Composting
Backyard Composting
Compost is the result of a natural decaying process that involves billions of micro-organisms acting the way Mother Nature intended them to. These tiny creatures can transform grass clippings, garden refuse, kitchen scraps, fallen leaves and manure into biologically rich organic material that makes a great soil amendment. Compost in the garden means improved soil quality and healthier plants!
The Fredericton Backyard Composters is a dedicated group of volunteers trained to promote backyard composting for the purpose of waste reduction. Its goals are to: aggressively promote composting; reduce the amount of organic material going to landfills; involve area citizens in composting; provide master composter training programs; and provide compost education through workshops, events, brochures, and presentations to schools and service groups.
For more information on the Fredericton Backyard Composters, please call 460-2294.
The Fredericton Backyard Composters are affiliated with and supported by the City of Fredericton.
Tips on Composting
To make the best compost follow these five simple rules:
1. 50/50 rule - perfect mixture consists for ½ green and ½ brown materials
2. mix your compost heap 3-5 times per season to gain proper aeration
3. Maintain an ideal moisture level - not to wet and not too dry
4. Small surface area is best when in comes to your compost heap
5. The ideal compost bin size should be between 3' cubed and 5' cubed
Here is a good recipe:
1. Mix together equal amounts of green and browns:
- Greens - Coffee grounds, eggshells, fruit and fruit peelings, vegetables and peelings, tea leaves, grass clippings (fresh), flowers
- Browns - coffee filters, corn cobs, hay, tea bags, grass clippings (dry), leaves
2. Shred or chop all ingredients, if possible.
3. Build a pile large enough to retain heat.
4. Turn or aerate the heap regularly to let in the air.
5. Keep the pile as moist as a damp sponge.
6. Compost will be ready to use in a few months!
For more details, visit the Composting 101 website or Recycle NB's Composting page.
To learn more about Backyard Composting, visit these websites:
Fredericton Region Solid Waste Commission
To read the Province of New Brunswick's Backyard Composting Handbook, click here.
Vermi (worm) composting
Vermicomposting is a method of composting food waste using worms such as red wiggler or manure worms. Earthworms can consume up to their own body weight of organic waste every day. In the process of doing so, they "cast off" what is referred to as earthworm castings. These odourless particles that resemble coffee grounds add humus, enzymes and beneficial bacteria to the soil, feeding plants throughout their lifetime. They also increase the moisture retention properties of garden soil and their physical structure aids soil aeration by providing water drainage channels.
Vermicomposting is ideal for apartment dwellers since it requires very little space and, if you don't overload the system, is virtually odourless. It is a good alternative for composting in the winter months as the bin can be set up indoors so you don't have to wade through the snow to get to a backyard composter.
Interested in Vermi (worm) Composting? Click here for more information.
Composting Organizations
The Composting Council of Canada is a national non-profit, member-driven organization with a charter to advocate and advance composting and compost usage. It serves as the central resource and network for the composting industry in Canada and, through its members, contributes to the environmental sustainability of the communities in which they operate.
Composters.com is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Green Culture Inc. Green Culture has been one of the leading environmental retailers in the United States since February 1994. This internet website debuted on October 1st, 1999. The purpose of this site is to bring a comprehensive selection of compost bins and supplies directly to the customer, without the high price of retail garden centers. In doing so, Green Culture hopes to promote the environmental and educational benefits of home composting.
