Effective Composting with Brown and Green Materials

With a newfound emphasis on wise stewardship of the earth, sustainable use of resources, and living organically, the practice of composting has experienced increased interest among many growers and gardeners. Composting is the art of manufacturing enriched material from decomposing organic matter, then rejuvenating soil naturally by incorporating the nutrient dense compost to restore minerals and improve the quality of the soil.

Composting is critical to the health of any organic garden or farming operation, as it provides one of the best methods for amending soil and restoring it for future use. While the concept is simple enough, there is a little know-how that goes into properly generating effective compost, as there’s more to it than simply decomposing organic matter. Keep reading to learn more about combining brown materials and green materials for compost in Georgia.

What Are Green Materials?

The term green materials doesn’t always apply to the color, as green materials can technically appear in all shades of the spectrum. Green materials instead refers more to the moisture content and age of the material. For example, compost fodder such as fresh grass clippings, fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, tea leaves, and trimmings from your garden or shrubs can all be classified as green materials. These materials are important to your compost mix because they are a primary source of nitrogen, which is one of the building blocks of plant life. They also contribute moisture which helps facilitate the composting process.

What Are Brown Materials?

Just as green materials supply one of the foundational elements needed for plant life, brown materials likewise serve as an excellent source of another critical element, namely carbon. These materials are usually brown or a shade of brown, and the list can include straw, hay, corn cobs, dry leaves, paper refuse, and even eggshells. Brown materials are dry in nature, but they introduce carbon into the compost and help add structure that benefits the composting process tremendously. They also inject a source of energy into the composting process while removing excess water.

Balancing Brown and Green

A compost batch that leans too heavily on one type of material or the other is bound to struggle, as effective, efficient composting requires the proper balance of green and brown materials. While composting will occur even when the mix is out of balance, it’s quicker and more efficient when you can blend the two types of materials in roughly equal parts. There are other consequences of an unbalanced mix that go beyond composting efficiency, however. For example, overly wet compost will have a stronger odor.

When starting your own compost, it’s important to understand the importance of both brown materials and green materials for compost in Georgia. Both types of materials play a critical role in the quality of the resulting compost as well as the speed and efficiency of the composting process.