2023-05-27 Composting at Home 101

1. The
presentation
will begin shortly.
Welcome!
The voucher for the free
composter* is shown at
the end of this lecture.
1-Click on the link
2- Take the evaluation 3-
Print out or photograph
the voucher
*Miami-Dade residents only

2. COMPOSTING
101
Ellen Book,
UF/IFAS Extension
Miami-Dade County
Master Gardener
Link to slide presentation:
https://TINYURL.com/RegrowDirt
The chat box
will open at the
end of the
lecture for a
Q&A session.

3. Ellen Book, Branch Manager Pinecrest Branch Library
booke@mdpls.org www.mdpls.org

4. So first.
A few
features….

5. Choose your library card!

15. Ad-free. Influence-free.
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17. Outside the Library
Get a 24-hour access code to start reading. After 24 hours,
return here to get a new code. There are no limits on how many
codes you can use.

19. 0

22. Registration opens June 1, 2023

33. 7 day
check
out for
full
music
albums

35. TV SHOWS & MOVIES 3-DAY

36. Acs select classes from MasterClass with your MDPLS
card!

40. Help create PLARN balls
Recycle bags into mats
for the homeless
Mats for the homeless

42. Now about some upcoming programs & services…

43. Fridays
@ 10:30am
Saturdays
@ 10:30am
HEEL 2 HEAL,
AVI THE POODLE, &
CANINE ASSISTANCE READING
ENHANCEMENT
Wednesdays
@ 10:30am

44. Genealogy Society of Greater Miami
First Saturdays at 3pm
contact: gsgmfl@gmail.com

45. June 10, 2023 @ 2pm

46. Author Series:
The VIPs in baseball
history who made their
mark in Miami, as the
game developed from
townball to sanctioned
professional play.
Saturday,
July 8, 2023 @ 2pm

51. HYBRID
PROGRAM
A Good Book
Book Club
first Thursdays
@ 6pm

52. 2nd & 3rd
Saturdays
10:30am

54. Saturday, May 27
3:30pm - 5:30pm
Serie virtual
de autores
con Pilar
López

55. Painting Together
Thursdays 11-2

56. June 12, 2023
10 am – 2 pm
Telephone
Pinecrest Library
for an appointment or email
booke@mdpls.org
www.GatherGoGet.com

59. JUNE 12 – AUGUST
16
MONDAY – FRIDAY
12PM – 1PM

60. COMPOSTING
101
Ellen Book,
Master Gardener
UF/IFAS Extension
Miami-Dade County
Master Gardener
Link to slide presentation:
https://TINYURL.com/RegrowDirt
The chat box
will open at the
end of the
lecture for a
Q&A session.

65. RAIN BARREL WORKSHOP
JUN 03, 2023 @ 10:30 AM-12 NOON
Where: Tropical Audubon
Society, 5530 Sunset Drive, Miami,
FL, 33143
CREATING RAIN GARDENS,
BIOSWALES, AND PONDS: SOAK
UP THE RAIN IN YOUR GARDEN
JUN 24, 2023 @ 2PM -3PM
Where: Virrick Park Branch Library,
3255 Plaza St, Miami, FL 33133

66. Institute of Food and
Agricultural Sciences - IFAS
https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/miami-dade/

69. Everyday Information Source

70. Everyday Information Source

71. Everyday Information Source

72. Gardening Solutions

74. https://tinyurl.com/MiamiVeggies

77. Was NOT me

78. Kitchen food scraps. Photo: Tia Silvasy, UF/IFAS

79. Too much
too wet
too long…
Anaerobic bacteria
kills worms
UF/IFAS

81. A Tumbler Bin Composter
UF/IFAS

86. Fill out the evaluation
at the end of the
program for a voucher
80-gallon capacity
Size:
32” diameter X 32” tall

87. THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR FOR LOCATING
YOUR COMPOSTER IS CONVENIENCE.
What Is The Best Location For A Compost Bin In
Your Yard – Sun or Shade?

