Soil Circuit

Nothing is waste unless you waste it!!

Soil Circuit is about respecting nature and its cycles. The leaf
litter that we call “waste” is an excellent source of nutrition
for your plants. Everything that is produced in nature can be
decomposed by nature.

A top-view of our terrace garden. A combined drip and sprinkler system

keeps the plants well irrigated and saves water.
Our Zero Soil Concept
• Our entire terrace garden is based on the novel
concept of zero soil.
• Biodegradable waste can be composted to create
healthy soil, which is rich in nutrients.
• There is no need for chemical supplements, and no
unnecessary expense of buying soil.
• When top soil is removed from an area to be sold as
gardening soil, it also destroys the local ecosystem.
Use “Waste” to create your own soil.

The ATM of composting

The three important components of composting. If these are
kept in balance then your compost will never go wrong.

Air: Proper aeration is a must for all types of composting

models. Lots of holes in the container will keep the compost
well aerated, and prevent bad odor.

Temperature: During composting temperature will rise to

60°C and then fall back to room temperature. A well-
ventilated container will effectively keep temperature within
its normal range.

Moisture: Not too dry and not too wet is the secret. The
correct analogy is as moist as a good bhel☺
Priya Bhide’s Compost Recipe
Materials:
1. A container with holes on all sides.
2. Small tub

Ingredients:
1. Dry leaves
2. Waste veggies/ leftover
food
3. Bio-culture
4. Coco pith &Neem pend
5. Water

Cooking time: 60 Days

Method:
1. Place the container in the tub and line it from inside with
at least 3 inches of dry leaves.
2. Add waste veggies and left-over food for another 3 inches.
3. Mix two tablespoons of bio-culture in 100ml water (i.e. a
cup of water) and add to the above layer.
4. Cover it with a thin layer of coco pith.
5. Repeat the layering till the container is full.
6. Keep the container covered all the time, and shake the
tub or container once a week.

Chef’s Tips:
1. If possible cut fruits and veggies into small pieces, mostly
those with excess moisture (jackfruit, watermelon).
2. The mixture should not be too wet (to avoid rotting) or
too dry (decomposition is slow if the material is too dry).
3. In case of foul smell, add more dry leaves and charcoal.
4. Empty the compost tea collected in the tub, from time to
time. Compost tea is good for saplings or delicate plants
as it is easily digestible.
5. Cow dung is the best bio-culture, so (if available) sprinkle
cow dung slurry over the layers for faster decomposition.
6. Sprinkle rock phosphate, for a better quality of compost.
7. When one container is full, leave the container aside for
60 days and start a new container.
For your existing plants
Corner system for in-situ composting
1 2 5 6
If you already have a garden or plants
in containers, you can use our 'Corner 3 4 7 8
System’.
To start, pick a container in your garden, in one corner of the
container dig the soil and put in your kitchen waste and cover
it again with the soil that you dug loose. On the next day
select another corner of the same container and repeat. Each
day select a different corner for putting your waste. So, if you
have 2 pots, then you have 8 corners and on the ninth day you
go back to the first. When you are done with every container
in your garden, you can go back to the first container and
repeat the process all over again.

Repotting plants

• Repotting of new plants must be done immediately, as

nursery soil will never nourish your plants.
• What goes in the pot is crucial to your plant’s health.
• Water immediately after repotting.

REPOTTING MIX
10%
5% Old soil
Neempend

10% Coco
pith 50% Dry
Leaves

25% Wet
Waste
Some new models
Model 1: A plastic
drum with holes
can be converted
into a compost
planter. With high
waste consumers
like banana or
papaya, this
model can be used
for in-situ composting of everyday kitchen and food waste.
Ensure that there are plenty of holes for proper aeration

Model 2: Plastic crates are well

aerated containers by design.
Lining them with gunny bags
reduces water drainage. The
crates can also be stacked on top
of each other making it an
efficient model for small spaces.

Model 3: Recycle items like old tyres

and plastic bottles as containers to
make your garden more unique as
well as sustainable.
 Model 4: A bamboo basket
with your favourite plant
makes a good planter
composter for users with a
small volume of waste
everyday. If your house
generates larger amounts
of waste you can also use
multiple baskets.

Model 5: If you have extremely

large volume of waste,
especially leaf litter, this metal
leaf composter is an excellent
model. The waste can be loaded
from the top and ready compost
can be removed from the
bottom.

Model 6: The bamboo leaf

composter is similar to the one
in model 5. The three models
above (4, 5, 6) have been
designed by Mr. Mayur Bhave.
Contact information for Mr.
Bhave is provided on the last
page. He also offers to
customize 5 and 6 for your size
and shape requirements.
And some extras
Extra Nutrition
Soak weeds in a bucket full of water for 10 days, and water
your plant with this energy drink
Cow dung slurry 1:10 (dung to water) keeps plants healthy
Charcoal helps in increasing microbial activity in the soil; add
a handful of charcoal in every pot. Charcoal also helps control
foul odor

Insects and Pest Control

A good healthy soil is teeming with all life forms. Everyone
from microscopic bacteria, tiny ants to big ugly maggots and
the birds who feast on them have a role to play in nature’s
cycle. Our job is to let them do their job. When these insects
are done, they will leave your garden and move on to the
next place which needs their help. So, don’t worry about
every insect in the garden, they are making it a better place.

There are some species however, which may harm your

plants. These simple tips will keep them away.
• Plant garlic, marigold, mint and mustard as pest
repellants.
• For pesticide spray: Add 4 teaspoons of neem oil in ½
liter of water. A pinch of soap powder helps the oil
water emulsion.
• Sprinkle ash on young saplings to protect from pests.
• For whitefly apply Vaseline on 1” strips of yellow
plastic, and attach them to the branches of the
infected tree. Clean the strips frequently and
reapply.
• Add a handful of neem pend per month to your pots.
Keep your soil healthy. Remember pests will never attack
healthy plants!!
How can you contribute to Waste
Management?
✓ BE RESPONSIBLE for your waste.
✓ Try composting leaf litter and your kitchen waste.
✓ If you can’t compost take these raw materials to
those who are composting.
✓ Use cloth bags and avoid plastic bags.
✓ Send your plastic for recycling.
✓ If you can’t do any of the above the least you can do is
segregate your wet and dry waste!!

Resources

1. Mayur Bhave: 9881978412 (Composting models)

2. Vikas Panse: 7720078830 (Metal fabrication)
3. Veena Godbole: 9637575945 (INORA culture)
4. Coco pith, neempend, INORA Culture, seeds – Sheti
Udyog Mandal, Swargate.

Contact Us: Soil Circuit @

Phone: (+91)2025674834, 9922146555 (Mrs. Priya Bhide)
Email: soilcircuit@gmail.com
Facebook Page: Soil Circuit
https://www.facebook.com/soilcircuit/
Instagram: soilcircuit

You can also subscribe to the Soil Circuit YouTube channel

for our videos.

Design
Nrupaja Bhide