Passive "Cold" Composting

In Granny's Gardens, we promote and practice a passive method of composting for most of our garden waste.  Passive composting is nature's way.  It takes longer than actively mixing and turning the organic material but it gets the job done.  Each fall, the City of Loveland delivers truck loads of leaves that are left to decompose until the following fall.  By the time school starts in September, the leaves have turned into perfect compost that is ready to be placed on the gardens.  By placing the finished product on our gardens, we are taking advantage of the work of millions of creatures to enrich our soil for next season's crop of flowers and vegetables. Though sometimes referred to as "cold composting", if you dig into our pile, you feel it is very warm inside.

• Mulching is the first step in passive composting.  Nature spreads thin layers of organic materials evenly over the surface of the soil. Year after year, season upon season, leaves and blades of grass mature, die, and fall to the ground. Soil organisms begin the process of decomposition. First molds, then bacteria, later earthworms and beetles all come to return organic matter back to the soil from which it came. In this process of natural mulching, topsoil is gradually created over time.

• Whenever possible, we aid in the process in our gardens.  When pulling weeds, for example, as long as it is not in flower or seed, it goes back into the garden.  Larger weeds should be cut 3-4" inch pieces and the pieces left in the gardens. Flowers and seed heads, can be removed and placed in the dumpster. 

• When disposing of spoiled tomatoes or other produce, dig a hole in the garden or path and cover the produce with 4-5 inches of soil.  Leaving it exposed will draw unwanted insects and animals. Frequent harvesting should all but eliminate the need to dispose of produce.

• We do the same in the fall. Instead of pulling them out by the roots, most annuals should be cut at soil level with the roots left to decompose.  As they do, they leave behind little channels that aid the soil in soaking up the rain. Most of the material will have decomposed by spring. 

• In some areas, it is not convenient for students to haul garden refuse to the large compost pile. In these areas we are using a trench composting method. Mid October we have a volunteer group dig one or two large trenches. The students fill them as they clean out their beds.  Then, the pile is covered with a combination of compost and the soil removed earlier, so it is ready for planting in the spring.  Or, if it is in a path, the soil is replaced and topped with woodchips.