The composting process

  

  

A compost heap is a complex food web with creatures feeding on the organic matter as well as each other. Traditional composting is a process where aerobic microorganisms, which require oxygen, decompose organic materials into a nutrient-rich compost used to feed and improve your soil.

Anaerobic composting, or digestion, is a process where bacteria work without oxygen to break down organic matter. This produces biogas, a renewable energy source, and digestate, a nutrient-rich material that can be used to improve soil. 

Composting is quite a simple process to understand and approaches have changed very little over the years. We will focus on aerobic composting methods in this module, as well as how to make the most of your compost, and how to manage the fundamental building blocks of composting: 

Food, heat, air, moisture, and position.


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