Compost Starter Plan — $300 Community System

Create a 3-bay community compost system (hot aerobic composting → finished, pathogen-reduced compost in ~6–12 weeks if managed actively) that turns local organic waste into soil food for gardens and small farms.

what you’ll build & why

  • A three-bin compost bay (allows staging: filling → active → curing). Minimum working pile ~1 m³ per bay to retain heat. cwmi.css.cornell.edu

  • Tools to collect, mix, turn and screen compost.

  • Signage, training & a small operations reserve so the system lasts.

$300 budget


Step-by-step build & operation

Week 0 — Community planning & site

  1. Get buy-in. Meet local leaders and neighbours; explain it will be a free communal resource and ask for volunteers to help maintain. The Free Human Academy

  2. Choose site. Level, well-drained, shaded if possible, near water source and market/garden for easy feedstock and use. Keep 5–10 m from latrines or obvious contamination sources.

Week 1 — Build the three-bin system (1–3 days)

  1. Make 3 bays (each ~1 m wide × 1 m deep × 1 m high or larger). Options:

    • Use 3 wooden pallets as sides and a fourth as back/front slats (cheap, fast), or

    • Build simple posts + wire mesh walls, or

    • Stack concrete blocks if available.
      The 3-bay system lets you fill bay 1, turn/move to bay 2 (active), then let cure in bay 3. cwmi.css.cornell.edu

Ongoing collection (days 1–ongoing)

  1. Feedstock rules (greens vs browns). Aim for a mixed pile with a C:N target ≈ 25–30:1. Greens = kitchen scraps, fresh plant matter, manures (nitrogen). Browns = dry leaves, straw, cardboard, wood chips (carbon). If C:N too high (too many browns) decomposition is slow; too low → smell & ammonia. FAOHomecompost.css.cornell.edu

    • Practical mix by volume: start with about 2–3 parts browns : 1 part greens and adjust. (If in doubt, add more browns; they’re cheap and reduce odour.)

  2. Prepare materials: chop/shred large pieces (stalks, woody stems) into finger-width pieces to speed decomposition.

Building the first pile (Day 1)

  1. Base layer (aeration): 10–15 cm coarse twigs/branches to create air channels.

  2. Layering: add 10–15 cm of browns, then 5–10 cm of greens; sprinkle a thin handful of soil or finished compost to inoculate microbes; moisten to wrung-out-sponge feel (40–60% moisture). Repeat until ~1 m³ reached. compost.css.cornell.edu

Active management (Weeks 1–6)

  1. Monitor temperature daily with the compost thermometer. A hot (thermophilic) pile should heat to ~40–60°C; reaching ~55°C helps kill pathogens and weed seeds. If temperature spikes >65°C, turn to cool. FAOHomecompost.css.cornell.edu

  2. Turn the pile:

    • Hot method: turn every 3–7 days to re-aerate and move outer material to the center. This can produce compost in 6–12 weeks with good feedstock & turning. compost.css.cornell.eduUC Agriculture and Natural Resources

    • Cold method (low effort): leave mostly undisturbed, expect ~6–12 months to finish and lower temperatures (no guaranteed pathogen kill).

  3. Moisture checks: squeeze test — should feel like a wrung sponge; add water in dry spells or cover pile in heavy rain. compost.css.cornell.edu

Harvest & curing (Weeks 6–12)

  1. Move to bay 3 for curing once material is dark, crumbly and earthy-smelling. Screen if you want fine compost (use the screening frame).

  2. Use & application: mix 1–2 in (2–5 cm) compost into planting beds or use as mulch (3–6 in) or potting additive (10–30% by volume).

Troubleshooting

  • Bad odour (rotten/ammonia): too wet or too much green → add dry browns, turn pile. LSU AgCenter

  • Pile won’t heat: too small, too dry, too much carbon, or compacted → combine piles to get >1 m³, add water, add greens, and turn. cwmi.css.cornell.edu

  • Fruit flies/flies: bury fresh food under browns or cover with wet cardboard.

  • Pests (rodents): avoid meat/fat/dairy and use closed bins or mesh base.

Safety & hygiene

  • If you intend to use compost on food crops, aim for thermophilic conditions (temps >55°C for several days) to reduce pathogens. Use gloves when handling fresh compost and wash hands. FAOHome

Monitoring sheet (simple monthly KPIs)

  • Pile ID / Bay.

  • Start date.

  • Volume added (kg or buckets).

  • Temp readings (°C) — daily in active phase.

  • Moisture (wrung-out test).

  • Turns done (date).

  • Harvest weight (kg) and date.

  • Users supplied / kg distributed.

Value-added ideas (revenue or community benefit)

  • Sell small bags of screened compost to gardeners or nurseries.

  • Make & sell compost tea (liquid fertilizer) as a low-effort product.

  • Combine with vermiculture (worm castings) for premium fertilizer — the Free HuMAN vermiculture module has a low-cost plan you can run in parallel.

Minna Safe House Manure Report for Community Garden

by SALIU OLUMIDE SAHEED

Our manure-making and application were done in two methods. We did solid composting and manure, we also did the compost tea.

For the Compost Tea

The boys from the Humanist Safe House in Minna successfully implemented a sustainable agriculture project utilizing chicken feces to create compost tea for our soybeans farms. The project began with the purchase of chicken feces from nearby poultry, mixed with water, and left to ferment for 48 hours. This process produced a nutrient-rich compost tea that was teeming with beneficial microorganisms. The boys learned about the importance of soil health and the role of compost tea in promoting healthy microbial activity, which enhances plant growth and reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers. The compost tea was applied to the soy farms through foliar spraying and soil drenching. The boys observed significant improvements in soil structure, plant vigor, and yield. The soy plants treated with compost tea showed increased resistance to pests and diseases. This project demonstrated the potential of using locally available waste materials to create a sustainable and environmentally friendly farming practice. The boys gained hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture and developed a sense of entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency.

For the solid manure

We collected and processed locally sourced organic waste, including dried leaves, shredded newspaper, cardboard, straw, wood chips, dried grass clippings, coconut coir, eggshells, hair, fur, wool, cotton fabric, wood ash, rock dust, kelp meal, fish bone meal, and animal manure. These materials were decomposed in composting pits, resulting in nutrient-rich solid manure and compost. The boys maintained optimal composting conditions, ensuring adequate moisture, aeration, and mixing. We are waiting till After 12 weeks, the organic materials will have transformed into dark, humus-rich solid manure and compost. The finished product will be analyzed, revealing enhanced nutrient content ideal for soy farming. The solid manure and compost will be applied to the soy farms, significantly improving soil fertility, structure, and water-holding capacity. This sustainable approach reduced reliance on synthetic fertilizers, promoting ecosystem balance and environmental stewardship.

The success of this project has inspired us to expand the sustainable agriculture initiatives. Plans include establishing a compost tea production unit to supply other farmers in the community and exploring other innovative uses of waste materials in agriculture. The Humanist Safe House aims to replicate this model in other locations, promoting sustainable agriculture practices and empowering vulnerable youth to become agents of positive change in their communities. The project's impact extends beyond agricultural productivity, fostering environmental stewardship, and promoting food security and economic empowerment among marginalized groups.

 Assignment

Submit a 1-page essay explaining what you believe are the easiest and the most difficult steps in doing this project. Also, explain who in your community might want this, and how is it useful to your community?