COMPOSTING DEMONSTRATIONS

Retzer Nature Center Compost Demonstration Site
This interpretive site shows various bin designs and actual compost piles in various stages. Learn about home composting and what materials to use.

 

Large Scale Leaf Composting
(John of the Ecology Association of New Berlin)
See a picture slide show of John's project.
John's commentary: "My lot has about 40 trees of various sizes on it. When the leaves fall they completely cover the lawn to a depth of several inches. So I have a lot of leaves to deal with each fall. Not all of them fit into this bin. I would estimate at least 3/4 did make it. This year I am going to make the bin bigger - about 5 ft high and 5 feet in diameter. That will increase it's capacity to almost 100 cubic feet (4 cubic yards)."

                         Before                                            After

  
Getting Started...here is the procedure John used for leaf composting:

• The wire bin was 4 1/2 feet high and 4 feet in diameter (about 57 cubic feet or 2 cubic yards).
• Leaves were dumped in, then wetted (to give them some weight and soften them).
• As the leaves were added they were pushed down with a shovel to compact them.
• The bin was filled to the top with leaves.
• A concave depression was made in the top to catch rain water and melting snow.
• About 1/2 cup of urea was evenly distributed over the top as a source of nitrogen.
• The pile was not disturbed in any way.