How to Build a Compost Pile

When you make the choice to build a compost pile, you're not only finding a great way to get rid of kitchen and yard waste, but also an excellent source of soil enriching nutrients. Using compost in your garden, flower beds, on your lawn, or in other locations means that you can avoid the use of harsh chemicals that are bad for the environment, while recycling your organic wastes. If you make your own compost instead of buying it commercially, you'll also save money as you improve your soil.

To build a compost pile, you'll need a container, a bucket for scraps, organic matter to build your pile with, and enough water to get things started. Pick an area that's out of the way and away from the house to place your compost pile. You can build a container for the compost, or buy one. Regardless of which method you use, make sure that your container is one that allows you to turn your compost and to remove finished material from it without destroying the pile. Also, avoid containers that are too small (less than three cubic feet) or too large (taller than about six feet), as they can affect the working of the compost pile, making it decay slowly or not at all. Include drainage to keep your compost from building up too much water, especially if your container is made of plastic or other nonporous material.

To start a compost pile, a mixture of organic materials is required - some "green" and some "brown". Green materials include vegetable and fruit scraps, manure from vegetarian animals, and anything else with a lot of nitrogen in it. Brown materials are things like leaves, chopped straw, grass clippings, and even shredded newspaper. They help the pile maintain moisture, offer bulk, and keep things from turning into a mushy, bad smelling mess. The right balance gives you a well functioning compost pile that will yield a great result quickly. A bad balance that's not turned often will slow down the functioning of your pile, and means your compost will take longer. However, it's hard to completely ruin your compost pile, so be willing to experiment.

You can layer green and brown materials, or mix them up on a regular basis. Include anything that you think will compost, but remember to go light on wood ashes, newsprint, sawdust, and other materials that take a long time to decay or change the acidity of the pile. Avoid putting animal products into your compost pile, like meat scraps, dairy, or manure from dogs, cats, people, or other meat eaters. They can cause bad bacteria to flourish, and attract unwanted scavengers to the pile. However, eggshells are a great source of calcium.

Also, don't include diseased plants or those that have been treated with pesticides and other chemicals. They could poison your compost pile, cause unpleasant materials to spread, or make it take a longer time to break down. Most seeds and insect eggs will be destroyed by the heat in the middle of the pile, however. That means that you don't need to worry about spreading weeds or pests with finished compost.

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