The word has origins as early as Latin and can of course be a verb – ‘To compost’ meaning to make into compost. But what is this material called compost, why is it essential, and how do we make it?

In ‘The complete book of Self-sufficiency’, John Seymour says, “You can make the best compost in the world in twelve hours by putting vegetable matter through the guts of an animal. To make it any other way will take you months, whatever you do.”

To speed up the process of making compost, the organisms that undertake the processes need air, moisture and nitrogen. A plentiful supply of nitrogen will ensure the bacteria break down vegetable matter quickly and in doing so generate heat. The heat increases with a covering of black plastic, but most importantly it will kill the weed seeds and disease  causing organisms. This ensures you don’t re-seed your valuable vegetable patch with unwelcome weeds!

Building a compost heap is an art in itself. John Seymour recommends simplicity – a layer of bricks or concrete with plenty of gaps for aeration on the ground. Then over the months it is a process of building the compost by adding material in certain orders, turning it, and ensuring it is not too wet or dry. In a nice ‘permacultural’ touch John recommends covering the heap with old carpet.

To understand the art of composting from the bio-dynamic perspective, would require several articles and a good deal of study. Sadly, Rudolf Steiner never made things entirely easy for the layman, but the converts to his cause are increasing.

Attending a workshop is probably the best way of learning, whether bio-dynamically or ordinarily – indeed Rodney District Council is running a series of lectures on composting with Betsy Kettle this autumn. For a different, if also ‘oblique’ view of composting let us touch upon Viktor Schauberger.

Schauberger was an Austrian Forester, whose life’s work came from his observations of nature, and he became a scientist, many regard as years ahead of his time.

From his observations of motion within the natural world he was convinced that the ideal shape was that of an egg. He applied this to the world of compost, but because heat discourages earthworms he went in the opposite direction, and designed a system that was cool.

The trunk of a tree was protected by layers of newspaper, that also acted as an air duct as it decomposed.

The compost heap was built up, layer by layer until it resembled the shape of a large egg. Various materials, not associated with ‘conventional’ heaps were added over time – earth, river gravel, sand, and for remineralization copper and zinc filings.

The canopy of the tree protected the heap from getting too damp, and having minerals leached out by rain-water. Earthworms and microbes will multiply vigorously in this cooler environment and will have completely aerated the structure by autumn.

The dual effect of this construction was to provide a nutrient-rich fertilizer to be spread on the fields, and a significant fortification for the tree. Schauberger recommended using a different tree, or trees in each year.