Make a Compost Pit
Composting is an effective and environmentally friendly solution for turning yard waste and kitchen scraps into a beneficial soil amendment. The traditional method of composting calls for the creation of a large compost pile located outdoors. However, if this method is too unsightly or too cumbersome for you, you can explore alternatives to the compost pile. One alternative is to make a compost pit. This underground method of composting, sometimes also called "trench composting," is a compact and tidy way to help your organic waste decompose and enrich your soil.
Steps
- Dig the hole for your compost pit. Your compost hole should be about 1 foot (30 cm) deep. The area of the hole will be determined by the amount of organic matter you want to add. Keep in mind that the compost will be finely chopped and piled to a height of 4 inches (10 cm) in the bottom of the hole when estimating the hole's size.
- Chop your composting materials finely. Underground composting proceeds more slowly than above ground setups, and maximizing the surface area of your scraps is key to speeding the process. Kitchen scraps can be ripped apart by hand, chopped with a knife, or even pulverized in a food processor. Yard scraps can be broken down using a lawn mower. Aim for pieces no bigger than 2 or 3 inches (5 - 8 cm) in any dimension.
- Add the organic materials to the compost pit. Pile your food scraps and yard waste into the hole you dug to a depth of about 4 inches (10 cm). Make sure your carbon-rich materials (such as paper and dried leaves) are mixed thoroughly with your nitrogen-rich materials (like vegetable scraps and fresh grass clippings), as you will not be turning the underground pile.
- Place a board over the hole if you plan to add more scraps. If you want to be able to continually add scraps to the compost pit, cover the compost with a thin layer of soil or carbon-rich material. Then place a wooden board over the hole to prevent anyone from tripping into it. Be careful not to add materials to a depth of more than 4 inches (10 cm), as this will make it difficult to adequately cover the compost with soil later.
- Cover your compost with soil. Once you have finished adding your organic scraps to the compost pit, you can backfill it with the soil you removed. Add the soil on top of the compost, filling the pit until it is again level with the surrounding soil. Recover with sod or seed with grass if desired.
- Keep the compost pit wet while it is decomposing. Underground compost decomposes slowly, because it doesn't have access to as much fresh oxygen as above ground piles. To speed the process, ensure the area stays fairly wet. During dry weather, soak the ground above the compost pit with a garden hose. Inadequate moisture will prohibit microbes from breaking down your scraps. If the area is kept sufficiently moist, underground compost should be fully decomposed in about a year.
- Sow plants above the compost after it has decomposed. A major benefit of underground composting is that you don't have to perform any extra steps to harvest the compost and amend your soil. The work is done for you, as the decomposed scraps will work themselves into the soil naturally. The best way to take advantage of this benefit is to plant your plants directly over the area where you composted your scraps. In fact, each season you can cycle the locations where you grow plants and compost; this will ensure your plants' soil is always freshly amended with organic matter.
Tips
- If you are unsure whether your underground scraps have fully decomposed, dig a small test hole into the compost pit. When decomposition is complete, the individual food scraps should not be recognizable and should have turned into a rich, black humus.
Warnings
- Never add animal products to your compost pit. Meat, bones, dairy, and fats can all go rancid, present a health risk, and attract rodents and other unwanted pests to your compost.
Things You'll Need
- Spade or shovel
- Organic scraps
- Knife
- Food processor
- Lawn mower
- Wooden board
- Garden hose
- Bamboo (put it on the compost pit so it will have a ventilation)
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