How to Make Compost

Why Make Compost?

Compost happens in nature through decomposition brought on by carbon, air, water and nitrogen. Past generations regularly incorporated composting principles and used these ideas to maintain beautiful and fruitful gardens. In recent years, the activity has regained popularity as organic gardening and eco-friendly lifestyles become more mainstream.

The benefits of composting are many. It is a way to enhance garden soils by providing one of the best mulches and all natural soil ingredients.

It improves soil structure, aeration and increases the soil retain water. Compost improves soil fertility and encourages healthy root systems in plants. The organic compost matter keeps the soil balanced in nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus by introducing feeding microorganisms. It helps eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers and it's cheap!

In addition to its benefits to gardens, composting is a very eco-friendly activity. It diverts solid waste from septic tanks and landfills, saving energy and maintenance costs. About one third of all landfills are composed of organic kitchen and yard waste. By composting these materials, you are cutting down the need for landfills and enriching your garden.

Compost 101

The first thing you need to know when starting a compost pile is that organic matter rots. This is the basis for your project and a very good thing for gardeners. The next thing you need to know is Air + Water + Carbon + Nitrogen = Compost.

Compost is the end product of decomposition, a feeding process of hundreds of different little organisms including bacteria, fungi, worms and insects. After all their work a rich, earthy substance is produced - compost. This is Mother Nature's work but you can organize and speed up the process with your own compost pile so let's get started.

Site Selection

A well-chosen site can make your compost pile work faster. It should be level and well-drained. In cooler latitudes, pick a sunny spot to utilize solar gain. In warmer regions, choose a shady spot to avoid losing too much moisture. Pick natural bases like soil or lawn over concrete or asphalt to incorporate natural microorganisms.

Your compost pile site should be accessible, easy to reach so it's not neglected. But it should also be discreet enough for you or your neighbors.

Organic Materials

Just about any organic material can be used for a compost pile but there are a few guidelines to make the process faster and more effective. Your compost pile needs mix of carbon-rich materials, "browns", and nitrogen-rich materials, "greens". Brown matter is usually dry and includes leaves, straw and wood chips. Green matter is moist or fresh and includes grass clippings, kitchen scraps and manure.

Brown matter provides energy for microbes while green matter provides protein. Too much carbon will slow decomposition and too much nitrogen can cause odor. The ideal ratio of green matter to brown matter is 25 parts brown to 1 part green. It's best to shred materials if you can. This will make them decompose faster.

The list of organic materials which can be added to a compost pile is long so here are a few basics. Include pine needles, grass clippings, kitchen waste, yard waste, hay or straw and manure. Avoid meat, fish scraps, dairy or high-fat foods like peanut butter, charcoal briquettes, coal ashes and companion animal droppings. A few plants you'll want to avoid are eucalyptus, poison oak, poison ivy and sumac.

You can collect kitchen waste by keeping a small compost pail in the kitchen and bringing it to the pile every few days. When adding kitchen scraps to your compost pile just be sure to bury them to reduce attracting flies or other animals.

Cold or Hot?

There are two basic types of compost: hot and cold. Cold compost requires the least time and energy. Hot composting takes more work but produces high quality material faster.

Cold (Passive) Compost

Anyone can make a cold compost in their backyard. Pick a spot in your yard and begin piling organic waste there. Throw grass clippings, leaves, weeds and then leave it.

This process can take from 6-24 months. During that time microorganisms, earthworms and insects feed on the collected materials and break them down.

You can add new materials to the top of the pile, and if you feel motivated, you can turn the ingredients. Mixing up the ingredients will speed the process of decomposition. Adjusting the pile's moisture level will also help speed things along. Woody materials, like bark or sticks, break down slowly so you may want to avoid adding these to your compost pile.

The great thing about cold composting is that it takes very little effort to start and maintain. The downside is that it can take up to two years to have a finished material and the cold compost process doesn't kill weeds or pathogens.

Cold compost works from the bottom up. The bottom ingredients decompose faster than those on top. When the bottom of your pile no longer resembles the initial ingredients, you've got compost!

Hot (Active) Compost

This type of composting takes more work but produces a high quality compost faster, even as soon as 2 months.

If you want to set up a hot compost you'll need to collect material first, about 27 cubic feet worth (3' x 3' x 3'). This is the minimum volume required for the pile to hold heat that is released by microorganisms as they decompose.

The proper size pile can insulate and hold an interior temperature of 120 to 150 degrees F. Turning the hot compost weekly will help quicken the process. This hot period lasts about a month. Compost thermometers are offered commercially and are fairly inexpensive.

As the pile starts to finish decomposition, the temperature will fall to between 80 and 110 degrees F. After about another month, when the original ingredients aren't recognizable and the pile no longer heats, you've got compost!

Tips for the Best Compost

In regions with cold winter, start your compost pile in spring.

Implement the most suitable storage system for your needs. You can simply pile your compost, enclose it in a fenced area or purchase a commercial compost bin for easy turning.

Keep the pile as large as possible to keep the decomposition process going.

Implement a strategy for solar gain in cold regions and shade in warmer regions.

Keep the moisture level equal to a "wrung-out" sponge.

Remember Air + Water + Carbon + Nitrogen = Compost.

Have fun and good luck with your compost pile!