Composting is a great way to utilize your free kitchen and garden scraps to replace expensive mulches and fertilizers. A simple composting bin can save you a significant amount of money and can be a fun and simple way to reduce the amount of garbage that goes to the landfill.
To Begin:
Start by building or obtaining a suitable bin. Personally, I prefer natural products, especially if I plan to use the compost on garden crops. I use a simple bin made of natural untreated pine.
* I do not recommend using pressure treated wood for any garden application the chemicals in the wood may be harmful to the plants and ultimately to the individual if the plants are consumed.*
I see a lot different dimensions for compost bins but really, just make one that is convenient from the materials that you have and the amount of waste you will be composting. Keep in my mind your personal limits when it comes to being able to "turn the pile." I prefer do my composting in a bin about the size of a bathtub with several holes of varying sizes drilled in the bottom for drainage. Of course you can just dig a hole or build a pile right on the ground, whatever method you prefer.
What To Use:
Once you have your bin or location to build your pile, start by layering the pile with alternating layers of "brown" and "green" wastes. The "brown" wastes, such as fallen leaves, twigs, dried grass small wood chips, shredded newspaper, etc., will add carbon to the mixture. The "green" wastes, such as fresh grass clippings, kitchen scraps, other garden wastes, etc., will add nitrogen to the mixture.
*Personally I prefer natural yard clippings, leaves, food scraps, etc. to use for my composting. I try to stay away from newspapers and other processed items as the inks and chlorinated processing of these items may add harmful chemicals to the compost.*
Do not use animal wastes in your composts as animal wastes requires much more strict monitoring of the compost to ensures it reaches and maintains an adequate internal temperature to kill bacteria and prevent disease. Also, do not use fatty, oily, greasy, milky foods or food wastes (such as meats, cheeses, milk, vegetables cooked in oils or butters) as these items will most likely become rancid and make for a terrible stench. Good compost should smell sweet and earthy.
Together, the nitrogen and the carbon combined with the microorganisms in the wastes will cause the inside of the pile to heat up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.But to reach these temperatures (which is required to kill some of the bacteria and various plant seeds that are living in the waste), the pile will need the proper amount of water.
Water Generously:
Water the compost bin or pile generously until it is like a damp sponge. Be sure that you compost bin has adequate drainage. Water the pile as needed to keep it damp, but not wet. If the compost becomes wet and soggy it may begin to smell foul and the composting process will not work properly. Keep in mind the type of products in the compost as well; juicy kitchen foods (tomatoes, pineapples, etc.) will add moisture to the pile and the pile will require less watering.
Turn the Pile:
Periodically, you should "turn" the pile. "Turning" consists of using a shovel, hoe, pitch fork, or other device to mix the compost. I usually try to turn my compost once every one to two weeks. How often you turn the pile is really up to you.
The compost should be warm steamy on the inside when you turn it. If it's not warm and steamy, add more "green" wastes, this will increase the nitrogen content and cause the compost to heat up more.
How Long To Wait:
Depending on the amount of maintenance (monitoring the moisture and turning the pile) and the composition of the compost (i.e. large limbs and sticks will take longer to compost than grass clippings and fallen leaves), the compost should be ready anywhere from four months to two years.
*I like to set my larger limbs and such in a separate bin to allow them to soften and decay a little before I add them to my compost. This way my compost is easier to turn and it doesn't take as long to complete the composting process*
When Is It Ready
The compost will look like soft brown humus and will smell sweet and earthy. It's now ready for use in your garden or house plants.
