A Guide to Vegetable Gardens - page 20

3. The importance of fertilizer
3.3 How to make compost
What to do
3.
Layer the waste matter for composting:
• The bottom layer (drainage layer) should
be about 2 cm deep and contain dry matter
like leaves, hay and dry stalks.
• A 20 cm layer of plant matter:
kitchen and garden waste.
• A 5 cm layer of manure or other animal
fertilizer. If you do not have any manure, you
can use lime or ash.
• Finally, 2 cm of soil or mature compost.
You will need to water the compost heap as
you work: water speeds up the fermentation
process. Keep on adding layers in this order
until your container is full. The compost heap
should be about one metre high. Don’t forget
to keep watering.
4.
When you have added the last layer, cover
with straw, dry grass or a damp cloth to keep
the heat and moisture in. Water one last time.
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