White County
 Gardening
Podcast
October 14, 2008
Composting - Part 1 of 2 (2:02 minutes)
Audio/Video Script:
Sherri Sanders
County Extension Agent - Agriculture
Hello this is Sherri Sanders, County Extension Agent - Agriculture in White
county.
Composting is a method of recycling house and garden waste into a soil
"amendment" which will improve both the structure and fertility of the soil. The
compost will also increase the soil's water holding and nutrient holding
capacity.
During the composting process microorganisms naturally present in the soil
break down the vegetable waste materials into an inorganic form that can be used
by plants.
Almost any vegetation may be used for compost: carrot tops and peelings,
outside lettuce and cabbage leaves, potato peelings, banana skins, tea bags, egg
shells, and coffee grinds. Grass clippings, leaves, and general garden refuse
(dead top growth of annual flowers and vegetables as well as herbaceous
perennials) are also great items to use for compost.
Avoid using meat and dairy products; they are much more likely to attract
neighborhood dogs and cats as well as mice and rats. Also avoid incorporating
weeds which have formed seed heads. Some weed seeds may survive the composting
process and
germinate a year later in your garden. Any diseased plant material (such as
peas with powdery mildew, roses with black spot, or apples with fireblight)
should be burned, garbaged, or taken to the local dump. The fungal and bacterial
organisms in the diseased materials may survive the composting process.
Do not use fecal material from dogs, cats, or pigs as compost. These may
contain eggs of round worms or other parasites which can infect humans.
Compost piles should be accessible! Ideally, locate your garden close to the
house and the compost pile adjacent to the garden. The location for the compost
pile should be well drained and in semi shade. Compost located on waterlogged
sites will produce foul-smelling gases.
Look for the second podcast in this series for additional help on composting.
This has been Sherri Sanders in Searcy.
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