I have a wildlife zoo

Chapter 286 Composting

Not far from the side of the zoo office building, on a small hill, there was a lush copse of trees.

At the foot of the hill, a bluestone path flanked by purple morning glories and yellow chrysanthemums meandered into the mountains, obscured by the green brush of the woods. A brown-yellow log-style building stood on the hillside, imparting a sense of seclusion from the world's bustle.

As fragrant breezes wafted through, spreading the scent of flowers, Sunshine was warm and comfortable, everything appearing so peaceful and beautiful.

In the side yard of the small villa, Fang Ye stood by a large wooden box with a meter-long side, picking up a burlap sack and pouring dry branches and fallen leaves into it.

He was currently engaged in making compost!

In simple terms, this meant allowing organic matter to decompose into fertile humus, rich in nutrients and microorganisms.

Composting was not an overnight task, and starting now to prepare for farming was a bit late; he planned to use the compost after it was ready in the spring.

Although there was spiritual soil, its quantity was too small to be used exclusively.

Moreover, in his plans, an agricultural animal exhibition area would be built behind the zoo. The current process of farming was also a process of learning and contemplation, personally understanding the changes that occur during farming. This would later make designing the field exhibition area more intuitive.

The farming Fang Ye intended to carry out was not the conventional method, but a healthier and more eco-friendly approach to agriculture, which could be termed, organic farming, eco-friendly agriculture, or permaculture!

No chemical fertilizers, herbicides, or insecticides would be used, nor would plastic film be employed in greenhouses.

If conventional farming was about feeding crops, organic agriculture was about feeding the soil.

The soil itself has a very complex ecosystem, providing a favorable environment for a variety of beneficial organisms including bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes. These life forms would then establish a mutually beneficial relationship with plants. Continue your journey on empire

Microorganisms could not only supply nutrients to plants but also enhance the plants' ability to resist diseases and pests.

Healthy soil could attract beneficial insects like earthworms and arthropods to settle in the vegetable garden. Their digestion and breakdown of organic matter would then serve as food for the microorganisms.

Cats are adorable, but they catch not only mice but also birds and raid nests.

Hunting isn't just for filling the belly—when well-fed, they have more energy to play with their prey.

A few stray cats were manageable, but any more could certainly affect the bird population in the zoo.

The calico cat in Lan Li's arms, for some reason, suddenly felt a chill in its lower regions and instinctively tightened around its testicles, cautiously lifting its head.

After tossing kitchen waste into a large wooden box, Fang Ye stirred it with a stick, then dumped in some shredded useless documents. He then grabbed a sack and poured a heap of animal feces into it—such things were easily obtainable in the zoo.

Curious, Lan Li asked, "Director, can paper be composted too?"

"Of course! Clothes can be composted as well, just tear them up. It's a bit like a witch's cauldron, you can throw all sorts of strange things in."

Though the feces emitted a pungent smell, it didn't dampen Fang Ye's enthusiasm.

As he mixed, he began to explain, "For composting, you need green material and brown material. Green material, such as plant stems, provides nitrogen and has high moisture, while brown material, like leaves, provides carbon and has less moisture.

This method of using a bit of everything is best. If you only use one or two materials, the compost may lack certain nutrients, but a variety of materials ensures a more abundant supply of trace nutrients and natural balance.

The feces I'm using are from ring-tailed lemurs and macaques; it's what they excrete after eating fruits and vegetables, so it's definitely nutritious.

The size of this compost bin is also carefully considered—if the sides are too small or too narrow, it can't maintain the temperature generated during composting. A large compost pile benefits from the heat for microbial activity, hastening the breakdown of organic matter."

"So, how long does it need to compost?"

"About half a year. This method is slower, but it's convenient."

After adding the materials, Fang Ye covered them with a layer of cardboard to reduce the penetration of rainwater during rainy days and to prevent the compost from getting too wet.

Then, taking off his shoes, he climbed onto the compost bin, stepping up and down to compact it.