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 Daily news from the Canaries and the islands' biggest English language newspaper on-line Home made compost Rotten riches In recent years we have turned into a consumer society. More of everything is craved for, obtained, used and discarded than ever before. As a consequence one of the most serious problems facing industrialised societies is the huge amount of rubbish that our lifestyles produce. Presently a large proportion of what is thrown out around the Canary Islands ends up in rubbish dumps. This is not only a waste of valuable resources that could be used to create new products, but the dumps also cause serious health and environmental problems. One difficulty is that rubbish tips cover large areas of land and increasingly vast areas of precious space have to be turned into unsightly and dangerous disposal sites. Another of the problems is that over time the waste emits methane which is a highly contaminant gas and one of the principal causes of climate change.  Try the ultimate in recycling for a cheap and environmentally friendly way to happy, healthy plants. Making compost is the most natural recycling there is. Waste organic material is transformed into quality fertiliser which enriches the land and feeds new plants, which in turn feed us and other animals: and ever onward in an ongoing cycle. If all the organic waste produced in the Canary Islands were made into compost on a large scale it would help solve some of the most pressing problems facing the archipelago. One of course is the space that has to be used for the hundreds of thousands of kilos of household refuse that are discarded every year: reusing organic waste would considerably reduce the size and toxicity of the dumps. Also, with land and the soil needed to grow crops being a finite commodity in the islands, soil erosion and nutrient poor land are becoming increasingly prevalent. Generating compost would create fertiliser to feed and stabilise the soils. The soil would be able retain rain water more effectively, it would grow better crops and would be less susceptible to erosion. Each of us can make our own contribution to solving these problems: by using kitchen and garden waste, you not only obtain the best natural fertiliser available, but it is also free and saves on transport and energy used in industrial production. And the best of it is: it’s really easy. A compost bin is ideal for use in small spaces. They also stop the weather adversely affecting the compost, cut down on unpleasant smells and keep animals off the maturing mix. Most compost bins have a large opening on the top, plenty of ventilation holes in the sides, and doors in the bottom area for the easy extraction of the compost when it is ready. They should be placed in the shade in a well ventilated area, with a space next to it for mixing the compost and accumulating materials ready to be introduced. You can buy a variety of compost bins from gardening stores, but it is also easy to build your own. Try one of these: Pallet bin Nail three pallets together at their corners, reinforcing them with poles of wood if you wish. Using hinges attach a fourth pallet to create a door for what is now an open ended box. The bottom of the box is the soil that the pallets are placed on. The lid, as for all the boxes, can be made of any impermeable material such as plastic or an old rug or carpet. The lid helps maintain the compost’s temperature and humidity and keeps excessive rain out. Mesh bin Round mesh bins are a quick and cheap alternative. Simply form rigid mesh into the shape of a cylinder and join the sides together using string or wire. Make holes in some cardboard, to encourage ventilation, and line the inside of the bin with it. Brick bin Build three sides to the bin leaving gaps for ventilation as you cement the bricks. Protect it from weather by covering it with a plastic or canvas tarpaulin. Plastic bin Quite simply: cut off the base of an old household plastic bin, make ventilation holes around the sides and place one of the open ends on the floor. Don’t forget to use lids on all the bins. What makes good compost? With a few exceptions any organic substance can be used to make compost. It is important to use a variety of different materials and a mix of slow and quick decomposing matter. Materials that break down quickly include fresh leaves and grass, young hedge and plant clippings and kitchen waste, including coffee and tea dregs. Paper, card or serviettes which don’t contain inks make good dry material. Those that decompose slowly include dry leaves, straw, wood cuttings and sawdust (from untreated wood only), nut and egg shells and fruit pips. Ash of an organic origin can be used, but never coal or coke ash. Bins should be placed in direct contact with the earth, never on asphalt or cement, so that excessive humidity can be absorbed and worms and other beneficial organisms can aerate the compost. Loosen the soil before putting the bin in place and lay a base, ten to 15 centimetres high, of dead