How To Make Compost Step By Step With Pictures
Step 1: Choose a location
Select a spot for your compost pile or bin that is away from your home and is relatively level.
- Best location: Bare soil is ideal, as it allows beneficial organisms like worms and microbes to aerate the pile and enter from the ground.
- Water access: Choose a spot that is easy to reach with a garden hose, as the pile needs to be kept moist.
Sunlight: Some sunlight is fine, but intense direct sun can dry out the pile. You want it to be consistently damp, not baked.
How to Make Compost at Home
keep it consistently moist. Additional Tips. There are other composting options if you have limited space.
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Step 2: Choose your bin or build your pile
Depending on your space and needs, you have a few options for containing your compost.
- Compost bin: You can purchase a variety of ready-made bins. Some are simple containers, while others are tumblers that make turning easier.
- DIY bin: Build your own enclosure from wood pallets or other upcycled materials.
- Compost pile: If you have enough space, you can simply create a freestanding pile or a heap.
Step 3: Gather your materials
Compost works best with a balanced mix of “green” (nitrogen-rich) and “brown” (carbon-rich) materials.
“Green” materials (nitrogen)
- Food scraps: Fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, and tea bags.
- Yard waste: Grass clippings and fresh plant trimmings.
- Other: Manure from herbivorous animals (like chickens, rabbits, or cows).
“Brown” materials (carbon)
- Leaves: Dry leaves are excellent additions.
- Woody materials: Wood chips, sawdust, and shredded paper or cardboard.
- Kitchen waste: Eggshells and other non-meat kitchen waste.
What to avoid
- Meat, fish, and dairy products.
- Fats, oils, and grease.
- Diseased plants.
- Pet waste.
- Plants treated with chemical pesticides.
Step 4: Layer your compost
Create your pile by alternating layers of green and brown materials. This ensures a balanced mixture for optimal decomposition.
- Base layer: Start with a 12-inch base of coarse, woody materials to promote aeration.
- Layer 1 (browns): Add a 4-inch layer of brown material, such as leaves.
- Layer 2 (greens): Add a 4-inch layer of green material, such as food scraps.
- Layer 3 (activator): Add a 1-inch layer of soil, finished compost, or manure to introduce beneficial microbes.
- Repeat: Continue layering until your pile is the desired size.
Step 5: Maintain and turn the pile
Your compost needs a few key elements to break down properly: moisture, aeration, and heat.
- Keep it moist: The pile should feel like a damp sponge. Water it as needed, especially during dry periods.
- Aerate regularly: “Turning” the pile mixes the materials and adds oxygen, which speeds up decomposition. Use a pitchfork or compost aerator to turn the pile every one to two weeks.
- Monitor the temperature: When the compost is actively decomposing, the center of the pile will heat up significantly. This is a good sign that the process is working.
Step 6: Harvest your finished compost
Compost is ready when it is dark, crumbly, and smells like rich earth. The original materials should no longer be recognizable.
- Use: Mix the finished compost into garden beds or use it as a top dressing for potted plants.
- Storage: Store any extra compost in a bin or bag for later use.