Compost (and the act of creating it — composting) is one of those things that TreeHuggers bandy about when talking about “going green” or “saving the planet”, and the concept is fairly easy to understand: organic waste breaks down and decomposes to create a nutrient-rich fertilizer/soil additive. But, as it turns out, there’s a bit more to it than that. Here’s an introduction.

According to Wikipedia [en.wikipedia.org], Compost is the “aerobically derived remnants of organic materials,” which, in plain English, is what you get when you combine the leftovers of plant and animal-based stuff, add a little air, water and nitrogen. The decomposition is performed primarily by aerobes — organisms with oxygen-based metabolism — although larger creatures such as ants, nematodes, and worms (in a process is also known as vermiculture) can also contribute. This decomposition occurs naturally except for in extreme anaerobic conditions, like in landfills, very arid deserts or cold weather such as boreal winters or polar regions, which prevent the microbes and other decomposers from thriving. Decomposition happens even in the absence of some of these ingredients, but not as quickly or as pleasantly.

Given enough time, all biodegradable material will compost. The goal in a composting system is to provide a healthy environment and nutrition for the rapid decomposers, the bacteria. Not all biodegradable materials are appropriate for backyard or at-home composting, though. Most backyard systems will not reach temperatures high enough to kill pathogens and deter vermin, so pet droppings, non-vegetarian animal manure, meat scraps, and dairy products are best left in the trash.

The most rapid composting occurs with the ideal carbon to nitrogen ratio of between 25 and 30 to 1 by dry chemical weight. In other words, the ingredients placed in the pile should contain 25 to 30 times as much carbon as nitrogen. For example, grass clippings average about 19 to 1 and dry autumn leaves average about 55 to 1, so mixing equal parts by volume nets approximately the correct range.

Compost is used most often at the consumer level in gardening and agriculture as a fertilizer-type soil additive, and can also often replace commercial fertilizers, but there are numerous other benefits. Using compost improves soil structure, texture, and aeration and increases the soil’s water-holding capacity. Compost also loosens clay soils and helps sandy soils retain water. Adding compost improves soil fertility and stimulates healthy root development in plants. The organic matter provided in compost provides food for microorganisms, which keeps the soil in a healthy, balanced condition. Nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus will be produced naturally by the feeding of microorganisms, so few, if any, other soil additives will be needed.

Anyone with a few extra square feet (even inside your kitchen or out on a deck or balcony) can produce compost (stay tuned for a few of our favorites later this week). Though a common misconception, properly aerated compost does not smell like rotten food, which makes it possible for apartment and other small home-dwellers to create their own without making a big mess or raising a stink. Check Wikipedia’s compost article [en.wikipedia.org], the How to Make Compost’s Guide [www.compostguide.com], the US EPA’s composting site [www.epa.gov] and the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service compost site [www.nrcs.usda.gov] for more information, and stay tuned for more tips throughout the week.

After working a long day, few things tantalize like a rapid descent into the plushy softness of a couch or the inviting arms of a lazy-boy. This week on THE GREEN, we focus on how we FURNISH our homes and work places. When resting a head or a hopefully not-so-rapidly increasing butt on furniture, one wants to know that it was equally as rewarding to make that furniture in the first place. The day that they perfect the art of making a bed made entirely out of moss should be intriguingly close.

BIG IDEAS FOR A SMALL PLANET: FURNISH

S+S Hat Company is developing a new line of decorative bowls that are produced using “existing infrastructures that have ecological advantages.” This means that the bowls are made from biodegradable materials which are strong but yet can they can be made in a factory powered by “steam and human power” (or more aptly, a worker in the factory named Derrick). These bowls are very colorful and they love the environment almost as much as your neighborhood greeny, so make sure to check them out soon.

The two carpenters who collect wood that is dump-bound are so cool that it’s really hard to contain the excitement in telling you about them. These guys smartly figured out that businesses like furniture makers throw out a huge amount of scrap wood. Not only does paying for disposal of this wood scrap cost those businesses big money, but in many cases these scraps are perfectly fine wood that just does not meet the specifications of a high end operation. These carpenters turn these scraps into furniture, so basically they get all their materials for free. THIS IS A PRETTY INCREDIBLE BUSINESS MODEL, ask anybody. Well, now that your monitor is in danger of short circuiting from my drool, check out this video of these two savvy carpenters.

ECO DOCUMENTARY: CLEAR CUT: THE STORY OF PHILOMATH, OREGON

This week exposes a very interesting conundrum in the form of a community that sprung up around a singular business, namely, logging. Philomath, Oregon is surrounded by lush forests and the logging industry has been going strong there for a long time. The logging “barons” in the town did so well that they sponsored scholarships for students at the local schools. The problems began when the teachers at those schools started to teach environmentalism. The loggers were going about business as usual, and then one day kids in the town started to mention the fact that logging companies were “murderers”. Naturally, this started up a firestorm that led to the logging companies threatening to cancel scholarships and funding for the local schools unless… For more on this story, check out THE GREEN Eco-Documentaries page.