May 18 2006
Com’post’ – A symbol of continuing life.
LG wanted me to write a special write-up on compost. Hence the post.
These days all I can see in a bio-degradable product is its after-life. Yes. I know that is sadistic. But an apple, an orange, onions, egg shells – all of them are my loot 
. And you might ask why? They decompose into something pathetic yet nutritious to the garden. Gross Eh? Wait until you hear the advantages of compost.
Benefits of Compost.
Compost encourages earthworms and other beneficial organisms whose activities help plants grow strong and healthy. It provides nutrients and improves the soil. Wet clay soils drain better and sandy soils hold more moisture if amended with compost. A compost pile keeps organic matter handy for garden use and, as an added advantage, keeps the material from filling up overburdened landfills.
You can read more benefits here.
So there. We now know what compost if all about. Preparing your compost saves you some money. But apart from that it is the sense of putting your kitchen waste into some use is what I like about making compost. It gives me some sense of productivity from debris. Yes, silly 
So here is how I set up my compost tub.
- Buy a 8 inch tub.
- Take some potting soil and put it aside.
- Seal the bottom of the tub to avoid any leak.
- In the bottom on the tub place any bio waste from your kitchen. Make this layer about 6 inches in thickness.
- Fill the top of this layer with soil of about 6 inches.
- Repeat steps 4 and 5 until u reach the top of the tub.
- Allow around 1 inch from the surface of your soil-debris mixture and the rim of the tub.
- Place this in a corner and ensure that plenty of oxygen reaches the bacteria that is responsible for the decomposition.
You can add shredded paper, grass clippings, chopped leaves to the bottom layer of the compost tub. If you have access to wood ash that serves as an excellent source of potash, sprinkle that too. Don’t over do the wood ash.
DO NOT add meat to your compost tub !
You can activators to the compost bin to expedite the decomposing. Manure, cottonseed, or mature compost can act as activators. Â Additionally you can also turn the compost so enchance the oxygen circulation. This pile should generate enough heat to sterilize the compost mixture.
If you do have a full-fledged garden and have open space you can afford to dig a compost pit. The instructions for an open space compost are here .Â
Find about more about compost if you are interested.
 If you have questions let me know. This is my first time making compost too, but I will try to fetch you answers.
Thanks for the post. Its really very helpful for newborns in the gardening world like me
.Now I think I can start with growing coriander 
.
Mythili replies, You are welcome. I am glad the info has been helpful. Although for growing coriander you would n’t really need to maintain a compost pit.
Oops..so u know now…that I dont know nothing abt gardening
. Anyway..I am happy to know abt compost. It might be helpful for me anytime in future.
Hi Mythili
Give me high 5!!!
Thank you, I want to include this post of yours in my round up. Thanks a lot!! If you can,try posting pictures too.
Wow! That is a very informative post. I see people pouring miracle gro over their plants. I am wondering then what is the purpose of growing them at home? We get all these chemical fed vegetables at supermarket. I use miracle gro, only on flowers. I don’t like using it on vegetables.
Mythili says, Thanks RP. My garden is pretty small scale and so is the pit. My objective ofr the summer is to my garden all organic (almost).
Nice post & very informative! Mmmm..a vibrant spice chosen by the spice Mistress…:)
Mythili, I’ve been considering a compost bin for a while now. However, the creepy-crawlies freak me out and that’s what’s been holding me back. What about smells emanating from the compost?
Mythili replies, Manisha – You HAVE to put up with the creepy crawlies. As far as the smell is concerned, once you cover it with soil there should not be any. In any case the best is to keep away from the compost bin. Just keep checking every 7-10 days.
Yeow!
Any potions that I can take to steel my nerves and my stomach?
I am conjuring one and will be delivered right up to your door momentarily. Wouldn’t it freak you out if you doorbell just rang
LOL! I would love it. Would it be you carrying this potion and a whole supply of meals from your blog?! I wouldn’t freak out. I would dance for joy, bring out the aarti, find some rose petals and welcome you into my humble abode!
I must tell you that I planted some seedlings in one of my flower beds this weekend. And as I dug, I pulled out many earthworms. The blue skies echoed my shrieks and my deep gulps as I picked them up and gently laid them down elsewhere in the yard. The mantra that helped me was: “these are not worms; these are my friends!”
Mythili replies, There you go! Your mantra is much more powerful than my potion (which has some known side effects including elongated tongue and ears
). I am looking forward to more news on your flower beds.