How do you start your own home compost?

Although the Community Composting Committee is actively working on a plan to initiate a community composting site, we encourage and would like to offer resources to starting your own home-composting system. There are several options depending on what you want to accomplish as an end product and how much effort you are willing to put forth.

First of all, a soil test may be helpful in identifying your soil composition and structure, but you may assume that your soil will always appreciate amendments. There is nothing better to improve your soil conditions than organic matter. When you add decomposed organic matter, or compost, to your soil you increase it's fertility and therefore the productivity of your garden.

What Will You Need?

There are four basic ingredients in a compost pile:

Carbon: Energy food for micro-organisms. Dry, tough, fibrous plant materials such as leaves, straw, sawdust, shredded paper.
Nitrogen: Protein micro-organisms need to break down the carbon. Fresh weeds, grass clippings, fruit and vegetable kitchen scraps.
Water: Moisture is a very important part of composting. Too much can suffocate micro-organisms and result in a smelly pile. Too little will slow down the decomposition process.
Air: Aerating, or turning, your pile is very important to provide oxygen for micro-organisms.

Materials

Compostable Organic Materials: ("N" indicates nitrogen, "C" indicates carbon) Following are materials that are suggested for a successful compost pile. Although a diversity of organic material can increase the productivity of your pile, not all of the items suggested are necessary. A balance of the four basic ingredients is most important. Finding a balance between your nitrogen and carbon materials may be challenging, but you will find it easier as you get to know your pile. Don't forget to forage around your community for extra compostable materials. Check farms, orchards, stables and landscaping businesses.
Grass clippings (N): should be mixed in with dry materials such as straw, hay, sawdust or laid in the sun to dry since they are almost entirely water which can suffocate your pile. Grass clippings that have been sprayed with pesticides or herbicides may contaminate your pile.
Sod (N): may take years to decompose if strips are not chopped or shredded and mixed in thoroughly.
Leaves (C): any kind of leaves may be used, including needles.
Fresh Weeds (N): should be mixed with brown material. May want to chop up or shred if extremely fibrous plant. Make sure to collect weeds before they have set seed. Only the hottest of piles are able to kill seed. Be careful with those invasive species!
Seaweed (N & C): Rich in trace elements and nutrients.
Woody Material (C): Wood chips, cones, bark. May be used, but takes a long time to decompose if not chopped up.
Kitchen Waste (N & C): Fruit and vegetable waste, stale baked goods, used coffee grounds, paper towels, tea bags, egg shells. Any organic material except meat and dairy products (No bones, grease, gravy, milk, cheese, etc.) Beneficial to mix kitchen waste with dry carbon material. Can chop it up in blender mixed with a little water for faster decomposition.
Paper (C): Newspaper, computer paper and copy paper may be shredded and added to compost pile or can by recycled.
Things you'd never think of (N & C): Human hair, dead house plants, vacuum cleaner waste, natural fabric, untreated wood

Compost Bin or Pile: Your method will depend on how much space you have available and how much time you want to put into your compost. For avid gardeners who are looking for usable compost in a short amount of time, a bin, either bought or built by you may be the most practical option.

For learning more about composting bins try: www.gardeners.com/composting.html

Tools: Again, depending on the size of your operation, some tools may be necessary to turn your pile. These include a turning fork, shovel, wheelbarrow, and a mixing pole.

Worms: Naturally, your pile will attract micro and macro organisms to conduct the decomposition process, but it is always possible to purchase and add composting worms to your pile. A worm bin may be an option for a much smaller operation.

For information on worms and worm bins try: www.wormfarm.com/