Actinomycetes. Anaerobic filamentous bacteria that exist in healthy soil. Filamentous means that they look like filaments — long threads. They give garden earth its characteristic fresh, clean smell. In a compost pile, they form extensive webs of white or gray strands that resemble fungus. Do not inhale the spores of the actinomycetes as this can cause Farmer’s Lung.
Activators. Substances that can help the composting process begin, but they are not necessary in most cases. There are many products on the market that claim to help start the composting cycle by introducing beneficial bacteria, enzymes, and hormones.
Aeration. The process of introducing air into a substance such as compost tea. Aeration helps keep microbes alive so that they can reproduce.
Aerobic. Creatures or processes that require oxygen. Aerobic bacteria are the foundation of a hot, active compost pile.
Anaerobic. Creatures or processes that do not require oxygen. Anaerobic bacteria cause organic waste to rot and putrefy. They can also give off toxic gases such as ammonia and are the cause of smelly compost piles.
Azobacteria. These bacteria live in soil and make nitrate nitrogen, which is required in large quantities for vegetables — especially corn, which needs between 120 and 160 pounds of nitrates per acre. They consume humus and require a balance of minerals — including calcium — and thrive where there is a pH level between 5.75 and 7.25.
Compost Sifter or Compost Screener. A wooden box with a metal screen attached to the bottom. Simply put handfuls of compost into the sifter and shake it lightly from side to side. The finished compost will pass through the screen, and the large pieces will remain in the filter so you can return them to the bin, where they can decompose further.
Compost Tea. A solution made of finished compost and water. Just like compost, it is full of healthy microbes and nutrients, and because it is in a liquid form, plants can absorb it quickly. Compost tea can be aerated using aquarium pumps and other means.
Composting. The process of breaking organic matter down into its primary components so the resulting humus — the rich, dark organic soil made of decomposed plant and animal matter — can be used to fertilize plants and amend the soil.
Crop. An enlarged portion of the gullet that exists in birds, worms, and some insects.
Damping Off. A disease of new plantings and seedlings that can affect seeds before they sprout, cause them to wither as they sprout, or to fall over and die after sprouting. Compost helps prevent this disease and, thus, is a good additive to soils that will be used to sprout new seeds.
Downy Mildew. A type of fungal infection that affects plants such as grapevines, roses, and a variety of other ornamental and vegetable plants. Characterized by spots of gray, brown, purple, or white fungus, downy mildew will ruin leaves, flowers, and fruit of affected plants. Compost helps prevent this disease and, thus, is a good additive to soils that will be used to grow ornamental or vegetable plants. Plants that are affected should be disposed of properly and not put into your compost or municipal waste system because this can spread the disease.
Foliar fertilizer. A substance that is sprayed directly onto the foliage — leaves and stems — rather than on the soil. Compost tea can be used in this manner.
Grading. The process of leveling the ground so that it slopes smoothly in one direction or the other. This may be done to provide proper drainage of a compost heap or to allow rain and snow melt to run off away from a house. You can do this with a shovel and rake or with a tractor with a blade, depending on how much soil you need to move.
Humanure. Human fecal matter that has been composted. The method for doing this is not described in this book, but the resources section contains a link for the Humanure Handbook, and many resources can be found on the Internet.
Humus. Rich, dark organic soil matter made of decomposed plant and animal material.
Inoculants. Bacterial- or nitrogen-based additives that can be used to kick start the composting process. The nitrogen-based type is useful if you do not have enough green plant materials or if you are trying to produce a very hot compost pile very quickly. The bacterial type is useful if you do not have mature compost or other sources of bacteria to add to the compost. Inoculants are not required to make compost.
Lignin. Lignin is a fibrous plant compound found mostly in paper. It takes a long time for lignin to break down in a compost pile, so adding too much of it is not a wise thing to do unless you balance it with nitrogen-containing items.
Mesophilic bacteria. Bacteria that thrive at relatively low temperatures in the compost pile. They begin to take over when the temperature is between 70 degrees and 90 degrees.
