We’ve found a great composting recipe which you can use to fertilise your growing plants next year.  All you need is corrugated board, carbon-rich organic matter, nitrogen-rich organic matter, some soil and a pitch-fork!

1.  Collect your disused corrugated board.

2.  Tear it in smaller pieces (chunks, not confetti) – this makes it easier to decompose.  If you have a lot cardboard, you can help the process go a little faster by lightly soaking pieces in water.

3.  Grab your pitch-fork and materials, time for composting!

4.  Put a layer of shredded corrugated material (up to 10 cm) and other carbon-based organic matter (fallen leaves, chipped wood, hay, straw, etc…) on the ground.

5.  Add a layer, in equal measure, of nitrogen-based organic material on top.  This is your lawn clippings, spoiled fruits, spoiled vegetables, old coffee grounds and animal manure.

6.  Add a layer of topsoil – about 2 to 5 cm.

7.  Repeat the process until the compost pile is between 90 and 140 Litres.  (140L is about 7 water cooler bottles)

8.  Make sure the pile is moist but not soaked, you can add water if too dry or use additional corrugated pieces to soak up excess water.  It should be like a big damp sponge.

9.  Mix the compost layers with a pitch fork every weekend to speed up the process and your nutrient rich compost should be done in 6 to 8 months!

Do not add meat, bones, fish, diseased plants, pet manure, highly acidic peels or poisonous plants.  Stale bread is very good however.

Although we’d prefer it if you recycled your corrugated board, we recycle so much that we can afford a little going towards composting.  This is just one of the many benefits of using a totally renewable, recyclable and bio-degradable product like corrugated.

Original composting recipe found at http://www.ehow.com/how_5919515_compost-corrugated-cardboard.html

Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zanthia/6290593163/in/pool-creative_commons-_free_pictures