Composting: Nature's Way of Recycling Organic Materials [Time: ~2:37 minutes]

Ahhh … that dark earthy smell of fresh compost! Use it once, and you're hooked! It's just like waking up to the smell of fresh brewed coffee! (Well ... to some people at least.)

Hi. I'm Jay Green with the Agricultural Research Service or A-R-S … the chief scientific research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Compost gives an "oomph" to soil. It reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers, reduces greenhouse gases, reduces the need for landfills, and helps the environment! So you can appreciate A-R-S research on compost.

To meet commercial horticultural, land management, and conservation needs, scientists at  A-R-S are always discovering new ways to prepare composts from a variety of mixed sources of organic materials. They create designer mixes to produce vigorous healthy plants and landscapes under different conditions, improve the soil, control plant disease, manage storm water, and produce vegetative covers for landfill.

Here's one you'll like--one of our studies showed that strawberry plants grown in compost-filled mesh tubes were less prone to root diseases that severely threaten yields. In this application, compost acts as a natural pesticide!

We've even done research involving kitchen scraps and used cafeteria trash from USDA's cafeterias! Both were used to make compost at an A-R-S composting facility and some of the finished compost was delivered to the National Mall for landscaping Federal buildings!

What about you? Ever thought about producing your own compost? Whether you're a new gardener, a seasoned expert, or even if you just have houseplants … give it a try!

If you have space, an outdoor compost pile is a great way to use yard waste like grass clippings and leaves. You urbanites can take part, too … there are easy, creative methods to "recycle" your fruit and veggie scraps, coffee grounds, and the like. Does a dainty ceramic counter crock meet your lifestyle? Or a homemade system using 5-gallon buckets? And be sure to check out worm composting … an efficient, odor-free method that produces a high-quality product! 

Visit our Web site for some great resources to help you learn more.

That's our podcast for today. Lots of benefits to you ... and the environment! That's what composting's all about!

And this is just another way A-R-S is helping the growing world!