http://www.howitworksdaily.com How It Works 045
DID YOU KNOW? Naturally occurring peat bogs absorb a huge amount of carbon dioxide from out of the air
A gardener’s
black gold
Compostcomprisesofdecomposed
organicmattersuchastwigs,clippings
andkitchenscraps.It is estimatedthat
between 10 and 30 percentoflandfills
aremadeupofgardenandhousehold
wastethatcouldhavebeenusedtomake
thisenvironmentallyfriendlyresource.
Compostcanbeusedasa fertiliser,
reintroducingvitalnutrientsand‘humus’
duringtheplantingofdelicateseedlings
andsaplings.It canalsobeusedto
combatareasofhigherosion.The
compostis addedtotopsoiltostop
sedimentrun-offandcontrolthe
impactofrainfall.
Makingyourowncompostis easyand
inexpensive.Selectyourcontainer,
removethebottomsothatitscontents
touchthesoilandventilatethesides.Use
smallbranchesatthebasetoaeratethe
pile.Makea layerofgreenmaterialssuch
asfreshgrassclippings,whichwill
providenitrogen,anda brownlayer
includingdealeaveswhichwillprovide
carbon.Waterthepileif it getstoodry
andaeratebymixingtheheap.A not-so-neat-and-
tidylawn
Lawnweedssuchasclover
anddandelionsprovidevital
pollenforthebees,soavoid
cuttingyourlawntooshort.A crazy-pavingpath
Allowswildflowerstoself-seed
in thecracksandprovidesdark
nooksforwoodlicetothrivein.Anuntidyshed
A ramshackleshedwill
providea perfecthomefor
spiders,miceandearwigs,
shelteringfromtherain.Bewareofthepet!
Ensurethatyourpetswear
bellsontheircollarstowarn
thewildlifeoftheirarrival
intothegarden.ation by The Art Agency / Nick Sellers© Illustration by The Art Agency / Peter ScottProtectivecover
Stopswaterfromentering
andkeepsheatin.Risingair
Compostheaps
gethot,causing
airtorise.Insidetheheap
Microorganismsbreak
downorganicmaterial.Circulatingair
Smallgapsin thewalls
aeratethecompost.