Do you wish you could compost but don’t think you have the time? You have to check out these quick composting tips!
You might think I’m crazy but I have found a way that works just as good – if not better – than a compost that takes several months. These quick composting tips are just what you need.
The truth is that we are all busy. You’re busy. I’m busy. We want to enjoy life and this rural life allows us to do a large variety of tasks to make our lives better, which is great!
The problem is that all of these things take time and we only have so much of it. So, this is a procedure you can use to make your composting save you time. Time that you can use for another task, project or even just resting or taking a break. How cool is that?
So, in this post, I will:
– Give you the quick composting tips and steps you need to save time building a compost that will build your soil.
– Share materials you’ll need to accomplish faster composting and even links to buy them online.
– Give you a composting time table chart to keep track of the progress of your compost.
‘Ain’t Nobody Got Time for Waiting’. Are you ready? Let’s dig in!
The Reason for Quick Composting Tips
As I mentioned above, we are all busy people. We want to live life to the fullest but still live well. Building our soil up naturally is part of this need and composting is the best way to do so.
But the normal method of good quality composting takes 4-6 months. It’s soooo slow.
This quick method takes only 6 weeks to complete. One drawback is that there’s more up front work because everything going in has to be in smaller pieces. BUT it’s worth it.
Quick but not always easy
Not everything that is faster is easier or cheaper. You probably already know that – it’s convenience that is appealing to you. You want work to be easier so you can go on about your life and do other things. We all love the ‘set it and forget it’ mentality.
So, with this quicker method of composting, the only difference is that the materials need to be finely shredded, premixed with soil and fertilizer, moistened and placed in an enclosed bag or bin. Just a little bit of upfront work that can be done in an afternoon.
Let’s talk about what you’ll put your compost in.
Types of Composting Bins
If you have a large garden spot or spots like I do, you might be interested in making a lot of compost. This would require you to get some large bins.
You can easily make your own…that’s just going to be another project before you can get started.
Or, you can buy one that is a commercial type and get started sooner. You’ll more than get your money’s worth in the long run.
If you’re looking for something smaller, I’ve got you covered, too.
Types of Composting Containers
This is not rocket science. You can use simple essentials, such as any plastic bags or garbage cand to do this.
You can go small, medium or large size. If you’re just starting out, I would suggest you start small until you learn what you’re doing. And if you’re even going to enjoy composting.
Then, get several containers for around your home and yard. I just love little kitchen composting containers. The possibilities are endless.
Let’s Get Ready to Compost!
The first thing you want to do is to line your container or bin with sheet plastic. This will keep your bin nice and neat and it will make for easier clean up after you take out the compost.
Then, shred your material with either a soil shredder, compost grinder or hammermill. You can also use a rotary mower to shred leaves and prunings very fine. This is the key to quick composting! Everything you put into this has to be tiny. This will help it to break down faster.
Combine all of your shredded materials into a compostable bag or just simply dump it all into your compost bin/container. And now you’re ready to start making compost.
How It’s Made
Once your materials are simplified, you’ll mix and add the shredded materials, soil, sand, and fertilizer/manure.
Start with a layer of soil or sand 2-3 inches deep on the bottom. Then add 2-3 inches of organic materials that you shredded. Finally, put in an inch of either fertilizer or manure, that will help hasten decomposition.
Repeat the sequence…similar to building a lasagna. Soil/sand – Organic materials – Fertilizer/manure. Water each layer as it is needed.
Unlike the slower composting method, you don’t have to turn this pile. Everything should break down simple. However, if you have an aerator, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to run it through every once in a while.
As you wait, your compost will combine and break down until it is eventually soil. This will take 2-3 weeks in warmer weather or 5-6 weeks in cooler weather. You can definitely store your compost longer if you need to until you’re ready to actually use it.
What Your Finished Compost Will Be
Remember to use the correct ration of green to brown materials. See the posts down below in the related posts section where you can find out more about this ratio.
In less than a week, you can push a stick into the middle of the pile and then pull it back out. If the stick is hot to the touch, that’s a very good sign that the compost is going well.
By the end of 5 weeks, the pile should be about half its original height. It should appear dark, moist and crumbly and should smell like the earth. Heavenly!
Using the Compost
When it smells like that, it’s ready to use! So, how do you use it exactly? Well there’s a few main ways to use it:
– Use it for soil improvement in the fall.
– Add it into the seedling or seeds at planting.
– Use it as a Mulch
– Use it as a potting mix for seedlings.
All of these ways are very useful and proof that you can compost quickly all year long and always have a use for organic compost.
The Best Thing About Quick Composting Tips
The absolute best thing about composting in general is that you can use your own waste back into your garden. You don’t have to worry about taking your scraps to the landfill or throwing it away. You can use it yourself!
We are stewards of the land and composting is a great way to give back. By using your green and brown materials plus manure…everything you would normally throw away can be reused! I think that is the coolest thing about composting.
And now, you have plenty of quick composting tips to help you save valuable time and have fresh compost in less than 6 weeks. Happy gardening!
~ Much Love ~
