Herbal Compost
Activators
The
importance of good compost for successful gardening cannot be
overstated. Compost acts as a life-giving tonic to the garden and
encourages earthworms and living fungi that help suppress pathogenic
pests like nematodes and fungal root rot.
Producing one’s own compost can be fun and very
satisfying. The main principle to keep in mind is that all plant matter
can be used, as well as dust, dirt and paper.
Shredding the compost will speed up the process, as
will the use of lime-based preparations which aid fermentation.
A light sprinkling of fertilizer or organic material
high in nitrogen, like manure, grass or weed clippings and bone meal,
will act as compost activators.
Mineral rich herbs like nettles, dandelion, chicory,
and salad burnet will also act as compost activators.
Comfrey is an excellent addition to the compost heap. It has a
carbon/nitrogen ratio very close to that of manure. The English
Biodynamic Agricultural Society have also classified chamomile, yarrow
and valerian as ‘compost plants’.
The traditional way of building a compost heap is in thin layers. A
layer green matter would be followed by manure, then a sprinkling of
topsoil, lime and/or fertilizer, and so on. Add water to the heap and
turn it regularly. This sort of heap ensures even breakdown of material
and prevents wastes from matting down together.
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