The tasks of waste disposal in a country house or garden are especially acute because of their remoteness from urban infrastructure. You can, of course, arrange garbage collection flights, but in conditions of active agricultural activity this simply does not make sense. Most of the waste, plant debris, fruits and mulch may well come in handy as a future fertilizer. To create it, you need a compost pit, which can be equipped directly on the site. The construction does not take up much space and practically does not require financial investments.
Placement Requirements
In general, the composting installation rules comply with the requirements for the organization of septic tanks and treatment facilities. Environmental regulations must be followed first. Thus, the distance from the pit to the closest sources of drinking water (wells, streams, wells) should be 25-30 m. At the same time, it is not recommended to compost storage at elevations relative to hydrological objects, since runoff from humus can pollute water. The wind rose is also taken into account. So that the unpleasant smell does not annoy the neighbors and does not go into the house, it is better to organize the construction in an isolated place. For example, if a compost pit is planned in a country house with a high fence, then it will be optimally placed in a corner. This solution also minimizes direct sunlight, which negatively affects the composting process.
What waste is suitable for composting?
At first glance, a waste pit can be thought of as a mini dump or a garbage warehouse. But this is not so, since in the case of compost, a quite definite task is posed to form humus without unnecessary inclusions. The following wastes are suitable for such purposes:
- Grass, straw and hay.
- Vegetables, fruits with berries, cereals and organic peeling.
- Waste from the processing of trees and shrubs - branches, bark, needles, foliage, but only in crushed form.
- Waste paper and bags from natural wood raw materials.
- Wood ash.
- Second-year manure (applies only to herbivores).
Now it is worth considering what you can not fill the compost hole. This group includes two types of waste: materials treated with chemicals and products, which in principle are not subject to decomposition. For example, it can be bones, inorganic waste, plastics, herbicidal plants, etc. It is possible to dispose of such raw materials by thermal processing on a fire.
Compost pit design options
In the simplest version, this is a home-made wooden frame formed by metal posts and trimmed with a board. You can use an existing fence, enclosing a waste storage area. But to ensure tight sealing, it still makes sense to organize a new casing, pinpointing the rails and leaving no gaps. An important structural element is ventilation. This part may also have several options. Do-it-yourself compost pit can be assembled from the frame, in which the technological hole is initially thought out, providing free air circulation. In complex capital constructions, many summer residents install ventilation pipes. This is a kind of pipe sections, but with air filters that exclude the passage of unwanted elements.
There are various approaches to the organization of protective devices. The roof is the most important element that will not allow the pit to turn into a swamp due to rainfall. If climatic conditions and the place of operation allow, then you can limit yourself to plastic wrap. It is usually chosen for small structures. Another option is to use construction pallets. They are installed both on the sides and as a topcoat.
Concrete Pit Technology
A fundamentally different type of composter, which is built with the expectation of the annual creation of fertilizer. Of course, in this case, the gardener will need more effort, cost and time. How to make a compost pit from concrete? First of all, a hole is dug with a depth of about 70-80 cm. The width and length are selected based on the planned compost volumes - an average of 2x3 m. A formwork is created at the bottom, which is then poured with concrete mortar. The mixture is made of sand, cement and gravel. When the concreted surfaces harden, the outlet of the pit is equipped with a lid. For this part, a combination of mesh netting with boards providing free access for the passage of air is used.
Finnish manufacturing
The peculiarity of the device of this composter is in strictly defined parameters. It turns out a cubic block with dimensions of 100x100x100 cm. The meter height and proportionality of the sides are important because of the balanced volume of waste from the point of view of the decomposition process. An increase in size increases the risk of overheating of dry particles in the summer, and a decrease causes an uneven distribution of moisture. But in terms of manufacturing, a compost pit of this type corresponds to a conventional wooden structure. A wooden frame is also being assembled, which is sheathed with slats, and a slate sheet can be provided on top. The advantages of this technology include the ability to easily arrange several blocks in one row. It turns out a sectional pit in which compost can be produced from waste of various types.
