How do you make a compost?

Answer 1

Step 1Plan your compost pile so that it is near your garden. If you do not have a garden, simply place it under a deciduous tree (one that sheds its leaves once a year) so that it gets some shade. It should also get some sun to heat up in the spring, which is why the tree must be deciduous. Place your compost pile on top of soil--not concrete, asphalt, or brick. Step 2Layer one part dry ingredients with one part moist ingredients. Moist ingredients are often called "green" in gardening parlance, meaning they contain a lot of nitrogen. These include kitchen scraps, grass clippings, and any plant matter before it has dried. Dry ingredients are called "brown," and they contain a lot of carbon. Cardboard, newspaper, and dried leaves fall into this category. Step 3Add a layer of topsoil when you have finished layering the dry and moist ingredients. This will help to heat the pile by retaining the sun's heat, which will jumpstart the aerobic decomposition process. Step 4Cover the compost pile with a black tarp to further aid in retaining the sun's heat. Compost piles do best when they are hot, because the material in them decomposes faster. The center of a compost pile is always where it is hottest. Step 5Add new ingredients to the compost pile by lifting the tarp and poking a hole into the center of the pile. Mix the new ingredients directly into the center and cover them back up with any compost you have displaced. Step 6Use a shovel or pitchfork to turn the pile once a week. This will help prevent anaerobic bacteria from forming due to lack of oxygen in the pile. Anaerobic bacteria will still decompose your compost, but they work much more slowly. They also create stinky odors and attract more pests than aerobic bacteria. Step 7Water the compost pile if it gets too dry. A compost pile should not be sopping wet, but it does require some moisture in order to decompose efficiently.