88. Sheet Composting Top-dressing on
the soil surface like a garden lasagna
right onto a future growing space.
Trench Composting - composting
directly in the soil
Cold Bin Composting Fill your
compost bin halfway with browns and
bury kitchen scraps
Bokashi Bucket anaerobic bacteria
(grass-like inoculated bran, rice, dried
leaves sprinkled over scraps). 10
days to ferment & “pickle” waste,
forming an acidic organic matter that
must be dug into the soil or added to
a compost pile.
TYPES OF COMPOSTING

90. .

92. GREENs = nitroGen
BROWNs = carBon
NitroGen = Protein
CarBon = Energy
From: https://small-farm-permaculture-and-
sustainable-living.com/how-build-compost-pile/

93. THE RECIPE

96. Can I compost this?
Material Can I Compost? Comment
Banana skins Yes
Bird cage "waste" Yes
Bone meal Yes
Bread Yes
Cereal Yes
Citrus (e.g., oranges,
grapefruit, lemons, tangerines)
Yes
Green/nitrogen - must cut in
half or quarter before
composting; mix with browns
& add 6-inch layer of browns
on top
Coffee grounds (with paper
filter)
Yes Green/nitrogen
Corn cobs Yes
Cornmeal Yes
Cottonseed meal Yes
Crop waste Yes
Egg shells Yes Adds calcium

97. Citrus
green/nitrogen
cut in half or quarter before composting
mix with browns &
add a 6-inch layer of browns on top

99. BROWNS ON THE BOTTOM & TOP ARE

102. Attribution to: KidsGardening: A Kids’ Guide to Messing Around in the Dirt by Kevin Raftery

106. Photo www.bobvila.com

107. From : https://www.emnz.com/article/microbial-imbalances-in-the-soil

108. “The secret world beneath our feet is mind-blowing –
and the key to our planet’s future : Don’t dismiss soil:
its unknowable wonders could ensure the survival of our
species”
by George Monbiot in The Guardian, 5/7/2022
I

114. AS PILE TEMPERATURES  & 
TIME IS NEEDED FOR VARIOUS
MICROORGANISMS TO COLONIZE

115. Left: (1 year old) Last year’s material all garden stuff, grass & leaves,
kitchen: banana peels veg. trimmings from the pile’s top.
Middle: (2 years old) bottom of this year’s pile put into bags
Right: (3 years old) Finished product from the bags to be used in the
garden & greenhouse this year
GUESS WHERE THIS
COMPOST WAS MADE?

116. Smaller surface areas
decompose faster

118. Attribution to: KidsGardening: A Kids’ Guide to Messing Around in the Dirt by Kevin Raftery

119. Compost
bin
cutaway

120. Aeration
keeps
microbes
alive.
Anerobic
microbes
STINK!

121. Compost Crank
Compost Aerator

123. The free compost bins have
trapdoors at the bottom to access
the compost which may need to be
further cured/finished at a lower
temperature.

124. Check for moisture when
turning the compost.
The consistency should
feel like a wrung-out sponge.
UF/IFAS

125. Smaller bits
decompose
faster
BIGGER
pieces need
more time

126. Unfinished compost
may stress plants, causing
yellowing or stalling growth

127. Heat cooks most weeds.
For hot composting turn when pile
temperature drops below 100°F or
if the pile is more than 150°F

128. HEALTHY VEGGIES AND PLANTS START WITH
HEALTHY SOIL!
UF/IFAS Leon County Extension

129. Five “Pests”
in a Compost Pile

130. NOW LET’S TALK ABOUT…

131. Vermi-Composting Definitions
• Vermiculture – Work farming process of
culturing worms to decompose organic food
waste, turning it into nutrient rich material
• Casting – Worm waste, digested food
• Omnivores – Animals that eat plants and
animals
• Hermaphrodites – Animals with male and
female sex organs.
http://clipart-library.com/

132. Red Wigglers

133. Contains
• 5Xs the available nitrogen
• 7Xs the available potash
• 50% more calcium
than 6” of good top soil
• Water soluble nutrient immediately available for
plant intake.
Will not burn root system
unlike fresh raw manures
Red Wigglers
UF/IFAS

134. v

135. https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/saras
ota/natural-resources/waste-
reduction/composting/quizfa
q/
COMPOST QUIZ
!

