Recycle your kitchen waste in a compost bin.
Making your own compost can save money on fertilizer in the fall and on potting soil in the spring. Additionally, the practice helps in disposing of excess yard waste. Some wisely invested time early on produces significant rewards and less waste later. Once you understand the process, composting at home requires minimal effort and space. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Select a site in your yard for the compost pile, removing the grass underneath so that soil microbes have access to the compost. The site should be at least three 3 feet by 3 feet. If you are building a bin instead of a heap, assemble three side walls, leaving the fourth side open so that compost can be turned or added to. Commercially produced compost containers also are available.
2. Add yard waste to the pile in layers approximately 3 to 6 inches thick. The first layer should contain a mix of yard waste, including dried leaves and grass clippings. Moisten each layer, if the materials are dry, before adding the next layer.
3. Add manure as a second layer to help accelerate the process. Place a layer of completed compost or soil from your garden on top of the manure. After the first three layers, continue adding new materials, trying to alternate dry leaves with wetter material such as grass clippings until the pile is approximately 3 feet tall. Each layer should be 3 to 6 inches deep.
4. Moisten the compost pile every five to 10 days, if it hasn't rained. Spray the top and sides of the heap with a garden hose.
5. Turn the compost with a shovel or pitchfork every 10 days to introduce more air into the pile. Try to mix the layers evenly when you turn the pile so that each layer will be exposed to the microorganisms at work in your heap.
6. Wait two to three months for the composting process to complete. In summer months, the heat naturally aids in decomposition. Microorganism growth is slowed by cooler temperatures in the winter months. In general, the compost breaks down faster in warm weather.
7. Remove the compost from the bottom of the pile when it turns dark brown or black and no longer contains recognizable bits of leaf litter or grass. Completed compost should smell rich and earthy with no trace of decay or rot. If the compost is not complete, return it to the pile and turn to mix. Twigs and wood chips will take a long time to break down.
Tags: yard waste, compost pile, each layer, grass clippings, layer should, pile layers