plants, twigs, straw or small branches in the bottom of the bin. This encourages the circulation of air throughout the mix and avoids the compacting of recently introduced materials. Always mix all the materials well before placing in the bin and cut down any large pieces to between five and ten centimetres in size. The first time you fill the bin you must fill it at least half full. Ideally the bin should always be kept two thirds full. After two days you can begin adding new materials regularly, trying to ensure that there is always twice as much wet matter as there is dry. Mix the old and new material well and make sure the wettest stuff, such as food leftovers, is covered with drier material or is buried well into the mixture. This maintains optimum temperature conditions and means it won’t attract fruit flies. Add air to your pile every two to three weeks by turning it over or poking holes through it with a broom handle. It is important to leave your compost to mature sufficiently. As micro-organisms multiply the pile’s temperature reaches 70 degrees, which is necessary to kill the pathogenic organisms. The heap should then be left to cool and mature over a period of weeks or months. Generally speaking your first compost will be ready for taking out of the bin after a minimum of six weeks. It is ready when it has a uniform dark brown colour and an earthy smell. Always take the compost from the bottom of the pile. It is best to separate the mature compost from that which isn’t fully decomposed. The most effective way of doing this is to use a sieve with holes of between 0.5 and one centimetre wide. Return any materials that haven’t decomposed to the bin. The compost should be left to sit for two weeks before being used and may be kept in an open plastic or woven bag. Fresh compost makes great mulch for protecting plants against severe changes of temperature, particularly dry periods or heavy rain. It improves the earth and protects against the growth of weeds, though care must be taken not to apply it straight onto plants as it can be too acidic and burn them. Mature compost, having been left for four to six months, has an earthy texture, dark colour and an agreeable smell like forest soil. It is a perfect fertiliser as it is full of minerals, such as nitrogen and phosphorus and helps the soil to retain water. Mix it well with the soil before planting or dig in round existing plants. Problems and solutions .If the compost is very dry and isn’t shrinking in size it may be because the air is too dry or too many dry materials have been added to the heap. Simply sprinkle the compost with water, preferably digging it over to ensure that the water reaches all the materials. If the pile smells of sulphur this could be through either a lack of oxygen or excessive damp. If the compost smells of ammonia it is too wet or contains too much nitrogen rich material such as grass or food leftovers. In both cases turn the pile over well and mix in some dry material. Ink-free paper or cardboard, such as toilet roll liners can be useful for this. If there are lots of flies or white larvae there may be food leftovers that aren’t mixed in enough or the pile is too wet. Mix it all together well and add more dry materials. If it has attracted ants it’s probably those food leftovers again or the heap is too dry. Dig the pile over and sprinkle with water or add wet material. What not to compost Nappies; sanitary towels; synthetic materials; plastic; treated wood; fats or oils, including foods cooked with them and dairy products; magazines or newspapers as they contain dyes and heavy metals; meat and fish as they attract undesirable animals; cigarette filters; vacuum cleaner waste; charcoal or coal ash; any human or animal waste except from farm animals such as horses or goats; weeds with seeds; diseased or insect-infested plants; insecticides; disinfectants or solvents. Add only small amounts of bread or citrus fruits or pine, due to their acidity; or of herbivore pet bedding such as from hamsters and rabbits. Vermicomposting This is the addition of worms to the compost heap to shorten the time it takes to mature. Worms, such as the Californian Red, that live in decomposing organic material in forests naturally prefer the special conditions in rotting vegetation. They create a very effective way of making compost and the system is particularly suited to home composting where space is limited. This article has been adapted from information supplied by the Canary Islands’ environmental group, Ben Magec. If you would like any more information visit their website at: www.benmagec.org. For the purchase of specially designed compost bins or worms to speed up the composting process call 928 36 22 33 or email: compostaje@benmagec.org. Ben Magec does a great deal of work in the local community to protect and improve the environment. Membership is just 60 euros a year, for more information call 928 36 22 33. This article appears in the print edition 571 of Island Connections
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