How to start composting in your backyard

Clarence Ford speaks to Ashraf Sirkhoth, Horticulturist/Permaculture Designer and Facilitator at SEED, a composting organisation in Rocklands, Mitchells Plain.

International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) takes place from 5-11 May.

The week is dedicated to all things composting - the largest and most comprehensive education initiative of the compost industry.

The goal of ICAW is to work together to raise public awareness on why we all should be composting our organics and using compost to create healthier soil.

Local organisation, 'SEED' teaches the composting system to anyone willing to learn about it. 

SEED's Rocklands Systems focus on abundant food systems, appropriate technologies, social innovation, and supporting local entrepreneurship to grow the local green economy. 

While composting is good for your garden and the planet...

Do you understand what composting is?

Sirkhoth explains that composting is a way to give some waste products a second chance at life by reducing, reusing and recycling.

"Composting is a mixture of ingredients made of carbon-based matter used as soil conditioners to improve the soil or Earth's physical, chemical and biological health".

- Ashraf Sirkhoth, Horticulturist/Permaculture Designer - SEED

Which items can be recycled for composting? 

If it's made with carbon, it can be go into compost, says Sirkhoth.

Cardboard, paper, food scrapes (except dairy and meat products), grass, tree clippers, egg shells, and coffee grounds can all be used for composting because they can be decomposed through heat, water, microorganisms and other elements which are then turned into compost.

A common composting mistake is...

Only 'organic materials' can be composted.

"Not even the air we breathe is organic, so I would say... and it's controversial, that no, not everything that goes into compost has to be organic, it just has to be made of carbon".

- Ashraf Sirkhoth, Horticulturist/Permaculture Designer - SEED

How to compost in your backyard...

Sirkhoth says 'composting is just like lasagne' because it's all about layering waste products and materials in this particular order: 

1) Start with materials: layer materials at the bottom or base to create separation from the surface and allow for air exchange with items like sticks and/or twigs. 

2) Green layer: add a layer of all things green such as grass, tree clippings, fresh leaves , kitchen scraps like spinach, country and yellow leaves - these items add nitrogen to the compost and helps with decomposition. 

3) Brown layer: adds a layer of all things brown such as cardboard, egg trays, manure, paper, brown leaves, sticks and twigs - these items add carbon into the compost which aids decomposition. 

Method is important too...

Repeat the layering process above using a 3:1 ratio - three layers of carbon (brown layers) and one layer of nitrogen (green layer). 

That's "your recipe" says Sirkhoth.

Too many green layers can create too much heat and create a little bang. 

Repeat the layers process following the 3:1 ratio until your pile is about 1 metre x 1 metre x 1 metre high in width, length and breadth. 

Once your pile is complete, top it off with a final brown layer (carbon layer) and cover your compost 'lasagne' with a tarp to let it sweat. 

Leave it sweating for five days, then turn it over using the tarp.

Continue turning over your compost 'lasagne' every second day after the first turn for about seven to eight more times. 18 days later, your compost will be ready to add directly to your bed. 

Happy composting!

To get a full composting tutorial, contact SEED via email: hello@seed.org.za or call 063 979 1422.

Currently, SEED's offering an organic gardening course - sign up if you're ready to start or continue your green revolution.

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation.