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"Black Gold" doesn't just refer to oil. In fact, among those looking to reduce their oil usage, black gold has an entirely different connotation. In organic circles black gold generally refers to compost, a dark, soil-like mixture of decaying organic material that's perfect for giving your garden a nutrient-rich pick me up. Think of compost as a plant's equivalent to a shot of espresso.
so what is this black gold and where do you get it? What would you say if we told you you already have, you're just throwing it all away? Don't worry, we're here to correct that oversight and set you down the path to composting nirvana.
The great thing about making your own compost is that it's free. All you need to do is take all the organic waste that's currently choking your kitchen trash can and put it somewhere else.
If that sounds less than appealing, don't worry, we'll show you how to get your own composting system going without turning your backyard into a dump.
==Understanding Compost==
Before we get started you need to understand what composting is: When organic materials like plant matter decay tiny microorganism feed on them. The organisms take in carbon and give off all sorts of nutrients that plants need to thrive.
For those with an allergy to all things hippy, this isn't some 60's movement, it's how the entire ecosystem of the earth functions. Composting is happening all around you, why not tap into it and stop spending your hard earned money on ridiculous things like soil.
Convinced? Let's take a look at what a good compost set up needs.
# Carbon - These are what composting pros call "browns." This the essential element that micro-organisms feed on. And the micro-organisms are what we want to enrich our compost. Your best bet here are tough fibrous plants parts like leaves, fine wood chips or even shredded paper (Tip: provided it's free of harsh printing chemicals and color inks, shredded junk mail makes an excellent addition to your compost pile).
# Nitrogen - Also referred to as "greens," nitrogen is what the micro-organisms need in order to break down the carbon. Good sources of nitrogen include grass clippings and fruit or vegetable scraps from your kitchen (used coffee grounds are another great source of nitrogen).
# Water - there isn't much on this planet that doesn't need water. This part can be a bit tricky, too much drowns the micro-organisms and too little slows them down. The secret is to keep things moist, but not soaking wet.
# Air - The secret here is make sure you toss through and aerate your compost pile to give those little buggers the oxygen they need.
==Getting Set Up==
Although you don’t need a compost bin to make compost, it does make for a neater compost area and will generally provide for quicker decomposition by keeping materials evenly distributed.
Most home and garden stores sell what's known as a compost bin -- it looks a bit like the result of a forbidden romance between a trash can and dishwasher.
Although there are a variety of sizes and styles on the market, your typical store-bought compost bin is about 30 inches high and features niceties like a self-locking lid and water holes to help keep things moist. Although they aren't cheap ($100) the keep things neat and tidy.
Another option is what's known as a tumbler. Similar to the bin except that they're designed to be, well, tumbled. Rather than having to aerate the contents with pitchfork or shovel, tumblers allow you to do the job with your hands. Convenience has a price though, some of these can be as much as $300.
For the cheap, DIY fans among us there's the old standby -- chicken wire. Just grab enough chicken wire to make a cylinder some 3 feet in diameter and you're all set.
Another budget option is open pit composting. Just dig a shallow hole in the corner of your year and you're away.
For the ultimate in laziness, consider the plastic trash bag. Just fill it up with a good mixture of browns and greens, soak it down, punch a few air holes and wait three months. Viola! Compost.
===Which one is right for you?===
It depends on your needs. If you're a serious gardener looking to feed a year-round cycle of crops, you might want to go whole hog and invest in a three-bin set up. For those just looking to cut the soil costs on a [square foot garden], the chicken wire route will do just fine.
==Composting in action==
If you do it right composting happens quickly -- you should have some good compost in a month or two. The big secret is to make sure you layer your materials, keep them moist and rotate them with a pitchfork about once a week.
To get started set your container somewhere convenient and drop in an inch of soil. Spread it around evenly with a shovel. Next, layer in some organic material by putting in a couple of inches of mixed "greens" followed by a few inches of "browns."
Then just sprinkle in some water and sit back and wait.
You can add more materials -- both greens and browns -- as you generate them and don't forget to give the mixture a light tossing once a week.
If you're using a lot of kitchen materials, you can use the pitchfork to rotate those into your compost to cut down on the smell factor associated with rotting banana peels and the like.
If you want to speed things up a bit head to your local garden shop and pick up some earth worms.
==Conclusion==
Contrary to popular belief, composting isn't difficult nor is it smelly. Proper compost piles should have a deep earthy scent, a bit like the woodland soil after a rain.
Feel free to experiment with various methods. We suggest starting with the chicken wire setup and if you outgrow that then you can graduate to something a bit nicer.
The best part of composting isn't that you're helping to reduce landfills, though reducing your carbon footprint is always nice. But that's a side benefit next to what you'll get using the compost in your garden. You'll soon discover that your plants look healthier, grow faster and produce larger yields of fruit, vegetables, flowers, herbs or whatever else you're growing.
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