Materials You Need to Start Composting

Now that you have decided that you want to compost, there are a few items that you will need to get started.  Most of these items are available in your own yard and require a small amount of planning ahead of time.

After you pick a location for your compost bin or pile (ensure it is in an easily accessible location) you may want to start with approximately four inches of leaves as a base.  If you are able to chip the leaves prior it will make things progress and breakdown faster but it is not a requirement.  The quantity of leaves you will need to make a four-inch deep base will vary depending on the size of the bin you have chosen.

Yard waste composting bin (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Your next layer should be about one inch of high-quality soil.  If you cannot find this in your own garden a small bag of organic soil purchased from your local nursery will work fine. 

Then start layering the food for the microbes to eat.  There are two categories of food you are going to need brown (yard waste or dry items such as straw) and green (food scraps, grass clippings, and other organic waste).  A common ratio is two parts brown for every part of green, but it doesn't have to be terribly exact.

You are going to need a spade or heavy-duty pitch fork to turn or rotate the compost at least once per week.  If there is a dry spell you will need a means of adding water (a hose) to keep the pile moist.

With such simple materials and start-up instructions, anyone can start their own compost pile in under a day.  If you choose to not use a bin, consider buying some wire mesh to contain the pile, it can be wrapped around the base of the pile in a circular shape. You may also create a square or rectangular bin by stacking logs or pieces of wood or bamboo to create the sides - or build a bin from wood planks if you want something more durable and enclosed.

Your compost can be ready to use anywhere from four months up to one year, depending on the climate and weather conditions.

What Makes Composting Worthwhile?

If you’re into organic gardening you probably know by now about compost and how it works wonders for your garden patch. But for the first timers, creating a compost pile might not really be on the top of their to-do-list. The question of is composting worthwhile usually comes up, and without knowing much about the process, it's easy to choose the first answer - and that’s a nope, I don’t have time for making my own compost. I will settle for the commercially available organic fertilizers and related products.

Compost (Photo credit: Joe Hoover)

First things first, composting is the process of decomposing organic wastes, which can be household wastes or plant remains or a mixture of both, and making them into a dark, earthy, and loose or crumbly substance. Because compost is rich in minerals which most plants need, compost can be made to enhance or even replace your garden soil.

Most often, gardeners use compost to enrich their garden soil. When compost is added the soil, the overall structure of the soil is improved allowing it to hold more water and letting air circulate better within the soil, as well as helping plants absorb nutrients more easily.

Contrary to some of your perceptions, compost is quite easy to make and is especially easy to use. There are several methods that may be used when creating compost.

I would suggest using some kind of compost bin to keep everything confined to one place. You will avoid making a mess in your backyard if you do so. Plus, temperature and moisture can also be regulated if you construct a compost bin but allow the organic materials to be composted to touch the soil. You need to allow your earthworm buddies and other organic microbes to help out in the decomposing process.

Although almost all organic materials could go into your compost pile, a good combination of “greens” and “browns” is best. The “greens” refer to nitrogen-rich organic matter like fresh grass, leaves, and vegetable scraps from your kitchen. The “browns”, on the other hand refer to organic matter that contains a lot of carbon such as dried leaves, straw and, of course, wood chips or shavings.

A homeowner sifts soil from his compost bin. Composting is an excellent way to recycle household and yard wastes. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A good combination of “greens” and “browns” can dictate how fast you will have a finished compost. Admittedly, you will have an edge in this area if you have some experience in compost making. Why? Well, for starters you may already know how fast the final compost is created from the different proportions of “greens” and “browns”.

Some would suggest that the best proportion is when 25 percent of your compost pile is made of “browns” and 1 percent is made of “greens.” Take note that if you have a large part made up of “browns” the compost pile will decompose more slowly. On the other hand, having too much “greens” on the pile can cause some serious smell.

Other elements that you should always consider when making compost are the air and the amount of water your pile will need. It is best to keep your compost pile damp. This will help in the decomposing process. Air is also needed so make sure your pile is properly aerated. Air can be incorporated if needed by turning over your pile. Observe and periodically aerate your pile until you can “harvest” the fruits of your labor - great compost to feed your growing plants.

It may take a little bit of effort to create great compost, but the results of composting are really worthwhile - for both you and your garden.

Making Your Uwn Compost Bin

With spring just around the corner, it is already time to start thinking compost! The sooner you get your compost going, the faster you will have great compost to add to your garden. Even if it isn't quite warm enough to get some good composting action under way just yet, you can at least begin preparing for the season. If you intend to make your own compost pile, it would be nice to make an enclosure or compost bin for your convenience and general neatness. There are a number of compost bins commercially available in various garden stores (see below for some examples). You can buy one if you have the money, or you can make your own compost bin fairly easily. It’s really not that difficult and the materials you need are not that hard to find.

Image via WikipediaSome commercially available compost bins have their own systems or devices for turning over the compost. Some have harvesting trays or mechanisms for easier collection. But those things are just add-ons and are made for added convenience for the consumer. You really don’t need such stuff. All you really need is a basic enclosure to keep the compost materials from being scattered around the area (and hopefully keep the animals out).

Possibly the only limitations you have in making your compost bin is the amount of imagination and ingenuity you have. Fortunately, you can look in your storage room or garage and look for suitable materials and most likely you will find some quite suitable ones. They can be made from heavy plastics or wood or tin. Like I said, it’s just a matter of how you handle the “paints” to create a “masterpiece”.

One of my suggestions would be using a wire mesh, a couple of wood planks or even pipes. The idea would be like creating a simple wired fence around your compost pile with the pieces of wooden plans or pipes as support. You can tie the wire mesh to the pipes or planks to make it more secure. The shape is up to you. You can make it round, square, rectangular or even triangle shaped.

Just keep in mind that you will need to have easy access to the compost pile to turn it over at least once each week. You can create a doorway in the wire mesh or you can make your enclosure in such a way that you can easily lift and put back the whole enclosure.

Image via WikipediaAlso, if you have some left over wooden slats from an old fence or wooden planks from an old shed, I’m sure you can assemble a quite sturdy compost bin in your backyard. Just make sure to let the air in by allowing spaces between the wooden boards. This will keep the air flowing inside the compost pile and make decomposition quicker. If you have enough loose boards lying around, you can create a dresser-type compost bin complete with a door with hinges for easy access to the compost pile.

You can even fashion one from a garbage can. Look for an old discarded can where you can afford to experiment without being scolded by your wife or your mother later on. What you need to do is punch a few holes in your garbage can to allow the air to circulate through the composting materials. Then just put your composting materials inside the can. Before you cover it, wet the materials inside until they appear damp.

You can turn over or roll it around to let the materials mix while always keeping the compost pile damp. In a few months, you should be able to get satisfactory results from all your effort.

You see, making your own compost bin is very easy. You just need to consider the following fundamentals: air should flow inside the bin, you should have quick access to the compost pile or the ability to easily turn and mix the contents, and you should be able to wet the pile when needed.

Some Commercially Available Compost Bins: