Shown above is a Patta Kambha filled with semicomposted material. This will take some time to compost fully, garden waste takes longer to compost than kitchen waste. The compost made in the Patta Kambha is high in carbon and ideal to add to the composting kitchen matter in the Kambha or Mota Lota. Good compost has an equal amount of Carbon and Nitrogen.

Once you have set aside a pile of semi-composted material in a seperate container, it can take from 45 - 90 days to completely compost. The composting period is dependent on many factors - moisture content, aeration, composition of matter and weather. But eventually compost will happen - so do not worry!

It should be dark in colour and smell like freshly dug earth and should be a little moist. It is now ready to be passed through a seive (like the one shown on the right). Fully composted material when passed through a seive will look like the picture shown below. Leave this to air for another 5 days before using it in the garden. This is just a precautionary measure. Very sensitive plants may be overwhelmed with fresh compost. (Overdose of tonic!) Compost must be used appropriately.

Check with you ‘malli’ for good gardening advice or call us!

All large particles that remain after seiving can be added to the fresh waste. This acts as natural accelerator.