Chopping and Shredding Compost Materials
Sep
17
Chopping and shredding increase the surface area of the compost materials. The smaller the size of the materials, the more surface area exposed to the bacteria and other compost organisms. Compost materials decompose more rapidly when they are chopped or shredded. Chopping and shredding of the materials results in better insulation, less loss of heat and moisture, and improved aeration throughout the heap (there is less of a tendency for the materials to mat or pack down). Turning is easier and the finished compost is more uniform.
A machete, a cleaver, or a sharp spade is the simplest (and least expensive) tool to use for chopping compost materials. Chop up stalks of corn and cabbage and crush them to expose more surface area. Cut up tomato vines and stems of garden vegetables like beans and peppers. Chop up green leaves or let them dry and then crush them. Crush eggshells and cut up kitchen scraps into small pieces while you are preparing vegetables and fruits.
A wire mesh leaf shredder can be built from a wooden box. Replace the bottom with 1/2-inch wire mesh. Add 2 pieces of wood on the bottom to act as legs to provide clearance for the finished material to fall through.’
A reel (hand) lawn mower can be converted into a shredder. Remove the handle and braces of the mower. Mount the mower so that the cutting bar is in a vertical position and is flush with the bottom of the feeding trough of the wooden table. The feeding trough should have sides 3 or 4 inches high and a bottom which will permit easy feeding of the plant material into the machine. The trough can be lined with galvanized metal. Drill a small hole halfway between the center and edge of one wheel and attach a handle with a bolt and nut. The machine can be operated by hand, as shown in the drawing, or with a motor mounted on a platform attached to a leg or frame of the machine. The pulley attached to the motor should be relatively small, while that on the lawn mower wheel should be much larger, so that the machine is not turned too rapidly and does not choke up easily. For feeding the plant material into the machine, use a rectangular piece of board with a handle attached to one side as a pusher.
A rotary lawn mower can be used to shred compost materials. The materials to be shredded are piled on the ground near a wall or fence, and the mower is moved over them several times. If you already own a rotary lawn mower, use it for shredding your compost materials. If you don’t have a rotary lawn mower, don’t worry about buying one. Chopping your compost materials by hand is sufficient to make good compost.
A commercial power shredder can be used, although they are expensive to buy and not necessary for making good compost. The noise generated and the fuel consumed by power shredders makes their value in home composting rather doubtful. Power shredders are helpful in shredding materials for use in mulching. The most efficient use of power shredders is on a neighborhood or community level.
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