How to make your own Compost Pile

Healthy soil leads to healthy plant growth.  Healthy plants are less likely to be distressed by pests and diseases.  You can achieve quality, healthy soil by adding organic soil amendments, like compost, manure, chopped leaves, and mulch into 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. 

How to make your own Compost Pile

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 or garden 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 3:1 ratio. 

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.  Think of a wet sponge. 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.

**Please note: You should NEVER add meat, fish, bones, dairy products, fats, pet waste, diseased plants, or weeds to your compost. **

Photo by: Nataraj Hauser