What is a composting agent?

Answer 1

Composting agents are known as "activators."

They basically provide a culture of the "good" bacteria necessary to start a compost.

All these bacteria are naturally present in the top soil of a garden or a wood by the billions, so there is really no need to purchase any such activator.

The best way to get a new compost bin started is to add some compost from the previous bin to the first layer of new material to compost.

If you are building a whole large compost heap in just an hour, you will want to add a layer of activator every few inches. Again, this activator will most likely be compost from a mature heap, or plain ground soil.

Worms are also a great help for composting. If you have some holes at the bottom of your compost bin, they will find their way naturally. And it will also prevent the bottom of your bin from rotting if there is too much water in it.

Some herbs are also known to facilitate a quicker and healthier compost. Just cut some "weeds" or wild flowers close to the ground, stamp on them so they are in contact with the ground, leave them on site for a couple of days so the bacteria from the ground start colonising them, then add them on top of your compost heap.

Biodynamic agriculture uses 6 plants or medicinal herbs as composting activator:

● Yarrow - Achillea millefolium (preparation 502)

● German chamomile - Matricaria chamomilla (preparation 503)

● Stinging nettle - Urtica dioïca (preparation 504)

● English oak bark - Quercus robur (preparation 505)

● Dandelion - Taraxacum officinale (preparation 506)

● Valerian- Valeriana officinalis (preparation 507)