Backyard Composting Brian Rosa NC DENR DPPEA

Composting
Backyard Composting
By: Debby Figoni
Topics of Discussion
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What We Do
Water Conservation Tips
Water Wise Gardening
Backyard Composting
Worm Composting Integrated Pest Management
What We Do
• Protect Chino Basin Groundwater
• Education – tours and classes
• Community Outreach
• Landscape Evaluation / Audit
Program
Why Conserve Water?
• Water covers almost the entire planet
• Only 3% is freshwater, most of which is ice
• Less than 1% is accessible
• Rumor has it we may run out of water before oil
Why Conserve Water?
Oroville Dam
June 2010 Water Level
We’re still
in a drought!
We’re in a Drought
• 45% of our water from State Water Project, but water restrictions are in place
• Delta Smelt issue
• 3 years of drought (2007, 2008 & 2009)
• State Conservation Plan 20% reduction by 2020
Little fish
=
Big problem
Water Wise $avings
Indoor Savings
What you can do:
How much you can save:
Turn off the water when you brush your teeth
100‐300 gallons a year
Don’t use the toilet as a trash can
400‐600 gallons a month
Fix leaky faucets and toilets
20‐50 gallons/day/fixture
Use low flow showerhead (2.5 gallon/minute) .
1,000’s of gallons /month
Water Wise $avings
Outdoor Savings
• Adjust your sprinklers so they only water your plants
• Set your irrigation timer for the proper amount of time (this adjusts with the seasons)
• Buy a “smart timer” which adjusts the amount of time automatically (rebates available)
• Use MP Rotator sprinkler heads (rebates)
• Talk to your gardener to make sure they are paying attention
www.bewaterwise.com
Water Wise Gardens
Aka: California Friendly Aka: Drought Tolerant
Aka: Xeriscape
60% of a typical household water is used for irrigation
Water wise plants use 40% less water
Why Plant a Water Wise Garden?
• Conserves resources
& 50% to 90% less water
& 60% less yard trimmings
• Saves time and money
& 80% less gardening time
& No more mow and blow
• Invites more “good” animals
& Butterflies, hummingbirds and bees
• We live in an arid climate
Water Wise Gardening
• Think about what you plant & look for plants requiring low water
Water wise plants use appx. 40% less water than turf.
Attend one of CBWCD’s upcoming Plants & Planting Workshops
Water Waster
~ Think about where you plant
& group plants with similar water needs in same sprinkler zone
~ Remove your water ' guzzling grass
& Or fertilize and water less
& bewaterwise.com/calculator.html
Mulch Vs. Compost
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Larger pieces
Not finished – “uncooked” Decorative Reduces evaporation & weeds
Decomposes to compost
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Small, fine pieces Finished – “cooked” Blends with soil
Adds nutrients
Helps retain moisture
Why Compost?
• Mother Nature’s been doing it forever
• Conserves resources • Saves time and money
• Improves soil structure & reduces water use
• Makes healthier yards and gardens
• Reduces waste disposal – AB939
• Easier on garbage disposals & treatment plant
Makes Me
Happy!
Eight Things You Need
1. Brown (Carbon/Dry) Material ‐ 50%
2. Green (Nitrogen/Wet) Material – 50%
3. Water (H2O)
4. Air (oxygen)
5. Sunlight
Plus: 6. Containers
7. Tools 8. Time
List of Compostables
BROWNS
GREENS
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Leaves & yard trimmings
Grass clippings Fruit & vegetable scraps
Coffee, filters & tea bags
Egg Shells Hair, human or animal Manure from herbivores
(1/2 to 2/3 total pile)
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Leaves & branches
Wood chips Straw (clean or dirty)
Sawdust (un‐treated wood) Paper towels, napkins & Kleenex
– Newspaper
(1/3 to 1/2 total pile)
List of No‐No’s
Do NOT put the following in your bin
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Meat, bones or dairy products
Weeds or diseased plants
Glossy or treated paper
Seeds from fruits & veggies
Pesticide treated plants
Pet poop Palm, Euc., Camphor, Walnut Scientific Details
Brown (Carbon)
Leaves
60:1
Straw
90:1
Sawdust
500:1
Wood chips/
twigs
700:1
Green (Nitrogen)
Food Scraps
15:1
Grass Clippings
17:1
Fruit Waste
40:1
Weeds
20:1
Chicken Manure
7:1
Or you can
“Dump & Run”
