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How to Start a Compost Pile

JennyFlores | May 17, 2010 |

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Many of us are searching for ways to help our environment. Having a compost pile will help the environment, and help your garden. It's a win-win situation and not terribly difficult to do.

Things You Will Need

Understanding the benefits of having a compost pile will give you the incentive to start one and the motivation to keep one going. Composting will provide nutrients and improve your soil. It helps clay soil drain better and sandy soil retain moisture. It lessens the burden on landfills and provides a natural alternative to chemical fertilizers.

First, you need to decide where you want to keep your compost pile. Convenience is important - you probably don't want to walk two miles several times a day to add scraps to your pile. A semi-shaded spot is ideal, as it will help keep compost from drying out too much.

Start with a layer of grass clippings and chopped leaves. Add appropriate kitchen waste, such as: eggshells, fruit cores and peels, vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, tea leaves, shredded paper and newspaper (no shiny paper or colored inks), shredded cardboard, and sawdust. DO NOT ADD meat, bones, fish scraps, weeds or diseased plants. Continue adding material until you have a 6-inch layer. It is handy to keep a compost container in the kitchen that you can continually add to until you are ready to take it out to the compost pile.

Cover with 3 inches of soil, manure, or finished compost.

Alternate layers of organic material with layers of manure or soil until pile is approximately 3 feet tall.

To help speed up the process, you can add a compost activator each time you add a layer to your pile. Good activators include alfalfa meal, manure, bonemeal, or finished compost.

Congratulations - you have a compost pile! You are helping the environment and your garden, reaping maximum rewards for minimal effort.