how to make compost
Creating your own compost is not difficult to do. You probably already have all the tools and ingredients you need to start composting in your own garden. You can use the compost to improve garden soil for planting. It is the best way to make garden soil richer and plants healthier.
Using your own compost to make your own soil is an incredible experience. What you get when you're done is rich, black soil that smells fresh and new. It is nature at its finest, breaking down materials into the building blocks of life.
Step #1: Gather carbon-rich materials
Shredded newspapers, fall leaves, straw, dead flowers, and other brown matter from your garden will work great as brown materials. Spread carbon-rich materials around an area that is at least 3 feet by 3 feet, so that it is at least a few inches thick in a sunny spot in your yard. If you're not using a container, use large sticks and fallen branches to create a base area.
Step #2: Add Nitrogen-Rich Materials
Now take green materials like grass, plant-based kitchen waste, and barnyard animal manure from non-carnivorous animals. Chicken manure works great and yes, it's not "green" in color, but it does have a lot of green stuff in it. Layer this mixture on top of the brown materials a couple of inches thicker. The ratio to remember is three times as much brown material as green material.
Step #3: Add garden soil
On top of the green and brown materials, add a thin layer of garden soil. Use a soil mix that is organic, free of fuel and peat-based ingredients. If you already have prepared soil from your garden, it will work better to add some of that to your compost mix rather than bagged soil that might have ingredients you don't want to use.
Step #4: Prepare Area
Now you want to make another layer with brown materials. Moisten the layers, then add several more layers until your pile is at least three feet tall. Again, you're looking for a ratio of three parts brown materials to one part green materials. It doesn't matter how many layers you layer, just keep this ratio in mind when you layer.
Step #5: Be patient
For the next few weeks, turn the soil over with a fork or shovel every couple of weeks. You want to move materials from the inside to the outside of the stack. Keep the pile moist but avoid getting it soaked. If you need a tent or cover the pile to prevent the rain from washing it away, this is a good idea. You can also put all the ingredients in a special container called a composter to protect it if you prefer.
This will create the best soil for you to grow healthy plants. In addition, you will not harm the environment; In fact, you'll improve the environment by avoiding adding more stuff to landfills in the form of kitchen waste, yard clippings, etc.