Microorganisms. Also called microbes, microorganisms are any bacteria, fungi, or other organism not visible to the naked eye. They are vital to the composting process because without them the compost material will not break down into its component parts.
NPK ratio. NPK is shorthand for nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium found in various kinds of fertilizers and soil enhancement products. The initials come from the chemical symbols for each of the nutrients — nitrogen is N, phosphorous is P, and potassium is K. Fertilizers are labeled with a series of three numbers that indicate the relative amount of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium in the given fertilizer. For example, a 5-10-5 fertilizer contains five parts nitrogen, ten parts phosphorous, and five parts potassium.
Peat. A non-renewable substance formed from partially decomposed moss, typically sphagnum moss, peat develops over centuries in wet boggy areas and swamps. Peat is used as a soil amendment and is harvested and sold commercially. Compost can replace the need for peat in gardening.
Pernicious weeds. Fast-growing, invasive, and destructive to other plants, weeds like thistle, bindweed, morning glory, and Bermuda grass are common examples of weeds that are generally considered pernicious. Often, they are non-native species, so the kind of weeds considered pernicious in one area may be tolerated in other states or countries.
pH. The measurement of the relative acidity or alkalinity of a given substance.
pH meter. An instrument with a probe that you insert into damp earth to measure the pH of that particular area, a pH meter costs about $25 and is available at most garden supply stores or online.
Post-hole digger. An implement used for digging holes for posts, it consists of two shovel-like blades hinged together and attached to a pair of long handles.
Potash. Also known as potassium carbonate, potash is a by-product found in wood ash that is used in gardening as a component of fertilizer.
Potato Blight. Also called late blight, this disease caused the Irish Famine by destroying potato crops. It also affects tomatoes. The disease begins as fuzzy green or brown fungal spots on the leaves and stem and can eventually cause the stem to collapse. Using compost in your garden can help prevent this disease. Affected plants should be disposed of properly and not put into your compost or municipal waste system as that can spread the disease.
Powdery Mildew. A fungal infection that affects both houseplants and outdoor plants, including fruit trees, roses, lilacs, and others, the disease manifests as several white powdery spots that gradually join together to form a mat of fungus. The areas of the plant where the fungus grows die off, sometimes killing or severely harming the entire plant. Using compost in your garden can help prevent this disease. Affected plants should be disposed of properly and not put into your compost or municipal waste system because they can spread the disease.
Protozoa. Single-celled microorganisms that aid in the digestion and decomposition of compost materials.
Pyschrophilic bacteria. These bacteria flourish in cooling compost. They can live in temperatures between 0 and 65 degrees.
Rototiller. A landscaping implement with engine-powered, rotating blades used to lift and turn over soil.
Springtails. Tiny insects (usually 1 to 2 millimeters long, but sometimes up to 6 millimeters, or about ¼ inch) that spring or jump when disturbed, they are usually white, but can be other colors. They eat plants, pollen, and other small particles. They are usually beneficial to a worm bin because they help compost the food. They also can be found in outdoor compost piles from time to time. They like a moist environment.
Surfactants. Substances that help compost tea, pesticides, and other liquid sprays cling to leaves by breaking the surface tension of the liquid. This causes the liquid to form a sheet over the leaves rather than forming little droplets, which are not as effective at transferring their ingredients to the plant.
Taproots. The large, central roots of some plants that grow straight down with smaller roots branching off it. Think of a carrot, and you have the general idea.
Thermophilic bacteria. Bacteria that thrive at relatively high temperatures in the compost pile. They begin to take over when the temperature is between 113 degrees and 176 degrees. They produce enzymes that are very efficient at decomposing protein, pathogens, weed seeds and roots, and other harmful items in the compost pile.
Tilling. The process of digging the soil, either to loosen up a thick clay soil or to introduce a soil amendment such as compost.
Vermicomposting. The process of making compost using worms. See Chapter 7 for more information on vermicomposting.