Definitions For 24 Commonly Used Terms Relating to Making Compost Author: Patricia Bass When I started thinking about

what I could do with my vegetable scraps from the house I did a little research. What I found was information about making compost . However there were many terms. Some terms are used one way by a writer and ano ther way by the next writer. What I have attempted to do is create a short refer ence of composting terminology. The words are grouped somewhat categorically rat her than alphabetically. Organic - once living, containing carbon, generally considered to be chemical fr ee Inorganic - not involving living organisms, composed of minerals Compost- mixture of decayed vegetable or other organic matter often used by gard eners as fetilizer Humus - often used interchangeable with the word compost, a dark brown organic c omponent of soil derived from decayed organic matter Mulch - protective covering for plants or soil from compost or wood chips which prevents erosion and helps retain moisture Anaerobic - without air, absence of oxygen Aeration - to add or allow airflow Bacteria - plural for bacterium, single celled often parasitic organism responsi ble for decay, fermentation and nitrogen fixation as well as some disease Fungus - spore producing organism, absorbing nutrients from organic matter, fung i is plural Microbe - living organism which transmits disease, which is so small it can only be seen using magnification such as a microscope Microorganism - word used interchangeably with microbe Pathogen - something that can cause disease Bin - container for making compost, may be open or enclosed Barrel - container type for making compost that is enclosed and often is rolled to mix contents Tumbler - container type for making compost that is enclosed and is often on a s tand that allows easy turning of contents using a handle countertop - container used indoors that holds components for making compost to be put into a larger container located outdoors Decomposition - breakdown or decay of organic materials into simpler form Mineral - inorganic substance occurring naturally Carbon - nonmetallic chemical element needed for all living organisms - matter h igh in carbon is considered a brown material in composting Nitrogen - nonmetallic element needed for proteins - matter high in nitrogen is considered green in composting Leached - lose a mineral dissolved in rainwater - drained away in soil Hot Compost - the temperature of the material which is composting is 141 to 155 degrees Fahrenheit Cold Compost - A pile that decays very slowly, very little maintenance is requir ed Vermiculture - using worms to create compost These 24 terms defined previously are commonly used whenever the topic of making compost is discussed. Each word was given a definition as it pertains to compos t.