Build a Compost PileThis article will cover HOW to Build a Compost Pile.With the trend of organic home gardening on the rise, many people are attempting composting as well. Making your own compost is a sure way to improve your soil conditions as well as provide organic nourishment for your plants, yard and veggies. Not to mention it is much more cost effective than buying compost somewhere. Here are the 10 Steps to build a compost pile. Build a BinYou can make a bin out of many "repurposed" items: old crates, fencing, pallets, cinderblock, bricks and more. The size depends on how big of an area you have to work with. I recommend having 2-3 sections in your bin so that when one area is full and curing, you can start on another area.Currently, my pile is a wire cage dog run Don't want to build a compost bin? Then you can buy a ready made bin like one of these: Add BrownsVERY simple, you start your pile with browns: dead fiber. Examples could be: leaves, grass clippings, paper or cardboard shreds, aged manure and straw.Line the entire bottom of your bin with one of these items or a combo of them.Add GreensAgain, very simple. Greens are your food scraps: any fruit/veggie scraps are good. Do not add meat or dairy due to the fact that they will attract rodents and other pests.Add more BrownsTop dress your bin with a good 3-4 inches of browns to deter flies and such and prepare for your next addition of greens.Add WaterWet down your bin, like it would get in a good rainfall. My preferred method is to use a soaker hose on my pile once a week for about an hour.A dry bin will not decompose. Keeping it moist is very important. Repeat the above 4 stepsKeep layering and watering your pile until it is full.Aerate every 2-3 weeksAbout every 2-3 weeks it is wise to provide oxygen to your pile to avoid it becoming stinky (anerobic).You can do this several ways: turn it manually with a pitchfork (every labor intensive but suggested method); simply poke holes in the pile with the straight end of a shovel (I do this when it is really cold in the winter); use a tiller (not suggested due to the possibility of killing any worms that have found their way to your pile) Use it!Once the contents of your pile look like dirt and smell like fresh dirt, then it is ready to use.You can use it for new plantings, use it to top dress plants or you can make compost tea compost tea with it. Does all this seem like too much work?Then
build a worm farm
and let the worms do all the work for you. You can compost the scraps for a family of four in a 18 gallon rubbermaid tote and it is odor free!
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