The compost heap is one of the central elements in the permaculture garden. Garden waste is disposed of here and converted into a valuable raw material.
How to create a compost pile in permaculture?
In permaculture, the compost heap is used as a central element to convert garden waste into valuable humus. The ideal location is windless in partial shade, and the pile should be framed with materials from the garden. Kitchen and garden waste is suitable, meat and dairy products as well as weeds and diseased plant parts should be avoided.
The compost heap in permaculture
An important principle of permaculture is not to throw anything away. Everything is recycled in a kind of cycle – just like it works in nature. Leaves are not garbage but important mulch, garden waste is food for animals or the basic building material for valuable humus and grass cuttings, tree cuttings and other things are used for hill beds, raised beds or the compost heap. The resulting humus improves the soil quality (also a principle of permaculture) and ensures a rich harvest - also a principle of permaculture. Read all 12 permaculture principles here.
Framing the compost heap
A compost heap is usually provided with a frame so that it does not spread voluminously in all directions. Since, as I said, in permaculture the existing resources are fully utilized and as little as possible should be added from outside, you should use materials from your garden for the frame construction. For example:
- big stones
- large branches and tree trimmings
- Any existing boards, pallets or similar
- old car tires
- Old fences
It is also possible to use existing hills as a “wall”.
The best location for the compost heap
The compost heap should be easily accessible and protected from wind and strong sunlight. A windless place in partial shade is best.
What can and cannot be thrown into the compost heap?
Kitchen and garden waste is quickly converted into compost by helpful insects. Meat, dairy products and other leftover food can attract larger animals such as rats and should not be disposed of in the compost
All tree waste such as wood, branches, bark and leaves only decompose slowly. It is therefore best to use larger branches for staking out beds or for hilled beds and use some of the leaves as mulch so that only a small amount of tree waste ends up in the compost. Even grass clippings can only be disposed of when they have withered and in small quantities on the compost heap. However, you can simply leave grass clippings on the lawn and supply the lawn with nutrients. Weeds and diseased plant parts should under no circumstances be put in the compost.
Tip
Even if you don't have a garden, you don't have to go without good, homemade hummus. With a worm farm (€119.00 on Amazon) you can easily compost kitchen waste in a large container.
