How to Make Compost

I learned how to make compost 175 years ago , and it's the best part of life underground. Compost makes the soil nice for plants and animals. Not all soil is created equal, though, and if your soil is less than great, you can make compost to help your soil help itself. The best part about making your own compost is that you can put your food scraps and yard clippings back into the earth. You will waste less, and improve your garden at the same time. Making compost is easier than you might think. But first, why would you want to make compost?

Why Compost is Good for Your Plants?

Compost enhances the soil, so learning how to make compost is your key to organic gardening success. What looks like just a pile of dirt is actually an ecosystem in and of itself. Soil contains different components: organic matter (decomposed living things), water, air spaces, living organisms and rock particles (minerals). Depending upon the size and proportions of different parts of soil, the soil can be classified as clay , silt , sand or loam .

The best soil for growing most plants is a loamy soil. In loamy soil, there is a high amount of organic matter and equally balanced amounts of organic matter, sand, air, and clay particles. Very few gardens are in perfect loamy soil. If your soil is less than desirable, you can make compost to add to the soil. The added organic matter will improve drainage, add nutrients and improve structure.

Build A Compost Pile

The key to making yummy, crumbly, nutrient-rich compost is to build your compost pile correctly. Compost is not just a pile of vegetable scraps in a heap. To make the best, you need:

Brown matter (dried leaves, wood chips, etc.), which supplies carbon to the pile.
Green matter (non-animal food scraps, grass clippings), which supplies nitrogen to break it all down.
A little soil or finished compost from your last pile to introduce necessary soil life.

Combine the brown and the green in about equal quantities, with a little soil, and keep it damp. Not wet – about the same amount of moisture you would find in a wrung out sponge.

These plant materials become compost as microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) and macro organisms (worms) break down the materials into Humus. In order for the organisms to live and function, they need air and water. The way you build your pile will go a long way toward determining its success, because the way you put together the pile will impact the air and water supply to the hard working organisms.

Start the pile with a layer of twigs or branches. This will allow air to move around the pile. Then, add layers of green matter and brown matter. On the top of the layers, add a bit of good soil. This functions much like “starter” in sourdough bread. Adding the soil adds necessary microorganisms to the pile so that they can get to work breaking down the soil.

My Tips On How To Make Compost

I’ve learned a few things over my 179 years in the soil, and these are my tips for making good compost:

Build your compost pile in a part of the yard that is partially in the shade and partially in the sun. As your pile decomposes, it will heat up. If the compost pile is too hot, it will kill the organisms in the pile that help break down the compost.
Don’t add weeds to your compost heap. Unless your pile is very hot, the weed seeds will not be killed and may re-sprout and cause problems in your garden.
Chop up items you add to your pile as finely as possible. If you are adding leaves, run your lawnmower over the leaves first. (If you don’t chop up the leaves, they can stick together and become almost un-digestible.)
Keep the pile evenly moist. Too dry or too wet, and the composting will be affected.

I hope these tips on how to make compost help! Anyone with a bit of time and extra vegetable matter can build a great compost pile. I sure appreciate the good soil!

Happy gardening,

Geefrank

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