Drunken Composting: A Quick and Easy Way to Make Compost
Composting is a great way to turn your food scraps and yard waste into nutrient-rich soil for your garden. But if you’re like most people, you probably don’t have the patience to wait months for your compost to be ready. That’s where drunken composting comes in.
What is Drunken Composting?
Drunken composting is a method of composting that uses beer, soda, and ammonia to speed up the decomposition process. It’s called “drunken” because the beer and soda contain sugars that feed the microorganisms that break down organic matter. The ammonia helps to neutralize the acids in the compost pile and creates a more balanced environment for the microorganisms.
Does Drunken Composting Work?
Yes, drunken composting really does work. In fact, it can cut the composting time in half. Compost that would normally take months to decompose can be ready in just a few weeks using this method.
How to Make Drunken Compost
Making drunken compost is easy. Here’s what you need:
- A clean bucket
- One tall can of any variety of beer
- 8 ounces (250 ml.) of ammonia
- 12 ounces (355 ml.) of regular soda (not diet) or 3 tablespoons of sugar (38 grams) combined with 12 ounces (355 ml.) of water
- A sprayer attached to a hose
- A garden fork or shovel
Instructions:
- Pour the beer, ammonia, and soda (or sugar water) into the bucket.
- Pour the contents of the bucket into the sprayer and attach it to the hose.
- Spray the compost pile with the solution.
- Use the garden fork or shovel to mix the solution into the compost pile.
Tips for Drunken Composting
- Make sure to start with a good ratio of greens to browns (nitrogen to carbon). A good ratio is 1:3.
- If you are composting hot or high nitrogen matter, such as chicken manure, the pile will take a bit longer to break down.
- If you are composting chicken manure, skip the ammonia in the recipe.
Benefits of Drunken Composting
Drunken composting has several benefits, including:
- It speeds up the composting process.
- It helps to neutralize the acids in the compost pile.
- It creates a more balanced environment for the microorganisms that break down organic matter.
- It’s easy to do.
Conclusion
Drunken composting is a quick and easy way to make compost. It’s a great way to recycle your food scraps and yard waste, and it can help you to improve the health of your garden.