What else to consider in the design?
The bottom of the pit, regardless of the structural device, must be provided with a special bedding based on the slab. For ease of handling, it is worthwhile to provide hinges and handles to open the lid. If you plan to use raw waste, it will be useful to organize a small tray next to the unit for temporary drying of the material. This is not required in every case, but the opportunity itself will come in handy. To assess the state of the lower layers at different stages of decomposition, small windows can be made in the construction of the compost pit. With their own hands, cuts are made in the casing, then a movable shutter on the hinges is built in, and outside this part can be closed with a layer of waterproofing. By the way, in cold climatic zones, the casing is sometimes supplemented with insulation that protects the contents from freezing.
Ways to mask and design the pit
The simpler the composter, the higher the likelihood that its appearance will violate the harmony of the decorative area. Therefore, it will not be superfluous to take care of its additional design. The best option is to use live vegetation for this. It will turn out not just elegant, but also a natural hedge formed by green spaces. One of the methods of this type is to install a net along which liana-like plants are launched. Curly shrubs and small trees with a lush crown are also a good way to cover the structure from a third party. Also, with your own hands, the production of a compost pit can be implemented with a hint of an architectural structure. For this, stone blocks can be used. The small form design can stylistically imitate recognizable classic buildings, which will add a designer twist to the overall composition of the garden. But whatever the design method, it is important not to forget about the adverse environmental background near the pit. That is, fruit trees with shrubs, for example, should not be planted in this zone.
Facilities Maintenance
Again, it is worth emphasizing that composter is not so much a temporary storage of waste as a functional chamber for the formation of humus. During the maintenance process, it is important to monitor the internal microclimate. So, humidity is one of the key indicators that determine the degree of rotting of waste. To maintain it, it is recommended to occasionally wet the compost material with water from a watering can. Important for humus and access to oxygen. It has already been noted that special holes are created for air circulation, but even they will not help the compacted lower layers. Therefore, the compost pit should be turned and turned at least once a month. Farmers indicate that with optimal microclimate parameters, it will be enough to make several holes in the waste mass using a stick or pitchfork.
Active elements for compost
You can count on creating high-quality humus in a natural storage environment, but special additives are used to increase its maturation rate. In professional farms, biochemical preparations are used for such purposes, but folk recipes can be recommended to an ordinary summer resident. They are cheaper at a price, and their function is quite suitable for a small compost pit. You can make a yeast solution with your own hands. One Art. a spoonful of yeast is added to a liter container with water, after which a glass of sugar is also poured there. Pour this mixture in small doses into pre-made recesses. Chicken manure with optimal nitrogen content also has a beneficial effect on compost formation.
The better factory composters?
For obvious reasons, the idea of self-production attracts many gardeners and summer residents. Nevertheless, the financial costs of the purchase may well justify itself with the advantages of a high-tech factory composter. What are they? Firstly, such devices have a design acceptable for the garden. As a rule, these are dark green plastic constructions of small sizes, which organically fit into the landscape design. Secondly, most of these models have assistive process controls. If a home-made compost pit is just a design for waste, then specialized devices are equipped with timers, temperature controllers, humidity and temperature sensors. By connecting the electronics to a smartphone or computer wirelessly, you can control the process without even leaving home. But the cost of country composters reaches 10-15 thousand rubles.
Conclusion
Before planning the construction of a pit for humus on a site, one should think over and clearly define its tasks. The fact is that different types of compost have their own functional features. For example, traditional humus increases the fruitfulness of plants and helps to accelerate growth. But to create it, it is not enough just to fill the waste in a container. To obtain really useful material, regular maintenance of the structure is also required. The fact is that with your own hands it is not difficult to make a compost pit in the country house - it is enough to assemble a container from boards, slate and pallets. But further operating processes will depend on small tricks. In particular, from the correct substrate at the bottom, the intensity of ventilation and the addition of active elements. It should be remembered about the negative factors that can disrupt the composting process. High-quality insulation coupled with a sealed coating will provide protection from rain, wind and sun.