Garden Compost – The Basics

No doubt you have heard of composting and you are aware of the benefits of composting, both for your yard and the environment. But do you know the garden compost basics? How do you start? Is it hard? What types of materials can be composting.

Composting has existed in nature since the beginning of time. It is something that happens naturally – think of walking through a forest and the rich, dark brown material on the forest floor. That is the leaves, pine needles, etc. slowly breaking down to become nutrient rich soil. When you create home compost, you are simply doing what occurs in nature – but you are speeding up the process!

One of the main things you need to remember about creating your own compost, is to keep it simple! You can create your compost in a bin, a compost spinner, or even a home made compost box. If you have the room, your compost can just be a pile in the corner of your yard that you can easily turn with a turning fork. The point is, you just need a space where the compost can be turned easily and it is convenient for you to add material to it.  You don’t need to worry about any kind of smell. If the compost is created properly – with the right types of material there will be no odor.

It is beneficial to have two compost piles. If you purchase a ready made bin, find one with two chambers, however the twin chamber bins are more expensive so you might want to just have two traditional bins.  The reason you want two piles is so that one bin can be working on the compost, while you collect items in the other bin. If you add material to the bin after the composting process begins it will slow the time it takes to collect the finished product.

You want a good mix of green and brown items in your compost pile. You don’t want too much green material or the compost will develop an odor.

Green Compost Material

• Fresh lawn clippings
• Kitchen scraps – vegetable and fruit waste, coffee grounds, egg shells, tea bags
• Manure – chicken, rabbit, horse, cow
• Green leaves and yard clippings
• Fruit dropped from fruit trees

Brown Compost Material

• Brown, dry leaves
• Dried grass clippings
• Shredded corn stalks
• Straw

Mix the materials thoroughly to insure proper composting. Turn your compost daily for a quicker turn around time. Your compost will compost well without daily turning, but it will take longer. Make sure your compost pile stays moist – not soggy. You may need to sprinkle your compost pile in drier climates. If you live in a rainy location, you will want to cover the pile to prevent it from getting too wet. If you can squeeze water from the mixture it is too wet.

By having a proper mix of materials and a moist mixture, your compost pile will begin to generate heat. This heat will help to break down the particles and kill off any weed seeds that may be present in the mixture. Ideally, you should feel a toasty warmth if you stick your hand into the middle of the pile.

Once your compost reaches a rich, dark color it is ready to mix into your garden soil. It is a good idea to screen the mixture to remove any large clumps before using. Adding compost to your garden increases your soil’s ability to to hold water and nutrients. Compost also helps to improve the texture of the soil, making it richer and easier to work with.

For more information on composting, check out these great books. It is nice to have a handy guide for quick reference!

• Let it Rot!: The Gardener’s Guide to Composting
• Composting: An Easy Household Guide
• The Complete Compost Gardening Guide

As you can see, creating your own compost is a fairly simple process. It is a way for you to recycle your organic waste and give back to the environment. Just follow the garden compost basics – it is easy and fun!