How to Make Your Own Compost

Composting is more than just a green trend; it's a magical process that transforms kitchen and garden waste into nutrient-rich soil. In a world where sustainability is gaining importance, composting stands out as a simple yet impactful way to contribute to environmental health.

Let's dive into the world of composting, exploring the ins and outs of this eco-friendly practice.

What is Compost?

Compost is a nutrient-rich, organic material created through the natural decomposition of biodegradable waste. It's a sustainable way to recycle kitchen and garden waste, transforming it into a valuable soil conditioner. Composting is an eco-friendly practice that reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills while enriching the soil with essential nutrients.

What is a Compost Heap?

A compost heap is a designated area or pile where organic materials are collected and allowed to decompose.

The goal of a compost heap is to facilitate the decomposition of organic matter, ultimately producing nutrient-rich compost that can be used to enhance soil fertility in gardens and landscaping. Proper aeration and the right balance of green and brown materials contribute to the success of a compost heap, turning kitchen and yard waste into "black gold" for the garden.

Creating a Compost Heap

To embark on your composting journey, gather kitchen scraps like vegetable peelings, coffee grounds, and eggshells. Combine these with garden waste such as leaves and grass clippings. You'll also need a compost bin or designated space in your backyard.

Creating a compost heap involves layering organic materials to facilitate the decomposition of organic matter into nutrient-rich compost.

Materials Required to Create a Compost Heap:

Compost Space: Choose a suitable location in a sheltered spot in partial or full shade, to avoid extremes of temperature and moisture.. You can use a premade compost bin, a homemade one out of pallets for example, or create a simple pile on the ground.

Brown Materials: These are carbon-rich materials that provide structure to the compost and mainly dry woody waste. 

Examples include dry woody materials like hedge trimmings, prunings, ramial wood chippings less than 7 cm, straw, and torn-up cardboard and paper. These are rich in carbon

Green Materials: These are nitrogen-rich materials that supply essential nutrients to the compost. 

Examples are soft, leafy material including garden plants, crop waste, sappy green including annual weeds, grass, vegetable and fruit peelings, coffee grounds, grass clippings, and general fresh garden waste. These materials are rich in nitrogen

Aerate and Turn Tools: A pitchfork or shovel for turning and aerating the compost.

Creating Compost Process

Start Brown Base Layer: Begin by creating a base layer of brown materials. Putting down a layer of carbon, which includes materials small twigs from hedges, and straw. This provides aeration and helps with drainage.

Next Add Green Materials: On top of the brown layer, add a layer of green materials of similar depth.

Alternate Layers: Continue alternating layers of brown and green materials. The brown materials provide structure prevent the compost from becoming too compacted and allow air to circulate.

Maintain a balanced ratio of carbon (brown) to nitrogen (green). Avoid letting any one material dominate.

Green – 25–50% soft leafy green material  

Brown 50-75%  woody, brown material

Temperature: 75 degrees Maximum

60 Degrees Kills Weed Seeds

Over 75 kills Bacteria

Moisten Compost: Keep the compost heap moist, water each layer as you add it if it’s not already damp. But avoid making the pile overly wet and soggy.

Turn Compost: To speed up decomposition and ensure even breakdown, turn the compost heap every few weeks. This aerates the pile and helps distribute microbes and heat which is necessary for the composting process.. It will also speed up the process as can take between six months and two years to reach maturity.

If the material is too wet, too dry or becomes compacted, then composting will be slower as less air is available. Turning compost gives you an opportunity to assess the moisture level

Cover or Protect: Cover the top of the compost heap with a tarp or lid to retain keep it shaded, help to retain moisture and heat but also stop the excessive moisture from rain. Covered bins and heaps allow waste to heat up quickly and compost faster and helps keep pests away.

Harvest the Compost: After several months to a year, depending on environmental conditions and the size of the pile, your compost will be ready. It should resemble dark, rich, earthy-smelling soil. 

Compost Stimulators

Natural activator that help speed up the decomposition process in slow compost heaps:

Comfrey  – High in nitrogen and nutrients / macronutrients – increased microbial decomposition

Nettles  – High NitrogenUrine – High in nitrogen and uric acid. Create a ‘pee bale’ and then add into compost.