Basically a Compost Activator starts or speeds the composting of the materials that feed the compost pile.

Basically a Compost Activator starts or activates the composting of the materials that feed the compost pile.

Biodegradable materials will all eventually rot and turn the dirt that they are in into composted material.

Those who view composting as a serious undertaking always wish to use something that accelerates the process of composting.

It is said that the Babylonians of ancient times used a compost activator composed of creatures that had been slain; noting that blood spilled onto a spot aided growth quickly and very efficiently.

Elderly camels, for instance, were slain for this purpose and their blood enriched the soil.

There is much controversy surrounding the “need” for such accelerates to start composting.

Compost activator speed

Many feel that the materials in the compost heap will rot by themselves, and begin the composting naturally. Others, like the Babylonians, wish to use accelerates to speed up the process and consider them absolutely vital in order to have proper composts.

• Blood is still a well thought-of first-rate accelerate, and blood is collected daily from slaughterhouses, for instance, is carefully dried, and sold specifically for that purpose. It is considered to be one of the best nitrogen-protein sources available, and is quite clean. It comes to you as a powdery substance that is an almost black in color, or at least a very dark red, and is almost totally odorless.

• There are many other natural basically Compost Activators such as manure, fish meal, bone meal, blood meal, cottonseed meal, already composted materials, and alfalfa meal.

These activators are also sold commercially to speed the composting process in a micro biologically satisfying manner.

However, the user should bear in mind that these come as highly concentrated materials, and can burn the compost. On the other hand, adding a tiny sprinkling of nitrogen fertilizer in the form of manure, or even soybean meal will easily accomplish the same purpose. Many also say that adding a bit of fertilized soil will also do the job.

Commercial activators will contain bacteria and fungi necessary to begin the composting process.

If however you can use garden soil in your compose heap, then the soil will already contain the wide range of these organisms. When using commercial activators, follow directions carefully and measure correctly.

The most important job in working with a Compost Pile is to be sure that it heats up at least to 120 degrees F and does not smell poorly.

Bad smells emanating from a compost heap signify an excess of nitrogen content, or too little carbon.

It is simple to add either as necessary. Of course, some prefer to simply allow nature to follow its course and let time take care of it.

Carbonaceous materials are carbons, cokes, pitches, tars, or graphite derived from pure compound sources, coal or petroleum. Dried sugar beet pulp is an example of nitrogenous materials.

As you can imagine, the debate rages on as to whether or not compost activators or accelerates are needed or not. Farmers the world over have made up their own minds, and if you delve into beginning your own compost heap, you will have to perform research and presumably choose what you believe is the best method yourself.

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