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Why compost? Not only can composting save money by reducing household waste and water use, but it is also great for the environment! Composting builds soil ecosystems, improves drainage, and increases plant yield and health.
Composting also improves a community's climate resilience through enabling the soil to better absorb and retain water, reducing the effects of flooding and drought.
Composting is generally done in a bin, although open pile composting is an alternative, especially on large properties. Using a bin is recommended in hamlet settings. Open composting piles are not allowed within 10 meters of an adjacent house, as per the Community Standards Bylaw
When starting your compost, layer from the bottom up: straw or soil, 3 inches of "greens," 6 inches of "browns," and 2 inches of soil and water. Repeat layers if needed. Compost should be approximately 75% “Browns” and 25% “Greens.” However, this is a loose ratio and may need to be adjusted depending on what materials you are adding. See 'troubleshooting' below.
Moisture is EssentialMoisture is essential for composting, as it allows for the regulation of heat and boosts microorganism survival. Water every 3-7 days; you want the compost to feel like a wrung-out cloth. A small amount of water should come out when squeezed. Make use of rainwater by turning the pile while it is raining. If your pile is not in a container, making it concave on the top will trap extra moisture, while making it peaked will shed excess water. If the pile becomes too wet, add more dry material.
Turning compost allows the pile to aerate, reduces compaction, prevents overheating, and gives the microbes oxygen to do their job. However, too much turning dissipates heat, making the process take longer. Turning every 3-7 days is ideal but can depend on the size of the pile and moisture; if the pile is small, very moist, or inconsistently moist, it needs to be turned more often. Turn every time you add new material.
The ideal temperature of compost can vary but should not exceed 70 degrees C (160 degrees F), and overheating can kill the beneficial microbes. If your compost pile exceeds 70 degrees C, turn, add water, or add more material.
Finally, while not necessary, adding soil from various sources or someone else's compost can add biodiversity and improve composting.
Looking to expand your gardening knowledge? Visit the Red Brick Common website and the Stony Plain Horticultural Society
Greens are a high source of nitrogen and provide microorganisms with protein, allowing them to multiply quickly and break down the material into soil. Greens include:
Fresh plant material:
From the kitchen:
Other:
Browns are a source of carbon and give microbes the energy they need to break down organic matter. Browns include:
Plant material:
Kitchen scraps:
Paper and wood products:
Other:
Some things are better left out of your compost pile. Adding these may slow decomposition, attract pests, carry disease pathogens, lead to weed growth, or add unwanted chemicals:
Placing cat feces, dog feces, animal parts, or animal meat on a composting pile or in a composting container violates Parkland County's Community Standards Bylaw. Similarly, compost piles that create offensive odors or attract animals are in violation of the bylaw. See the troubleshooting section for resolving a smelly compost pile.
In preparation for winter, stockpile greens and browns in containers or bags to have at hand. Insulate your bin by wrapping it with a tarp or cardboard to minimize heat escape.
Continue to feed your compost the right balance of greens and browns throughout winter, layering as before. However, do not turn/mix or add water during the winter months as this will lower the temperature of the compost pile and cause freezing.
If you do not want to keep composting during the winter, then allow your compost pile to freeze; adding water will encourage freezing. In April, mix your compost pile to encourage the composting process to continue.
If there are pieces of food, large chunks of material, or the compost is still warm, then the compost is not ready. Some small twigs, fruit pits, or other hard materials are okay.
Use the bag test to ensure your compost is done: Put a handful of moist compost into a plastic bag, pressing out the air before sealing. Leave for 3 days, then open. If the compost smells sour or like ammonia, the compost is not ready. Wait another week and try again.
When compost is done, it should:
Once the compost is done, wait until the temperature is below 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees F) for a couple of weeks. This “Curing Phase” lets the low-temperature fungi and bacteria finish their work.
Add a handful of compost into each hole when planting. Once plants are growing quickly, add a half-inch layer around the base. Heavy feeders like tomatoes, corn, and squash benefit from this monthly.
Enrich garden beds in the spring by loosening the top few inches of soil and mixing in 1 inch of compost. In the fall, work 1-2 inches of compost into the top 3-5 inches of soil.
Rake compost into tree beds or top dress around shrubs by adding 1 inch of compost into the top 2 inches of soil from the trunk to the dripline, not touching the trunk.
Top-dress lawns with ½ inch fine compost on top of existing turf. Treat lawn bald spots by adding an inch of compost into the soil and reseed.
| Symptom | Probable Cause | What to Do |
| Compost pile smells. | Lack of oxygen; too wet; or too many greens. | Turn over compost to add air into the pile; Add more browns. |
| Sweet odor without heat. | Low nitrogen (not enough greens). | Add fresh grass clippings or fertilizer rich in nitrogen. |
| Center of pile is too dry. | Low humidity in center. | Add water while turning. |
| Center of pile is too damp and warm. | Pile is too small. | Add new material and mix to grow your pile. |
| Composting is not happening or is very slow. | Too much carbon (browns) or too dry. | Add more greens and water; mix. You can also try chopping greens into smaller pieces. |
Contact Us
Parkland County Centre
53109A HWY 779, Parkland County, AB T7Z 1R1
General Office: 780-968-8888
Toll Free: 1-888-880-0858
After hours: 780-968-8400
Email: hello@parklandcounty.com
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