402 Solid Waste: Turning a Health Risk Into a Resource
How to make fast compost
This is a way to produce a lot of compost in 1 to 4 months,
if you have a large open space.
➊ Choose a flat area 11/2 meters wide by
4 meters long. Mark the area with stakes.
Loosen the soil to a depth of 30 cm. This
will help the compost pile drain, and help
worms enter the pile and break down
wastes. If the soil is very dry, water it.
➋ Find 2 big sticks about as tall as a tall man. Put them upright in
the middle of the loosened earth. Do not sink them too far down,
because later you will take them out.
➌ Mark lines on the posts at 20 cm from
the ground, then 5 cm above that, then
2 cm above that. Repeat these marks
7 or 8 times until the whole post is
marked with measuring lines.
➍ Make a pile of food and plant wastes (a mix of dry and wet materials
is best) up to the 20 cm mark on the sticks. The pile should cover the
entire area of loosened earth and be of an even height. If it is very dry
add water until it is moist, but not soaked.
➎ Put a layer of animal manure up to the next line (5 cm).
Fresh manure is best because it is hot and will help the
compost break down quickly. On top of the manure, add a
layer of soil up to the next mark (2 cm). Continue building
up layers in this order as organic material becomes
available. Add a little water to each layer so
the entire pile will be damp. Over time you
can build the pile up to a height of
2 meters or so. Then cover the entire pile
with a layer of soil, and wet it more.
➏ After 2 days, remove the sticks. This will leave wide holes for air to
enter the pile and help it break down. After 3 weeks, turn and mix the
pile with a shovel. Do this again every week or so. The more you turn it, the
faster it will break down. The pile will heat up and shrink as it breaks down.
After 1 to 4 months, the pile should turn into sweet smelling, dark, fertile soil.
A Community Guide to Environmental Health 2012