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Composting FAQ’s - Your Guide to Sustainable Living with Tumbleweed
Whether you are new to composting or looking to refine your techniques, this guide has you covered. Composting is an excellent way to reduce waste, enrich your garden, and contribute to a more sustainable future. Let us dive into the most frequently asked questions about composting.
Where do I position my compost bin?
Your compost bin/s should be in an accessible location, either in the shade or in the sun, it doesn’t matter as long as you satisfy the ADAM principles.
What Can I Compost?
As a general rule, you can compost anything that was once living, such as garden waste and food scraps. Some examples of garden waste that can be composted include straw/mulch dead flowers and lawn clippings. Some examples of food scraps that can be composed include vegetable scraps and other organic kitchen scraps (including eggshells), coffee ground and tea bags, newspapers and cardboard.
What tools can I use?
The Tumbleweed Compost Mate and Tumbleweed Aerator are convenient and effective tools to help you aerate your compost bin every week. You can also use these tools to quickly bring rich, finished compost from the bottom of your bin to the top for harvesting.
How do I know when my compost will be ready?
It takes six to eight weeks for organic waste to mature and turn into compost. Don’t add any more ingredients during this time – simply mix it every week and ensure it remains moist. Once it’s ready, your compost will smell earthy and look like a dark brown, rich, clumpy soil.
How do I harvest compost?
Harvesting finished compost is easy, simply use a Tumbleweed Compost Mate or Tumbleweed Aerator to extract some mature compost or simply lift and move your bin and shovel the ready compost to use in your garden.
How can I speed up my compost bin?
The microbes working in your compost bin need nitrogen. This is initially supplied by food scraps you add to the bin, however you can add nitrogen to speed up decomposition. Use garden manures, such as chicken and cow manure and even add extra Tumbleweed Worm Farm & Compost Conditioner. For best results, make sure you follow the ADAM principles and keep your compost moist and regularly aerated. Learn more about nitrogen through our blog How Organic Matter Turns from a Nitrogen Source to a Carbon Source.
What happens if my compost bin smells?
If you are following the ADAM principles, your compost bin should not smell. If it does, the first thing you should do is more mixing. Use your Tumbleweed Compost Mate or Tumbleweed Aerator to drill down to the base of your compost bin then pull it back to let more oxygen into the heap. Add some extra Tumbleweed Worm Farm & Compost Conditioner to reduce acidity.
How do I avoid cockroaches and ants in my compost bin?
Cockroaches and ants like dry cavities. To eliminate them from your compost, apply your ADAM principles: mix and aerate your compost weekly, keep it moist and regularly sprinkle Tumbleweed Worm Farm & Compost Conditioner.
How do I vermin proof my compost bin?
Always ensure the lid is firmly replaced to seal your bin and prevent rats and vermin from getting in from the top. To stop them from burrowing underneath, use your Tumbleweed Compost Mate and Tumbleweed Aerator, to mix the compost all the way to the base of the heap then lift it back out. You’ll dramatically reduce the risk of rats and vermin by keeping the contents of your compost bin moist and aerated.
Do you still have some questions. Head over to Composting FAQ’S to learn more or to contact us.