Composting

Composting is easy -- don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Literally, if you were to throw all your organic trash in an outdoor pit (minus the stuff like meat and manure that attracts the wrong kind of vermin), it would eventually turn into compost. In fact, there's an 'annual' method for the lazy composter where you rotate annually between just tossing your organic trash in one pit one year, then the other pit the next -- back and forth, back and forth. But that's just to set the record straight: composting is simple, and it's pretty hard to get it wrong if you have the patience for the long haul.

To start, you need a place to compost. Preferably, you would do this outdoors (although indoor composting is certainly possible), and not right next to your house. You can build your own compost bin using a wooden shipping palette as the base, and encircling it with tight chicken wire. Or you can buy one. A fine compost bin can be had pretty cheaply, and some cities give them away free to promote the practice. The EPA has links to some regional composting programs. There are also some fancy and expensive compost bins out there, like this cute pig-shaped one:

...but it's not really necessary.

Once you have your composting location set up, learn the following rules:

• Keep your compost moist, but not wet. It's chemistry: soaking compost can't produce enough O2 (Oxygen) for the microboes that make the magic happen. A good occasional rain won't ruin your compost, but consider mopping up the excess with shredded paper waste.
• You need both brown and green materials. If you don't haven any yard waste (brown) to add to your kitchen scraps, shred some newspaper or some of the printed materials you were going to recycle -- bills seem to work well for me :)
• Compost is more like a stew than a lasagna. There are a number of expert out there who will tell you to layer your compost first some dry leaves, then your organic stuff, then some dry leaves, etc... But compost works best if you mix it all together and let it simmer for a while.
• For best results, stir your compost pile at least once a week. This isn't really controversial. Just good common compost sense. Some people will tell you more, some will tell you less. I say once a week, and I'm sticking to it.
• Composting is an exothermic reaction. That means it gives off heat. It doesn't mean you should freeze your compost pile in the coolest, shadiest spot in your garden. Some sunshine can help get things moving, so let the sun shine on your pile!

Composting the remains of dinner.

What to compost

You can compost almost any organic waste, but it will go a lot quicker if you keep to things you would grow around your house (including garden waste). Chop things up to make them decompose faster -- after all, that's just getting a jump on the natural process.

What not to compost

This is pretty simple. Don't compost:

• Meat
• Pet Feces
• Fat
• Animal bones
• Dairy products
• Non-organic matter
• Chocolate Cake

How long will it take to create usable compost?

This depends on many factors including: what exactly you’re putting into the compost, the temperature and moisture of the pile and the amount of air in the mix. Higher temperatures will result in more quickly available compost. A large compost pile that is mixed regularly and has the right amount of moisture (not soaking) can decompose as quickly as a couple of months.

Most home gardeners, who are adding to the compost pile slowly as materials become available, will have a cooler pile. The actual process is the same but the compost will be available in time range closer to 6 to 12 months. One benefit of cooler composting is that more worms are able to survive, resulting in a higher quality end product.

You can help speed things up by adding composting worms (not common earth worms) or an "activator," microorganisms that help in the decomposition process. Horse manure make an effective activator, as does a commercially available activator mix. If you have more than one pile going, you can always add some more decomposed material from one pile to move things along in the other.

And of course, be aware that composting will naturally slow down over the winter months.

Troubleshooting your compost

My first attempt at composting was really a disaster. My pile didn't seem to break down at all, it attracted horrendous loads of flies and it stunk. It turns out these are common problems for the novice composter. Don't be dissuaded. Here's some troubleshooting tips:

• That bad smell. Your compost is probably too wet. Shake it up and soak up the excess moisture with some good brown matter.
• Rats. Stop adding food scraps, shake it up and keep it moist (but not wet). It's good practice to keep the food scraps buried under an inch or so of brown matter to keep the scavengers away.
• That melon rind just won't decompose. First of all, if you can still see the melon rind after all this time you probably haven't been turning your pile often enough or keeping a good mix of brown matter. Turn it, keep it moist (but not wet), and add more garden waste.
• Call an expert. More than likely, there's a local agency that wants to help you compost for free. Find your local EPA equivalent and ask for help!

Using Compost

With most compost piles, you end up with the good, decomposed stuff at the bottom, or off to one side. Once your compost is fully decomposed, you should let your compost age for about a month before you use it. Compost is a great additive to potting soil, makes a great mulch, and can improve the drainage and structure of almost any natural soil. Use it and thrive!

The Very Best Composting Resources on the Internet

Or at least, these are the ones I like and trust:

• Montgomery County, Maryland EPA's Easy Composting
• The Brooklyn Botanic Garden's 10 Tall Tales About Composting
• Texas Gardner Magazine's Nature's Guide To Great Compost