Despite these disadvantages, anaerobic composting is the best way to go in some situations:

\n

• You're looking to dispose of a one-time load of wet, potentially smelly, or pest-attracting kitchen waste, such as you'd accumulate after a day spent canning fruits or vegetables, cleaning freshly caught fish, or organizing a big social gathering that generates food scraps.

  \n
\n

• Pulling spent garden plants at the end of fall leaves you with an enormous pile of organic matter that you don't have the space or time to manage over winter.

  \n
\n

• Aboveground composting of kitchen scraps without a sealed container isn't allowed where you live.

  \n
\n

• You aren't keen on the appearance of a compost area in your landscape, but you prefer not to send your organic waste to a landfill.

  \n
\n

• You want to improve soil structure and fertility in a future garden bed.

  \n
\n

• You don't have time to monitor the air or moisture requirements of an aboveground compost pile.

  \n
\n

Two broad categories of microorganisms consume and decompose organic matter: those that need air (aerobic) and those that don't (anaerobic). The stuff at the bottom forms mature compost while the stuff at the top isnt compost at all. When your compost becomes anaerobic, it will begin to smell. Red wigglers (Eisenia foetida) convertfood waste into nutrient-rich castings. Pulling spent garden plants at the end of fall leaves you with an enormous pile of organic matter that you don't have the space or time to manage over winter. It happens all the time in nature at the bottom of marshes, bogs, and other areas deprived of oxygen but rich in organic matter. Methane forms under anaerobic conditions, often found at the bottom of piles. and prevent the contents from stagnating in liquid. Anaerobic decomposers get right to work, with no need for fresh O2. In addition, the humus-rich compost adds useful structure to poor soil, so it is a beneficial soil amendment. Yes, composting does create methane. In aerobic composting, aerobic organisms use a significant amount of oxygen in decomposing organic matter to a relatively stable humus in suitable conditions. But what if we told you that organic matter can decompose and ferment without oxygen through the anaerobic method, which uses no oxygen? Lastly, you will want to keep the trash bin about 3/4 full. . Nevertheless, its an easy way to create a restorative soil amendment that benefits your garden and plants. But before you dismiss anaerobic composting altogether, lets compare the two approaches to see what actual benefits you can get from an anaerobic setup: Anaerobic composting is a relatively passive, hands-off approach. Throw everything green (grass clippings, leaves, kitchen waste) in a tough plastic bag, filling it perhaps 3/4 full. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10266"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"