Last Saturday I gave the compost its first stir. There’s not enough yet to give it a real turn. So far we have put in a bit of turf, cores of apples we’ve eaten on-site, banana peels I kept in my freezer for some time, and the first thinnings from the garden. I am hoping for more donations, as plant matter from the garden won’t produce much compost this year. The first significant plant matter from the garden will be the pea plants say late June. But the bulk of the compostables from the garden are generated near the end of the growing season, when the temperatures are falling. Normally one year’s plant refuse becomes next year’s compost.
Also, because this is a one-year pilot, some things which are compostable are being kept out, because they decompose slowly. This includes crushed egg-shells, peanut shells, twigs and other woody material, and possibly citrus, which some people have better success composting than others.
We have two compost bins for comparison: one square with wire-mesh panels, the other a cylinder of black plastic with holes and a lid. Each has its potential advantages. The wire-mesh breathes better, but the black plastic ought to keep the compost warmer. Once we have at least a few cubic feet of plant matter to work with, it will be interesting to see which works better.
