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For anyone who is actively engaged in garden composting, or who is thinking about buying their first compost bin, it’s important to understand that there are two different ways that organic matter breaks down: aerobic composting and anaerobic composting.  In this post, we’ll explain the differences between these two methods.

When something sits in a pile, untouched, and breaks down, this is anaerobic composting.  Essentially, when something decomposes anaerobically, it rots.  It’s a fairly smelly and unpleasant process.  You see, anaerobic bacteria produce methane and sulfate gasses as a byproduct of breaking down the organic matter, and these are gasses that smell very offensive to we humans.  Furthermore, anaerobic bacteria are very inefficient, often times taking 6 months (or in less than optimum conditions, as long as a couple years) to fully break down the items being composted.  So in short, anaerobic composting is slow and stinky.

Aerobic composting, on the other hand, is a process that requires oxygen.  This means that the organic matter being composting must be regularly aerated.  There are many ways to accomplish this.  If you have a compost pile, you can take a pitchfork and turn the contents every few days.  Another easier way woule be to use a compost tumbler, which is similar to a large barrel that spins on an axis, much like a wheel on an automobile.  The two major benefits to aerobic composting are #1: it’s fast.  Under optimal conditions, aerobic bacteria can break down organic matter in as little as 3 or 4 weeks.  And the other big benefit, #2: it doesn’t smell.  Unlike anaerobic microbes, aerobic bacteria do not produce any smelly gasses as a byproduct of the composting process, meaning that you don’t have to relegate your compost bin to the farthest corner of your backyard.  It can sit near a deck, porch, or patio, and you won’t be disturbed by any unpleasant odors.

For more information on composting, please visit Home Products ‘N’ More’s Composer FAQ Page.