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Gardeners can step in and accelerate the composting process
by creating optimal conditions for decomposition.
Get the balance right. Compost = Air + Water + 2 Parts
Browns + 1 Part Greens
Shred, chop, or chip ingredients. Smaller pieces of
material have more surfaces for microorganisms to work on,
so your pile decomposes faster. Pieces ranging from 1?2 to
11?2 inches decompose best.
Have a critical mass. A pile will not heat up if it's too
small. Minimum size is 3 by 3 by 3 feet.
Mix your ingredients. For a long time, experts (including?
gasp!?this magazine) recommended piling up ingredients like
a layer cake, but compost should really be more like a
tossed salad?mixing all the goodies together produces the
best results. "You definitely want to mix," says Dr.
Cogger. "You want to get the green and brown material in
intimate contact." Layer cake?style composting causes
compaction and reduces biological activity.
Aerate your pile. Compost can be turned twice a week or
never; it's up to you. But the more you turn it, the faster
you'll get results.
Monitor moisture. Dry piles decompose slowly, so adjust
moisture as needed.
Add some microbes. Mix in a shovelful of finished compost
or garden soil to get the microbial activity rolling.
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