| Behind every scientific equation in | | | | This average ratio basically describes |
| composting lies an art form that's | | | | the chemical composition of your |
| different for everyone. Composting | | | | materials, NOT 30 times the amount of |
| isn't necessarily a hard thing to do; | | | | brown stuff to one of the green. With |
| other than the materials, equipment, | | | | this ratio you're bound to reach a hot |
| waste and space, all it truly needs on | | | | temperature of about 140 degrees |
| your end is patience and commitment. | | | | Fahrenheit, which is ideal for the |
| We're not exactly painting the ceiling | | | | microbes in your compost to eat up all |
| of the Sistine Chapel, but we're going | | | | the carbon and nitrogen rich goodies. |
| to make a healthy, sustainable garden | | | | Another recipe that you can follow is |
| fit for one with just composting alone! | | | | the "2 parts green, 1 part brown" recipe |
| Remember, it's a trial and error method | | | | also found in Home Composting Made Easy. |
| until you find the perfect scientific | | | | This basically means that you can |
| solution to make your ideal batch of | | | | achieve the 30:1 to 50:1 ratio, the |
| compost. | | | | latter being ideal for low temperature |
| Let's begin with an explanation of the | | | | compost batches, by including two parts |
| carbon/nitrogen ratio, or the C/N ratio. | | | | of green stuff to one part brown stuff. |
| In order for you to have a successful, | | | | For example, if you mix grass clippings |
| usable batch of compost you have to have | | | | (17:1), non-diseased and seedy weeds |
| the right balance between the brown | | | | (20:1) with dried leaves (60:1) and |
| stuff and the green stuff. Get your | | | | divide that up by three, you have a |
| mind out of the gutter! It's not what | | | | product of 32:1, which is close to the |
| you really think it is! The brown | | | | 30:1 average. Of course, you should |
| stuff, like dried leaves, tree bark, | | | | play around with your recipe to find the |
| straw and hay have a lot of carbon, and | | | | perfect fit for your batches. As long |
| the green stuff like fresh grass | | | | as you don't have too much green or too |
| clippings, fresh leaves, chicken manure, | | | | much brown, you should have a successful |
| fruit wastes and food scraps have a lot | | | | batch of ready to use compost! |
| of nitrogen. This is where the simple | | | | Remember, composting is a science and an |
| scientific equations come in; actually | | | | art form. Keep working at it and use |
| it might be better if you think of it | | | | these basics to find the perfect C/N |
| more as a cooking recipe because it | | | | ratio. |
| really is! | | | | *Referenced from Home Composting Made |
| According to Home Composting Made Easy, | | | | Easy by C. Forrest McDowell, PhD and |
| it's best if you try to achieve the | | | | Tricia Clark-McDowell, 2002. |
| ideal 30:1 C/N ratio for your compost. | | | | |