The composting process
The How Stuff Works site has an interesting guide to the composting process, and what happens when yard and food scraps break down into compost.
The compost pile actually has a complex organization of living organisms — a foodweb. Bacteria and fungi primarily break down the organic matter in the trash. Single-celled organisms (protozoa), small worms (nematodes), and mites feed on the bacteria and fungi. Predatory nematodes, predatory mites and other invertebrates (sowbugs, millipedes, beetles) feed on the protozoa, mites and nematodes. All of these organisms work to balance the population of organisms within the compost, which increases the efficiency of the entire process.
That might sound complicated, but it’s really as easy as getting a compost bin, throwing in your yard and garden waste and maybe some kitchen scraps and waiting! You can always learn more at our informational site, the Compost Guide, or the Composter Store.
