Composting is the process by which organic matter (like food and yard waste) is decomposed. When allowed to happen naturally, composting can take weeks or even months. Karfo speeds up this process, creating the perfect environment for microorganisms to thrive while quickly breaking down waste into usable, nutrient-rich dirt.
Karfo features three pre-set programs: grinding, heating, and deodorizing. In each program, the waste is exposed to perfectly balanced moisture, warmth, and oxygen levels to speed up natural decomposition. Oxygen plays a particularly important role here. Aerobic decomposition (which is achieved by oxygen-dependent microbes) is one of the most efficient and speedy ways of composting, plus it helps keep nasty smells at bay.
How Karfo Works Physically
Smaller pieces of organic waste will break down more quickly than larger pieces, which is why every Karfo pre-set program includes a grinding cycle. Karfo physically breaks down the food into smaller pieces, making it easier for microorganisms to begin digesting the waste. Grinding also helps to aerate the compost, increasing oxygen and creating a healthy environment for oxygen-dependent microbes.
If you were composting in a traditional outdoor compost bin, you would need to manually turn your compost to provide enough oxygen. Karfo does all of this for you and has a series of sophisticated sensors to help enhance environmental conditions.
How Karfo Works Chemically
All foods contain microorganisms that work to chemically decompose food waste. These microbes consume organic matter and oxygen to fuel their growth and produce nutrients like carbon dioxide, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur as waste decomposes. These nutrients are what make compost so valuable since plants need these to grow and survive.
To increase the efficiency of the naturally occurring microbes in your food waste, Karfo also makes additives that include a proprietary blend of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms. When added to food waste, Karfo additives can significantly increase the rate of decomposition and improve the quality of the final compost.
Stages of Composting
There are three key phases of composting. During each phase, a different community of microorganisms takes over. Here’s a simple overview of how each phase works:
Phase 1: Mesophilic Microorganisms Dominate
Mesophilic microorganisms are microbes that thrive in moderate temperatures and work to break down easily dissolved waste using enzymes. As the mesophilic microorganisms break down the most readily degradable compounds, the chemical change naturally produces additional heat.
Phase 2: Thermophilic Microorganisms Take Over
As temperatures rise, the second phase of decomposition begins and the mesophilic microorganisms are replaced by thermophilic microorganisms. Thermophilic microorganisms are happiest in high temperatures. High temperatures are also ideal for breaking down protein, fats, and complex carbohydrates. The thermophilic microorganisms remain dominant until the supply of fats, protein, and carbs is used up.
Phase 3: Mesophilic Microorganisms Return
Once the thermophilic microorganisms complete their work, temperatures begin to drop and mesophilic microorganisms take over again. The mesophiles complete the process of breaking down the remaining organic material and transform the mixture into mature and stable compost.
How To Use Karfo?
Unlike other home composting systems, which require you to mix the final product with soil or dilute it with water before using, Karfo nutrient-rich dirt can be used immediately! Rather than producing a concentrated sludge or immature muddy compost, Karfo creates a soil-like product that is super rich in nutrients. Karfo microbe-rich dirt can be added directly to house plants, used to enrich garden bed soil, or used wherever you need soil amendment.
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