If you are looking for a cost effective way to add organic nutrients to your garden or lawn, then you are a candidate for a compost pile. Composting is a good way to recycle kitchen and garden waste material. Once you get your compost pile started, which is not difficult, there is very little upkeep. This process will not require half of your weekend.
The first thing is to pick a suitable spot for the compost pile. If possible, it should be out of sight, but still be easily accessible from the lawn, garden and the kitchen if possible. With the location picked out, you can proceed to build your compost bin, I prefer to use wire mesh fencing, but you could also use wood if you so desire. In either case when building your bin, do not cover the top.
Now that you have a compost bin, you cannot just dump lawn, garden or kitchen waste in the bin. Place the waste material in the bin in layers. Begin with a 4” layer of leaves. For the next layer, use approximately 1” of good garden soil. For the next layer add about 2” of grass clippings from the lawn, or you can use old plants. Do not use clippings containing weeds, or grass clippings, if your lawn has a disease of any type. Alternate the layers in this manner, several times.
After a week or so, take your spading fork and turn the compost pile. Begin to add kitchen waste (coffee grounds, eggshells, misc green waste) at this time. Be sure to turn the compost pile once a week with your spading fork. This will distribute the waste material, and the moisture, evenly throughout the pile.
After 8 weeks or so, you will begin to have usable compost. You can tell when the compost is ready, when you cannot find the individual pieces of waste material that you have added to the pile. Do not add oils, animal waste, or meat to the compost.
Just remember that the recipe for good compost is one part green material, from the lawn, garden or the kitchen, and two parts of good garden soil, and keep the mixture damp but not wet. If done correctly your compost pile will have an earthy smell, and your plants will appreciate the compost.
Healthy compost consists of one part green lawn debris and one or two parts of healthy garden soil. Healthy compost is also damp, although it is not soaking wet. It should also give out an earthy smell.
