What is compost?
Composting is the decomposition of organic material into humus. Backyard gardeners can use this natural phenomenon to their advantage to improve garden soils. Compost can be purchased or created in a home garden by recycling kitchen and garden waste.

Composted materials make excellent mulches to cover or amend the soil. Using organic waste to make compost makes sound ecological sense. About thirty percent of the waste that reaches the landfill could be composted, lengthening the time that the landfill is useful. In addition, it improves the soil by increasing tilth, fertility, water holding capacity, and drainage.

Making compost
Composting can be a casual or scientific endeavor. Kitchen and yard wastes can be piled up in the garden and allowed plenty of time to decompose. More sophisticated systems use containers to turn and mix it to hasten decomposition.

Organic wastes naturally decompose through microorganisms, insects and earthworm feeding which break it down. To function properly, the decomposing organisms need oxygen, water, nitrogen and heat mixed into the organic matter. If the right amounts of oxygen and water are incorporated, the decomposition takes place rapidly and the mixture heats enough to kill weed seeds and plant disease pathogens.

Do-it-yourself compost
Incorporate air into the mixture to hasten the decay process and keep it from developing foul odors. Compost should be turned frequently to keep oxygen levels high enough. The faster the process takes place, the better the source of fertilizer it becomes.

When creating compost, you should add nitrogen fertilizer to the composting mix to hasten the decomposition process. A ratio of one part nitrogen per fifteen to thirty parts compost is about the right mix.

Using the easiest method of composting, make a pile of organic wastes, turn it periodically to keep oxygen levels high and reduce foul odors, and let nature do the rest. The resulting compost will improve soil tilth, but will not be as high in fertilizer value as compost made using more sophisticated methods.

A compost bin makes the process tidier and more efficient. Make the bin about six feet high, and three to four feet square. Use building materials that allow air to get into the composting mixture such as wire, or board slats with air spaces between slats. Add moisture and a few handfuls of lime each week to speed up the process.

Other sophisticated bins and plans are available. Consult your local county agent for more detailed information.

Composting made easy
Over the years I've seen various ways to make great compost. My mother has a knack for finding just the right mix of everyday items to create her own back yard compost pile. The mix includes kitchen waste (carrot peel, banana peels, egg shells, potato skins, etc.) grass clippings, fallen leaves and twigs. Frequently mixing and turning pile helps provide enough air to the mixture to create a quality compost and keeps the pile from emitting less than pleasant odors.