Composting

Plants need healthy soil to have healthy growth.  Healthy plants are less likely to be distressed by pests and diseases.  You can get quality soil by adding organic soil amendments, like compost, manure, chopped leaves, and mulch in and onto the surface of the soil.

You may want to start a compost pile.  You can either buy a compost bin or you can make your own.  Chicken wire will work.  Make sure it is at least 3 feet high and 2 feet in diameter.  A compost pile should mostly consist of brown material, or carbon sources.  Mulched leaves, shredded paper towels and cardboard, chipped brush, and sawdust are all carbon sources and make a good first layer to the compost pile.  Next you should add green material, or nitrogen sources.  Kitchen scraps like chopped vegetables and fruits, egg shells, coffee grounds, tea bags, and grass clippings are nitrogen sources.  There should be more carbon sources than nitrogen-about a three to one ratio.  You should not add meat, fish, bones, dairy products, fats, pet waste, diseased plants or weeds to your compost.  A thin layer of soil should be added to the other layers.  Repeat layering until your compost pile is 3 feet high.  Then let it sit for 2 weeks.  It should be kept damp but not soggy.  You can cover the pile with old carpet or plywood to keep the rain out and the heat in.  After the two weeks you need to turn the compost to aerate it.  You should turn it every two weeks.  Every few months take the compost from the bottom of your pile and apply it to the soil in your garden.