Trench Composting

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If you're a compost newbie like me, then trench composting could definitely be for you.

Unlike traditional compost methods which use bins and/or overturning heaps, trench composting is as simple as throwing foods scraps into a hole and covering it with topsoil. The food scraps will break down over time and nourish the soil. No turning needed. It's really that easy. I've tried it in my own garden, and I was delighted to find lovely melon vines growing right on top of my trench compost. I didn't realise I had melon seeds in my food scraps! Can you spot the melon fruit?

Check out this nifty 5 minute YouTube video on how to trench compost in your back or front yard

If you live in an apartment and have a balcony to work with, you can still do trench composting in raised beds.

3 STYLES

Think about what kind of trench composting works best for you. The three most common types are:

1) "Dig and drop": This is my favourite. Dig a 1 foot/12 inch or 30 cm hole near your vegetable garden/fruit trees and dump your kitchen waste. Voila!

2) Trenching between rows: If you have an orderly vegetable garden with rows, dig compost trenches in between them and dump your kitchen waste in. Over time, food material within the trenches will break down and nourish the neighbouring vegetables.

3) Trench rotation: This is a clever way of nourishing the entire front/backyard. Basically, divide up your garden into three zones – compost, walkway and planting – and rotate the zones over time. The end result is very fertile soil.

Here's a neat infographic summarising these 3 types of trench composting:

TIPS

1) Make sure you dig deep enough (between 1-2 feet or 30-60 cm) and remember that the larger your trench, the longer it will take to compost.

2) When you dig and come across clay or rocks, remove them.

3) When you put in food scraps, avoid meat or dairy because they don't compost well and attract dogs and rats.

4) Remember not to plant directly on top of where you bury your food scraps because it will sink over time.

PROS

It's easy (no need to aerate or water), stress-free, and perfect for urban areas which don't allow large compost heaps.

CONS

It'll take a significant amount of time before the food scraps break down completely. Plus, it's an anerobic, underground process so you won't see the rich, dark composted material which results from turning compost piles, using compost bins or vermicomposting.

References: http://organicgardening.about.com/od/compost/a/trenchcompost.htm