136. 1) I'm having problems with
my compost system and I'm not
sure of the cause. What should
I do first?
a. Add water
b. Add browns/carbon rich
material
c. Turn the compost

137. 1) I'm having problems with
my compost system and I'm not
sure of the cause. What should
I do first?
a. Add water
b. Add browns/carbon rich
material
c. Turn the compost

138. 2) My compost smells bad and
I turned it yesterday. What can I
do?
a. Add bulky browns/carbon-rich
material
b. Add greens/nitrogen-rich
material
c. Add water

139. 2) My compost smells bad and
I turned it yesterday. What can I
do?
a. Add bulky browns/carbon-rich
material
b. Add greens/nitrogen-rich
material
c. Add water

140. 3) My pile won't heat up, but I have
the proper volume of material
(approximately 1 cubic yard), enough
oxygen (aeration), and a good balance
of carbon to nitrogen (approximately
30:1). What can I do?
a. Add lime
b. Add moisture
c. Add potting soil
d. Add clean wood ash
e. All of the above

141. 3) My pile won't heat up, but I have
the proper volume of material
(approximately 1 cubic yard),
enough oxygen (aeration), and a
good balance of carbon to
nitrogen (approximately 30:1).
What can I do?
b. Add moisture

142. 4) What can I do about flies in my
compost?
a. Spray with pesticide
b. Create a separate pile for kitchen
scraps
c. No need to act

143. 4) What can I do about flies in
my compost?
a. Spray with pesticide
b. Create a separate pile for
kitchen scraps
c. No need to act

144. 5) How can I compost in my
high-rise condominium or
apartment?
a. With a compost bin
b. With worms
c. With the in-sink disposal

145. 5) How can I compost in my
high-rise condominium or
apartment?
a. With a compost bin
b. With worms
c. With the in-sink disposal

146. 6) What is the optimal size of a
composting system?
a. The bigger, the better
b. Long and narrow
c. About 3 feet high by 3 feet long
by 3 feet wide

147. 6) What is the optimal size of a
composting system?
a. The bigger, the better
b. Long and narrow
c. About 3 feet high by 3 feet long
by 3 feet wide

148. 7) What can be used as a catalyst or
inoculant to get my compost pile
started?
a. Finished compost
b. Large pieces left over from screening
compost
c. Small amount of organic top soil from
the yard
d. Commercially prepared inoculant
e. All of the above

149. 7) What can be used as a catalyst or
inoculant to get my compost pile
started?
a. Finished compost
b. Large pieces left over from screening
compost
c. Small amount of organic topsoil from th
yard
d. Commercially prepared inoculant
e. All of the above

150. 8) How do I get rid of fire ants
in my compost pile?
a. Leave the pile alone
b. Water and turn the pile
c. Spray the pile with pesticide

151. 8) How do I get rid of fire ants
in my compost pile?
a. Leave the pile alone
b. Water and turn the pile
c. Spray the pile with pesticide

152. 9) When is the compost
finished?
a. After 6-8 weeks
b. When the compost appears dark,
crumbly, and looks and smells like
soil
c. When the pile temperature
exceeds 131 degrees F

153. 9) When is the compost
finished?
a. After 6-8 weeks
b. When the compost appears dark,
crumbly, and looks and smells like
soil
c. When the pile temperature
exceeds 131 degrees F

154. 10) What determines how long it takes for
organic material to become useful
compost?
a. Size of materials place into composting
system
b. Carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratio of materials
place into composting system
c. Level of management/attention paid to the
composting process
d. Intended use for finished compost
e. All of the above

