I love composting because it really improves the dirt in your garden and makes great use of some of your household waste. Compost improves soil by helping it maintain it’s neutral pH and helps it retain more water and nutrients. The nice thing about compost is that it does not matter what type of soil you start with, compost can improve it.
The first thing you need to do is you need to pick a spot in your yard for your compost “pile”. There are also compost bins and containers you can purchase for a more aesthetic looking compost pile. Whichever you choose, make sure it is at least 3x3x3. If you pile is too small it will not heat properly. If you pile is too large than it becomes difficult to turn.
The next thing you need to know about is moisture, oxygen and heat. The stuff you put in your compost pile should not be sopping wet, but moist. You keep the oxygen flowing through the pile by turning it. If you have a ready made bin, usually it comes with a crank you turn which turns the pile. If you have a pile in your yard, you can use a pitch for or rake to literally turn the pile. The oxygen from turning your compost will helps the microbes that break down your pile. If you don’t aerate the pile it will break down slowly. Heat is your compost piles friend. The heat helps break it down faster. As the pile breaks down it will generate heat which in turn speeds up the break down process and so and so on.
The last thing you need to know is what to put in the pile. You want to have as much “brown” carbon rich matter as possible. Leaves, straw and sawdust are great “brown” materials. You also want “green” matter in the pile such as vegetable peel and grass clippings. You will want to add these materials in a ratio of 3 to 1, 3 parts brown to 1 part green. This ration will keep your pile from becoming to smelly or slimy.
Enjoy composting. My family likes to collect the matter and adding it to the pile. It really helps cut down on the waste you throw away in the trash. Composting helps you and your plants.
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