When I was a little guy helping my Dad on his farm I used to get stuck with some of the routine tasks around the place. One of them was to take all the organic refuse down to a large pile he kept out back and throw it on the top hoping for nature to take its course and turn the refuse into a rich source of nutrients for the garden. Well if my Dad had been able to read Suzanne Lewis’s new book (2010) on composting he would almost certainly have taken a different tack. Suzanne clearly presents the options (and the garbage bin is not one of them) early in her book, and aeration composting is one of them. She outlines the pros and cons of each one. Aeration is inexpensive and fast if done properly. However she says it ‘requires work’. Most people seem to just keep adding to the pile- avoiding the work part. As Suzanne goes on to explain in the chapter on aeration composting however ‘active turning’ is required to achieve the fast results she mentions. If a more passive approach is taken then the results are slow, attract pests and does not kill the pathogens or weed seeds in the refuse.
This slim volume (160 pages) covers all the bases. If you were thinking of worms there is a whole chapter explaining exactly how to go about it, and the advantages – which are many. If you live in an apartment or other place with limited space worm composting, or vermicomposting is ideal because it is done in an enclosed bin and thrives on kitchen waste as opposed to yard waste. It is also a great conversation starter- just tell your friends about your new pets- a few dozen red wigglers! You’re sure to get a reaction. And while that reaction will often begin with the word ‘yuk’ you can explain how clean and neat the whole set up is, and the good work you are doing for the environment. Our Mayor will be pleased as well…
If you are a city dweller with limited yard space she has a solution for you too! In fact in addition to aeration composting she details anaerobic composting and a series of techniques for composting that are suitable to a variety of situations. For example did you know that green garbage bags could be used for anaerobic composting? Or a pail with a lid?
And she wraps it all up with a short discussion on soil structure that ties in nicely to composting.
A handy book to have on your shelf. Lone Pine Publishing
David Toole
Master Gardener, Vancouver Chapter