• Small bin kept under kitchen sink
• Dump into intermediate bin or directly into backyard Compost Bin
Backyard Compost Bin
Food scraps and yard trimmings
How to Do It
Making your Compost Lasagne
Layer the materials, water it & stir it
The Compost Fairy
• Layer the green and brown materials • Mix materials every week
• Water pile every week to keep it as wet as a wrung out sponge
• Bury food about 6” and cover with dry material (newspaper works well)
• Let the Compost Fairy do it’s thing
Compost Bin
Options
Garden Gourmet
$99 @ Osh
$140 @ Costco on‐line
Super Composter
$50 @ Lowes Upland
City of Upland
$25 for residents / $45 for others
Sat. from 9 – 2 @ 1370 N. Benson Beat Up Old Trash Can
$0.00 @ My Yard
Other Options
Suncast Tumbling Composter $99 @ Ace Hardware*
ECO Wooden Composter
$149 @ Home Depot (online)
Garden View
$50 @ Home Depot (in store)
Compost Bin Options
Geobin Composting System
$32 @ Ace Hardware
or $40 WalMart
Kitchen Composter
$20 @ Amazon
Compostbins.com
Backyard Compost Bins
Make Your Own Simple Bin
Backyard Compost Bins
Make Your Own Simple Bin
Turning Your Compost
Moving Your Compost Bin
Pick up the bin, leave where they are and begin filling bin in new location.
Use one area for four months, then use the next for four months and so on.
Backyard Compost Bins
Pros & Cons
Closed Bin
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Less watering/retains moisture
Tidy / out of sight
Keeps out unwanted “guests”
Sun heats container & contents
Limited space for materials
Will smell if too wet
Harder to turn
Open Bin
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Size is more flexible
Cheaper to buy
Easier to turn
Open to rain and sun May attract wildlife
Dries out quicker
Other Facts & Issues
• Where to put the bin • Soil or grass, not cement
• Shade, sun, under a tree
• Problems
• Too wet or too dry
• Critters, insects or others in the bin
• Odor
• Not getting hot enough
• Not breaking down quick enough
Your End Product
How to Know When Your Compost is Ready
• Items have broken down/composted
• No longer hot, worms visiting
• Nice, earthy smell
How to Harvest Your Compost
• Take material from bottom of bin
• Use screen to get finer pieces
How to Use Your Compost
• On top of soil like a mulch
• Mix it into the soil like a soil amendment
Worm Composting
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Also called Vermicomposting
Use dark bin with a lid
Small holes for moisture
Rip newspaper for bedding
Keep as wet as wrung out sponge
Use red wigglers only
Best Compost EVER!
Worm
Composting is
fun for all!
Red Wigglers Worms
List of Worm Food
NO
YES
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Fruit & vegetable scraps
Coffee grounds & filter Tea bags Egg shells
Newspaper
Leaves & yard trimmings
Grass clippings –
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Meat or dairy Bread or food with oils
Citrus
Paper w/o soy ink
Too much food
Other exceptions…
Worm Composting
Bin Choices
Rubbermaid Bin from Target = $10
Wiggly Ranch Bin
$150 Why Integrated Pest Management?
Safer for pets, wildlife, waterways and the environment.
IPM Options
Pest
Safe IPM
Aphids
Mild dish soap spray; Worm poop tea; Lady bugs (Note: no ants = no aphids); Smash them with your fingers.
Ants
Sticky substances around tree trunks; Barriers of bone meal, crushed charcoal, diatomaceous earth (also good for fleas and bed bugs), baby powder, chili pepper, etc.; Destroy ant colony. Gophers
Plant plants the deter gophers (i.e.: society garlic); Have a heart trap; dog, cat, owl and/or hawk; Dog poop: Juicy fruit or gummy bears; Install chicken wire in the soil around the root ball Bunnies
Human hair; Animal urine (biodegradable kitty litter); Garden hose; Electric fence; Vinegar; Hot pepper flakes; Organic spray with coyote urine, garlic, rotten eggs, etc.; Snails & Slugs
Salt; Egg shells: Diatomaceous earth; Beer (seems wasteful), Pick n’ throw method; Metal tree band; Tangle foot; Predatory snails.
Bee-ware!
Got Problems?
• Native plants ‐ less susceptible to disease
• Use the right fertilizers or pesticides – use caution
• Get expert advice: www.ipm.ucdavis.edu 909‐387‐2182
? Questions ?
Chino Basin Water Conservation District’s
Front Landscape