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The compost process requires:
- Organic Material
- Moisture
- Air
- Soil (optional)
You don’t have to do much more than alternate layers of organic waste, keep everything moist and turn occasionally (approximately every ten days).
There are many tools available for turning your compost. What works best for you will depend on the size of your compost and the style of your bin. Options include shovels, pitch forks, commercial composting tools, or “The Garden Claw.”
It is helpful, although not essential, to sprinkle a thin layers of soil in order to add micro-organisms to the pile.
Your compost should be as wet as a wrung-out sponge. On hot, windy days you may need to water your compost to prevent it from drying out.
The composting process will be more effective if you follow these suggestions:
- Chop items into smaller bits so that they compost quickly. High nitrogen decomposes faster than high carbon.
- To help things get started, make a layer of a nutrient rich material such as your own finished compost, bone meal or an organic starter.
- Continue to layer waste, yard waste and soil, alternately.
- Use both materials with high carbon content (leaves) and material with high nitrogen content (kitchen scraps).
- Turn the pile every 10 days to aerate. Too frequent turning cools down the pile, slowing the process down dramatically.
- The use of an activator can be very handy in heating up your compost pile.
- You don’t necessarily need to purchase a commercial activator. Fresh grass clippings, fresh manure, coffee grounds, hair or feathers should work just as well.
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