How to Easily Create
Your Own Compost

Creating a compost is one of the cheapest ways to get nutrient rich soil for your lawn and garden. It can take a little time and effort, but it doesn't cost a cent and is 100% better for the environment than any commercial fertilizers.

Compost Pile
Compost naturally fertilizes soil and stimulates root development in plants. A side benefit is that it eliminates some of the garbage that you throw out everyday. Why contribute to the overflowing landfill problem when you can use the same material to improve your lawn and garden!

"What goes into the pile?"

The microorganisms that decompose everything need a mixture of brown stuff and green stuff to munch on. A rule of thumb is to have a 30:1 brown to green ratio. Too much brown stuff will cause the material to break down too slowly, while too much green will cause the compost to smell. A proper balance of air and water is also needed for the microorganisms to live and work (just like us!).

Brown Leaves
Brown Stuff
Brown stuff is carbon rich material. It's also the dry material that is added. It's very easy to store because it's dead material and since it's the stuff you need the most of, that's a good thing! Some examples of the brown stuff are:

* Dried leaves
* Pine needles
* Newspaper
* Sawdust

Green Stuff
Green stuff is material rich in nitrogen. This is the wet material that is needed. This stuff is harder to store because it can go rotten in a short period of time and stink.
Grass Clippings
Fortunately, you need a smaller amount of this stuff! Some examples of nitrogen rich material are:

* Organic fruit and vegetable scraps
* Grass clippings
* Coffee grounds
* Horse manure


Air
Air circulation is a very important ingredient in your pile. Most of the organisms that do the decomposing are aerobic - they need air to survive. To keep your pile breathing, limit the amount of materials that are easily compacted like sawdust or ashes. If your pile is large or is lacking air, tree branches can be placed vertically in spots to add some circulation. For smaller composts, simply stirring your pile is effective.

Water
Water is important, but it's also important not to add too much! A rule of thumb is that the compost should be as moist as a rung out sponge.
Watering Can Sprinkling water on with a watering can is better than pouring it because the water gets more evenly distributed. If you end up adding too much water, just balance it out by adding more of the dry, brown stuff.

Soil
Soil is where the microorganisms come from. The amount of soil depends on the size of your pile. Typically a thin layer per brown and green layer is needed.

Let's put it all together!

Directions:

1. Select a spot to set up your bin or pile.
2. Spread a layer of brown stuff on the bottom. This should be about 6 inches thick. Sprinkle with water.
3. Spread a layer of green stuff on top. This should be about 2 inches thick. Sprinkle with water.
4. Sprinkle a thin layer of soil on top. Sprinkle with water.
5. Repeat until the bin is full.

The temperature of your pile is very important and it's simple to test. Just use your hand and feel it. If it's warm or hot everything is OK and working. If not, you'll have to help it along because the microbial activity has slowed down. Start by adding more green stuff like food scraps (preferably cut up), grass clippings, or manure. Add a little water and mix it up.

Is it ready yet?

If you can no longer recognize the material, then the compost is most likely done.

The finished material should have a dark, crumbly, earthy odor.

Compost Example
Do not use the soil before it's ready. The plants growing in the soil will not do well because the decomposing process is still happening. The incomplete compost will steal the nitrogen that your plants need.

If you think it's ready, but you see a couple of large chunks in it, just sift it or pull the larger things out by hand.

Different Types of Composts

Trenches
These are perfect if you have a garden. All you do is place leaves in the trenches between the raised beds, or through the pathways of your garden. By the end of the gardening season they will be decomposed and ready to use as a mulch.

Pockets
This is probably one of the easiest ways to dispose of kitchen scraps and create a nutrient rich pocket of soil. All you do is bury your fruit scraps, vegetable scraps, and coffee grounds into an 18 inch hole. Cover with a few inches of soil and about a month later you'll have the perfect spot to plant a flower or a plant!