1. Collect materials

Check out the complete list of materials that can be added to your compost pile. You should try to add equal quantities of wet and dry ingredients.

2. Select a container

Whether you purchase a bin, make your own bin, or use no bin at all is your choice. Whatever you do, the pile should be at approximately 1 cubic yard (3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet). Piles that are significantly larger or smaller may have problems.

3. Choose a location

Selecting a site for the pile is a balance between convenience and consideration. Although a well maintained compost pile should not generate odors or attract animals, we advise not placing it too close to outdoor living areas or property lines.

4. Build the pile

The basic idea is to alternate wet and dry materials in layers approximately 4 inches thick. This will help create optimal conditions for the micro-organisms that decompose organic matter.

To discourage insects, rodents, and other "vectors," be sure to bury food scraps near the center of the pile and cover with dry materials. Do not add meat, dairy products, or fatty foods.

5. Let it cook

The micro-organisms, including bacteria, fungi, worms, and insects, will decompose the material in the compost pile. It's just a matter of time. The rate at which this process occurs depends on two main actors: AIR & WATER. Seasonal temperatures also affect the decomposition rate of small piles, the warmer the better. You do have some control over the rate at which your pile decomposes.

FAST METHOD: To get the material to decompose as quickly as possible, the pile needs to be kept HOT. All piles heat up initially, as the microbes give off heat when metabolizing food. Within a week, however, the microbes will have used up the available oxygen and the pile cools down. To add air, turn the pile with a pitch fork or shovel. You can turn the material within the bin, turn the material into a second pile, or remove the bin from the original pile, place it nearby, and re-fill it. Add water if the pile looks dry or add leaves if it looks too wet. It should have the consistency of a wet sponge.

To obtain finished compost in the shortest amount of time, turn the pile every fourth day. This method can take 3 weeks to 3 months.

SLOW METHOD: If speed is not your main concern, you may opt for a more passive style of composting. The microbes still need air, so you can either 1) turn the pile less frequently, or 2) insert pipes or sticks to aerate the center. If you choose the latter, simply wiggles the sticks from time to time to let air in. This method can take 3 months to 2 years.

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6. Harvest the compost

The compost is finished when it is dark brown and has an earthy smell. To remove any large chunks, sift the compost through a garden sieve or milk crate. The chunks can be placed back in the pile.

Use the finished compost in your garden to add nutrient to the soil around plants. It can also be used to repot house plants, as a bedding for seedlings, or as mulch around trees and shrubs. Lawns love compost, too!