2 part green
1 part brown
“makes a good compost mixture for most homeowners”
* close to the optimum ratio of carbon to nitrogen
of 30:1 for composting bacteria.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
An optimal C:N (carbon:nitrogen) balance is not
critical to successful passive composting.
DO NOT COMPOST

dairy & meat products foods with oils or fats
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
butter
bones
cheese
chicken
fish scraps
lard
meat scraps
milk
sour peels
yogurt
– peanut
butter
– salad dressing
– margarine
– vegetable oils
– mayonnaise
–
Uof WI, PUBL-SW-182 93
NO pet wastes!
• meat eating animals (cats, dog) & birds
- manure contain pathogens (disease
organisms) which can be transmitted to humans
• grass-eating mammals (cows, horses, sheep, etc.)
- stabilized, commercially processed manure does
not have pathogens which can be transmitted to
humans
- can be used in compost.
Uof WI, PUBL-SW-182 93
DO COMPOST
– grapefruit
fruits and vegetables:
– lettuce

–apples
(peels and core)
–cabbage
–carrots
–celery
–coffee grounds
–egg shells?
– onion
peels
– orange peels
– pears
– pineapple
– melon rinds
– potatoes
– pumpkin shells
– squash
– tea leaves
– tomatoes
– turnip leaves
Uof WI, PUBL-SW-182 93
WEEDS
Another nitrogen-rich
material is fresh weeds.
EXCEPTIONS:
- remove seed heads
- don’t add perennials until
their roots are fully
dried out
•
•
•
•
•
MAIN CONCERNS WHEN
HOT COMPOSTING:
volume
surface area
moisture
aeration
temperature
INCREASE SURFACE AREA
• chopping materials increases the surface area for
bacteria to feed on
• greatly speeds the composting process
MOISTURE CONTENT
To Wet
To Dry
Maintain moisture
to level similar to a
damp sponge
Pile aeration
Getting air to your work force
• Turning the pile mixes
fresh air into the pile
• Turning tools can make the
job easier
Turn the compost pile when:
- the temperature cools down
- there is a bad odor
- rotten egg smell
Pile aeration
Getting air to your work force
• Turning the pile mixes
fresh air into the pile
• Turning tools can make the
job easier
Turn the compost pile when:
- the temperature cools down
- there is a bad odor
- rotten egg smell
Aerobic composting and
temperature
• Active composting occurs in the temperature range of 55oF to 160oF
• A thermometer is a nice tool but is not essential for good composting
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