of earth containing organic matter capable of supporting vegetation.

A few inches to several feet thick, soil consists of fine rock material, organic matter, air and water. The arrangement of soil particles together with organic matter(including microorganisms and living roots) determines the soil’s capacity to retain gases, water, and plant nutrients.

Compost is an essential component of fertile soil. Making compost is fun and easy, saves money, and is good for the environment.

The Green Zone
210 & 222 N Havana St
Spokane, WA 99202
509-477-2048