While she modestly avoids claiming expertise, her results demonstrate a clear understanding of the principles that underpin effective composting.<\/p>\n
In contrast to large-scale or highly technical systems, Coleman\u2019s approach emphasises adaptability.<\/p>\n
On smaller sections where green waste is limited, she supplements her compost inputs by sourcing materials such as coffee grounds from local caf\u00e9s and horse manure from nearby properties.<\/p>\n
During autumn, she collects fallen leaves, recognising them as a valuable carbon-rich component.<\/p>\n
To accelerate their decomposition, she spreads leaves across her lawn before mowing, allowing the mower to shred them into smaller pieces.<\/p>\n
This is an efficient technique that increases the surface area for microbial activity.<\/p>\n
Central to her system is the use of bokashi composting to manage household food waste.<\/p>\n
Rather than relying solely on traditional composting methods, Coleman incorporates bokashi fermentation as a preliminary step.<\/p>\n
Using a simple two-bucket system, where one bucket with drainage holes sits inside another, she collects kitchen scraps and layers them with bokashi bran.<\/p>\n
This bran introduces beneficial micro-organisms that initiate the fermentation process.<\/p>\n
For optimal results, she applies approximately one tablespoon of bran per colander-sized volume of food waste.<\/p>\n
Once the bucket is full, the contents are sealed and left to ferment for at least two weeks.<\/p>\n
During this time, the waste undergoes anaerobic breakdown, often producing a white fungal growth indicative of successful fermentation.<\/p>\n
After this period, the material can be buried directly into soil or added to a compost heap, where it acts as an effective activator and accelerates the overall decomposition process.<\/p>\n
Coleman\u2019s composting system also demonstrates an understanding of temperature management, an essential factor in producing mature, pathogen-free compost.<\/p>\n
She uses a compost thermometer to monitor internal temperatures, aiming for levels above 60\u00b0C.<\/p>\n
At this temperature, most weed seeds and harmful organisms are destroyed.<\/p>\n
In her 400-litre compost bin, this thermophilic phase typically lasts several days before the pile begins to cool.<\/p>\n
To maintain microbial activity and prolong the high-temperature phase, she regularly aerates the compost using a corkscrew-style tool.<\/p>\n
This introduces oxygen into the pile, supporting aerobic decomposition and preventing compaction.<\/p>\n
Proper aeration not only sustains heat but also reduces the likelihood of unpleasant odours commonly associated with poorly managed compost.<\/p>\n
While partially decomposed material can be applied as mulch, Coleman allows her compost additional time to mature fully.<\/p>\n
The end product is a fine, dark, crumbly substance rich in nutrients and organic matter.<\/p>\n
A final sieving process removes larger, undecomposed fragments, ensuring a consistent and workable material for garden application.<\/p>\n
Complementing her composting system is a well-maintained worm farm. <\/p>\n
Composting worms process selected food scraps into nutrient-dense castings and liquid fertiliser, often referred to as worm tea. However, not all organic waste is suitable for worms.<\/p>\n
Items such as meat, citrus, and onions are excluded and instead directed to the bokashi system.<\/p>\n
This integrated approach allows Coleman to maximise the use of household waste while respecting the limitations of each method.<\/p>\n
Interestingly, Coleman did not purchase her worm population.<\/p>\n
Instead, she attracted local worms by burying bokashi-treated material within netting.<\/p>\n
Over time, the site became populated with worms well-suited to her conditions, demonstrating that effective composting does not always require specialised inputs.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, composting is much like baking a cake.<\/p>\n
Success depends on achieving the right balance of ingredients, maintaining appropriate conditions, and allowing sufficient time for the process to unfold.<\/p>\n
With careful attention and consistency, what begins as kitchen scraps and garden waste can be transformed into a valuable resource, benefiting both the garden and the environment.<\/p>\n
Kem Ormond<\/a> is a features writer for The Country<\/a>. She\u2019s also a keen gardener<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"While she modestly avoids claiming expertise, her results demonstrate a clear understanding of the principles that underpin effective…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":511233,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[46704,123599,8589,134,27892,221,15221,8587,5812,111,43,139,69,9061,8588,114736,4887,1954,29191,21324,61,21980,25361],"class_list":["post-511232","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-zealand","tag-compost","tag-composting","tag-garden","tag-health","tag-household","tag-how","tag-improve","tag-kem","tag-make","tag-new-zealand","tag-news","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-often","tag-ormonds","tag-promoted","tag-reduce","tag-simple","tag-soil","tag-sustainable","tag-to","tag-vegetable","tag-waste"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/511232","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=511232"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/511232\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/511233"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=511232"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=511232"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=511232"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}