Why It Works
The compost pile may be the simplest of all composting methods, but what is happening within the pile itself is a complex chain reaction that occurs all the way down to its most microbial elements.
The compost pile is based in the most fundamental and natural of processes. When leaves, grass, plants, and other organisms die, they begin immediately to decay. Decay is simply a breakdown of organic matter into smaller and smaller particles, until it can be broken down no further. This breakdown is aided by many agents, both seen and unseen. The moment organic material begins to decompose, rodents, insects, fungi, bacteria, and other tiny microorganisms appear on the scene and go to work on it. They create heat as they do so, causing further decay, which attracts more microorganisms and more fungi, and so on. Eventually the material is churned into a mixture of its most basic elements. These elements are rich in nutrients, and, when finally integrated with the soil, they create a rich, fertile environment where new life can thrive.
Creating a compost pile capitalizes on this natural process by concentrating a rich food source for microorganisms in one place, and then carefully controlling the environment to encourage them to flourish. This speeds up the decomposition process, and allows for the creation of rich natural fertilizer, (often called "black gold"), quickly and in concentrated amounts.
|  |
