By Sheela Babu
Waste management has been a major issue which our government is constantly battling with. We as citizens can contribute a great deal in tackling this issue by starting from our own homes. For now I will not deal with all waste management but focus only on composting of garden and kitchen waste. By doing so ,we not only help our environment, but also make excellent manure for our garden plants. So it is certainly a win –win situation with a little effort from our side! In Defence colony where I reside we have individual homes with some garden space. We have a lot of plants in our compounds and hence generate a lot of garden waste.
We have been successful in propagating composting in our colony by going in for a very simple arrangement. We just used two cement rings of 6ft diameter and 11/2ft depth. In a convenient corner of your garden (preferably away from direct sunlight) dig a very shallow pit of 2-3 inch depth and 6ft dia. Place the first ring in it and then simply place the second ring over the first and presto! Your compost pit is ready. So you have a pit of 6ft dia and 3ft depth. A second such set should be made to be used when the first pit fills up. The two sets will cost you @ Rs 1500. Imagine all the compost you are going to get lifelong with this small effort!!
Now that the pit is ready, all you have to do is add all your garden and kitchen waste everyday. Once in a while you could turn the waste over with a rake for aeration.(this step can be avoided if you find it difficult. I don’t do it.) Adding some cow dung or neem cake powder also helps to accelerate the process. Water the pit 2-3 times a week.This helps to maintain the humidity. Once the pit starts to overflow then cover with 3-4 inches of soil . Continue to water 2-3 times a week.(Time to start the second pit!) In 2-3 months the volume will reduce to less than half. Dig out from the pit and clean out and remove unwanted stuff and separate the lovely black powdery compost. Voila! The labour of your love is ready for your garden. Use it in potted plants, your bonsais and also for all garden trees. See how your plants thrive. Once you see the first results, believe me you will be hooked to composting for life!!
( Sheela Babu is a member of 'Bodhi - The Chennai Bonsai Association' )
(This article is reproduced from January 2012 issue of 'Bodhi Bonsai News Letter')
Waste management has been a major issue which our government is constantly battling with. We as citizens can contribute a great deal in tackling this issue by starting from our own homes. For now I will not deal with all waste management but focus only on composting of garden and kitchen waste. By doing so ,we not only help our environment, but also make excellent manure for our garden plants. So it is certainly a win –win situation with a little effort from our side! In Defence colony where I reside we have individual homes with some garden space. We have a lot of plants in our compounds and hence generate a lot of garden waste.
We have been successful in propagating composting in our colony by going in for a very simple arrangement. We just used two cement rings of 6ft diameter and 11/2ft depth. In a convenient corner of your garden (preferably away from direct sunlight) dig a very shallow pit of 2-3 inch depth and 6ft dia. Place the first ring in it and then simply place the second ring over the first and presto! Your compost pit is ready. So you have a pit of 6ft dia and 3ft depth. A second such set should be made to be used when the first pit fills up. The two sets will cost you @ Rs 1500. Imagine all the compost you are going to get lifelong with this small effort!!Now that the pit is ready, all you have to do is add all your garden and kitchen waste everyday. Once in a while you could turn the waste over with a rake for aeration.(this step can be avoided if you find it difficult. I don’t do it.) Adding some cow dung or neem cake powder also helps to accelerate the process. Water the pit 2-3 times a week.This helps to maintain the humidity. Once the pit starts to overflow then cover with 3-4 inches of soil . Continue to water 2-3 times a week.(Time to start the second pit!) In 2-3 months the volume will reduce to less than half. Dig out from the pit and clean out and remove unwanted stuff and separate the lovely black powdery compost. Voila! The labour of your love is ready for your garden. Use it in potted plants, your bonsais and also for all garden trees. See how your plants thrive. Once you see the first results, believe me you will be hooked to composting for life!!
( Sheela Babu is a member of 'Bodhi - The Chennai Bonsai Association' )
(This article is reproduced from January 2012 issue of 'Bodhi Bonsai News Letter')
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