To Compost or Not To Compost... Is that really a Question?

Lately I've been really into composting. Not just the "doing" but the "science" behind composting. How much green material vs. brown material? Vermicomposting vs. "regular" composting (which honestly - I think we all should be vermicomposting)... I've been reading composting articles from my subscription to Organic Gardening Magazine and Mother Earth News and have found some really worth while reads...

• From Mother Earth News: International Compost Awareness Week: Is It OK NOT to Compost? Compost expert Barbara Pleasant calls on people everywhere to take responsibility for their yard and kitchen waste.


• From Mother Earth News: 5 Steps to Simple Compost


• How to Make Compost: A Compost Guide


• ATTRA: Composting 101


• Composting Blog: making the most of your compost


• EPA: Science/Technology - Understanding the Composting Process

The last link from the EPA is (IMO) a MUST read for anyone starting a compost pile - I'm sure there are more MUST reads out there but this is a short, concise, to the point overview of things you probably should know about composting before starting a composting program... the article discusses the 5 variable you need to understand and control when composting...

1. Feedstock and nutrient balance: balancing brown and green materials


2. Particle Size: Chopping, shredding and grinding materials helps to increase breakdown rate BUT if particles are too small it can inhibit oxygen flow.


3. Moisture Content: Decomposition needs moisture.


4. Oxygen Flow: Turning a pile helps to aerate the pile but don't do it too much or it will dry out.


5. Temperature: Microorganisms require a certain temperature range for optimal activity.

So how much green material (grass clippings, kitchen waste, manure) vs. brown material (shredded newspaper, dry leaves, wood chips) should the average compost pile take? From what I've read - it depends on what you are using your compost for.

For Veggie Gardens - 50-50 mixes seem to be adequate although some compost guru's prefer slightly more brown (carbon) than green (nitrogen) and I've seen as high as a brown:green ratio of 25:1 listed as "ideal"

For an orchard - most prefer 75% brown to 25% green.

So, I guess it all depends - I'm going to start with a 50:50 mix and see what happens... now my problem is going to be how to find enough green material to compete with the brown - Looks like I'm taking a visit to my local organic dairy soon :)