Guide by Abalimi Bezekhaya
Planning Your Garden
Create a thriving garden
For a proper harvest, good garden planning is important. Follow this...
Compost Heap
Make your own soil conditioner
| Done in | 2 hours |
|---|---|
| Skill level | easy |
Compost is organic matter that has been decomposed in a process called composting. This process recycles various organic materials otherwise regarded as waste products and produces a soil conditioner. Compost is rich in nutrients and decayed organic material that is used as a fertilizer for growing plants and improving the soil condition. With compost, your plants will grow much better!
Published under CC:BY-SA by
Abalimi BezekhayaThe Advantages of Composting
- It feeds in the soil and plants with nutrients and minerals.
- It helps to aerate in the soil.
- If you have sandy soils it helps to hold water for longer (bond).
- If you have clay soil it improves the drainage (loosen & aggregate).
- Compost contains micro-organisms that fight against plant disease.
- It saves your money because it reduces the need to buy fertilizer.
A compost heap is the right thing for you if you have space and enough organic material to feed your heap. If you only have a very small space, use the Bokashi Method (link) to produce your own soil.
What you need
- Spade
- Fork
- Rough green materials Like branches, mielie stalks, cabbage stalks and hedge cuttings
- Brown Materials Like dead leaves, dead plants and dry grass cuttings
- Green Materials like grass cuttings, green leaves and kitchen waste
- Water
How to make it
Understand how the compost heap is structured
Find a sheltered place for your compost heap
e.g. next to a wall or fence and in the shade. Ideally you create a separate space with pallets. Should be a bit away of your home because of the smell.
Loosen the ground with a fork
Mark out the area for your compost heap with a spade
It has to be at least 1m wide and 1m long.
Lay down the first layer of rough material
Like branches, mielie stalks, cabbage stalks and hedge cuttings. The layer should be about 20 cm high.
Add a layer of brown material
Like dead leaves, dead plants and dry grass cuttings. This layer should be 15cm high.
Add a layer of green material
like grass cuttings, green leaves and kitchen waste. This layer should be 15 cm high.
Add a thin layer of manure
2-3 cm high
Add a layer of mature compost or healthy soil
5 -7cm
Optional: Add 2 cups of bone meal and handfuls of gypsum or wood ash
Water each layer well as you go
Keep on repeating these layers until the heap is 1 to 1,5m high.
After setting up the compost heap, water it regularly.
Turn the heap over with a fork every 2 to 4 weeks as this will speed up the process
After 6-12 weeks your compost it ready
The compost should be dark brown and crumbly.
Keep the heap covered with a breathable material
like shade cloth. In winter, cover with plastic to protect it from too much rain.
Use your compost for planting!
More guides to try
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Guide by AAVF - African Association for Vertical Farming
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Grow with less soil
Make your own garden even if you do not have much space and soil.
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