Composting is the decomposition of biodegradable organic matter.
Things that can be composted are not only kitchen waste and plate scrapings but garden waste as well including grass clippings and dead leaves. The key thing to remember is that if it once lived, then it can be composted so even waste such as sawdust, wood chips and even shredded newspaper can be used. When the conditions in the Ridan composter are correct, microscopic organisms respire and breakdown the matter in the Ridan to produce nutrient rich compost perfect for your garden! (Any words underlined are defined in the glossary below)
What goes into the composter?
Successful composting all depends on getting the right proportions of carbon rich materials and nitrogen rich materials.
This is because too much carbon causes the materials to be too dry and not break down, if there is too much nitrogen however the materials tend to go rotten and smelly.
You can compost all kitchen waste (foods past their sell by date, cuttings and peelings, plate scrapings) and all garden waste (grass clippings, weeds, cuttings, horse manure), these are all nitrogen rich products so you need to balance this out with carbon rich products.
Brown Waste (Carbon rich) - Hard, dry and absorbent materials.
Shredded paper, Wood chips, Sawdust, Cardboard, Dead leaves, Straw
The composting process happens naturally within the Ridan when the balance of green to brown product is correct, a safe bet is half and half which is a safe way to get started, however over time you can adjust this to suit your waste type. Questions & Answers Q: Why should I compost?
What comes out?
It takes just two to three weeks for waste food to be composted and pass through the Ridan, the resulting compost will be rich, moist and full of nutrients produced by the composting micro-organisms, it is far richer than normal soil and a haven for any plant life.
Depending upon what sort of food was composted it may be ready to spread straight onto the garden,however it is usualy better to mature the compost for a few weeks in a bin of some sort, or a Scotty's Hot Box where it will continue to compost and break down even further.
Using your compost!
When compost is ready it needs to be sieved, you can use a lot of things to do this, large piece of chicken wire for example or a garden riddle. By breaking the compost into smaller, finer pieces, it will be easier for your plants to spread their roots and absorb all the lovely nutrients from the compost.
A: A third of household dustbins are taken up by potentially compostable materials. So instead of filling up a landfill site, you could be creating a beautiful garden which is good for the environment.
Q: Will composting attract rodents?
A: Food attracts pests when it is left available to them, in the Ridan, there is no way for pests such as rats to get in, so as long as the Ridan is filled carefully without spilling any, vermin will not be interested.
Q: Will the Ridan create bad smells?
A: When waste is composting properly the smell is minimal and not unpleasant, so understanding the mix of green to brown waste is important as this mix will control the process. However the Ridan should be sited where any smell produced will not offend sensitive noses, if needed we can fit suitable vent pipes to take smells out of harms way.
Q: Can I compost paper and cardboard?
A: Paper and cardboard are carbon rich browns which if shredded can be used to supplement the woodchip, however they cannot replace the woodchip for two reasons. When wet they form a sludge which does not accept aeration well, also most of them contain adhesives and china clay which harm the composting microbes.
Q: Can I use sawdust as my brown carbon source?
A; Yes, sawdust, wood shavings, tree surgery waste, wood that has been chipped, all of these are fine as long as they have been kept reasonably dry. It is usually quite easy to find a local free source from a joiners shop or tree surgeon. If not then wood fuel in the form of pellets or chips is excellent and quite cheap to buy.
Glossary of terms
Composting – Composting is the aerobic decomposition of biodegradable organic matter, producing compost.
Micro-organisms – An organism that cannot be seen by the naked eye, these include bacteria and fungi.
Bacteria – A single-celled organism
Fungi – From the taxonomic kingdom including yeast, mold, mushrooms and toadstools.
Decomposition – The name given to the break-down of tissue of a formerly living organism into simpler forms of matter.
Nutrients – A food or chemical an organism needs to live and grow.
Respire – The metabolic process where certain organisms get energy from organic molecules.