155. 10) What determines how long it takes for
organic material to become useful
compost?
a. Size of materials place into composting
system
b. Carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratio of materials
place into composting system
c. Level of management/attention paid to the
composting process
d. Intended use for finished compost
e. All of the above

156. 11) Must I cover the compost bin?
a. Yes
b. No

157. 11) Must I cover the compost bin?
a. Yes
b. No

158. 12) What items may harm my worms if
added to my vermi-composting system?
a. Alcohol or vinegar
b. Coffee grinds
c. Oranges or other citrus
d. All of the above

159. 12) What items may harm my worms if
added to my vermi-composting system?
a. Alcohol or vinegar
b. Coffee grinds
c. Oranges or other citrus
d. All of the above

160. 13) It I can't compost it, what can I do with
it?
a. Reduce
b. Reuse
c. Recycle
d. All of the above

161. 13) It I can't compost it, what can I do with
it?
a. Reduce
b. Reuse
c. Recycle
d. All of the above

162. 14) Must I use a manufactured composting
bin?
a. Yes
b. No

163. 14) Must I use a manufactured composting
bin?
a. Yes
b. No

164. 15) What is the lowest-cost backyard
composting system?
a. Pile, trench, and sheet composting
b. Manufactured bins
c. Self-made bins

165. 15) What is the lowest-cost backyard
composting system?
a. Pile, trench, and sheet composting
b. Manufactured bins
c. Self-made bins

166. 16) What best accelerates the
decomposition of oak leaves?
a. Water the pile
b. Turn the pile twice a week
c. Shred leaves before adding to the compost
d. All of the above

167. 16) What best accelerates the
decomposition of oak leaves?
a. Water the pile
b. Turn the pile twice a week
c. Shred leaves before adding to the compost
d. All of the above

168. 17) How can I accelerate the compost
decomposition process?
a. Active management of the compost system
b. Building a bigger pile
c. Adding a compost starter/inoculant/catalyst
d. None of the above

169. 17) How can I accelerate the compost
decomposition process?
a. Active management of the compost system
b. Building a bigger pile
c. Adding a compost starter/inoculant/catalyst
d. None of the above

170. 18) How much time does it take to make
compost?
a. One hour per day
b. One hour per week
c. One hour per month
d. As little or as much time as I want

171. 18) How much time does it take to make
compost?
a. One hour per day
b. One hour per week
c. One hour per month
d. As little or as much time as I want

172. 19) Hot composting and vermi-composting
are compatible?
a. True
b. False

173. 19) Hot composting and vermi-composting
are compatible?
a. True
b. False

175. 7701 SW 76 Ave, Miami, FL 33143

177. For
Miami
Beach
residents
ONLY
email:
ViceChair@miami.SurfRider.org
For
Miami
Beach
residents
ONLY

178. LANDFILL SITES

181. Evaluation
& Voucher
This link to the
evaluation and
voucher will be
live until Monday,
05/29/23
at 8:00am.
VOCHER LINK TO BE SHOWN AT LECTURE’S END ON 5/27/23

182. Miami Beach
residents ONLY
voucher
The link to the
evaluation and
voucher will be live
until Monday,
05/29/23
at 8:00am.
VOCHER LINK TO BE SHOWN AT LECTURE’S END ON 5/27/23

183. DOME COMPOSTER – AVAILABLE TO ALL
MIAMI-DADE RESIDENTS
TUMBLER COMPOSTER – AVAILABLE TO MIAMI
BEACH RESIDENTS (CHOOSE EITHER DOME OR
TUMBLER )

184. Evaluation
& Voucher
Link to slide presentation:
https://TINYURL.com/RegrowDirt
The Miami-Dade voucher will
be accepted for six months
The link to the evaluation that
leads to the voucher will be up
until
Monday at 8:00am.
Vasquez,Laura A
lavasquez@ufl.edu
Urban Horticulture Agent and
Master Gardener Coordinator