“Nature demands a gift for everything that it gives, so what we have to keep doing, is returning [leaves & compost materials] back to the soil, then we’re continuously giving the gifts to nature because we have a return cycle.” ~ Geoff Lawton, a permaculture designer

At our farm, we always have a compost pile set up somewhere, depending on where is more convenient at the time. Sometimes, if we are clearing our veggies patch and have a lot of pulled-out weeds, we would set it up in the veggie garden. Other times, we need to throw away the residues from our production process, we would set it up close to our workshop space. 

For us, composting is a service we do for mother earth, and it is both science and art. While we experiment with the different factors involved, we also get to observe the very nature of dirt-making and witness the cycle of life as well as the power of nature.

Although the way we do it is more serious composting in a farm environment, not everyone can do it. So, instead of sharing it like how we exactly do it, we experimented with making a compost pile in a home setting. So it is more applicable to most of you out there.


Here’s how you can set up your home composting system at home, so you can turn your food waste into gold without losing an arm or a leg.

Home Composting 101

The theory behind composting is simple, feeding the microbes who, in turn, help us turn our food waste into plant food. This is a similar principle we use in aerobic fermentation. To feed these little guys, we need to make sure there is enough water, air, heat, time, food waste, and, finally, microbes. There are many ways to cook food these microbes love. The way we are about to show you is from Maejo University in Thailand, tried and tested by us!

Home composting ingredients

1) Food waste is food for microbes. You can use all kinds of foods; meat, veggies, eggshells or, fish bones.

2) Dry leaves make the compost breezy so air and water can flow in and out easily.

3) Manure carries natural microbes that help digest food waste. Apart from that, it can also get rid of foul smells and keep moisture. We suggest cow manure as the smell is not as strong.

4) Water adds moisture and helps cool down the heat in the compost bin.

5) Basket with holes on all sides for compost bin allows air and water to properly flow inside and outside the bin.

6) Lining plastic net (optional) inside the compost bin and use it to cover the compost afterward. (optional).

Recipe

Key Ratio: leaf : waste : manure = 1.5:1.5:1

1) On the first day, lay 10-15 cm height of dry leaves at the bottom of the basket, followed by cow manure. Refer to the above ratio for the amount

2) Then, add food waste according to the ratio above and cover with leaves and cow manure. Water the compost.

3)Repeat #2 until the basket is full. Water the compost once every day.

4) Once a week, use a stick to make a few holes that reach the bottom of the basket. They should be approx. 20 cm away from each other. Fill water into each hole until it’s full, then cover up the hole with the compost.

5) When the basket is full, let it sit for 60 days. During that time, continue #4 every 7 days.

6) Now it’s ready!!! Poke around the compost with a stick to see if everything is well composted. If it is, remove it from the basket. Dry it in the sun and keep it for later. If it isn’t, continue #5 for one week and recheck.

Let’s watch it in action!

Tips

Tip #1: Smelly? Add more cow manure.

Tip #2: Luring pests? Raise your compost bin or place it in a big plastic basin. (And use the water run-offs to fertilize other plants)

Tip #3: Squeamish about squirmy worms? It’s food for the birds once it’s dry!

Tip #4: The smaller, the better! Like us, microbes digest smaller food faster.

Tip #5: Air, air, air! Dry leaves make it breezy in your compost and help with digestion. If your food waste is really wet, mix dry leave together with it before putting it in the compost bin.

The best part of home composting is getting to use it in the end. And when you see your garden flourish because of the nutrients that you add to the soil, you can not be anything less than proud. It is the result of your time and effort spent on what you truly believe in. As the compost pile grows, your heart also grows. At the same time, you are also on your path to make Mother Earth happy.

And when mother earth is happy, we also are happy. 

In case you’d like to share this! Click HERE to go to our IG Post.