DIY Guide: Making Compost at Home

Learn how to make nutrient-rich compost at home with this easy DIY guide. Follow our step-by-step instructions for turning your kitchen and garden waste into a valuable soil amendment.

Compost is a mix of dark, crumbly earth that smells like the forest floor. It’s made by natural breakdown of leaves and grass, as well as other organic stuff. This breakdown happens all the time, thanks to tiny creatures and microbes in the soil. They turn dead plants and animals into compost, which is great for your garden.¹ It’s rich in essential nutrients for plants and helps soil hold together better.

Key Takeaways

Composting is a natural, time-honored way to make soil better for plants.
Getting the right mix of temperature, dampness, and organic matter is key to making good compost.
It also cuts down on trash that ends up in landfills, benefiting the earth and your garden.
You can choose from different composting styles, such as passive and active, to suit your needs.
If your compost smells or breaks down slowly, you can figure out ways to fix these problems.

What is Composting?

Composting is nature’s way of breaking down food scraps and yard waste into rich soil. Bacteria, fungi, and other tiny life forms do most of the work. They eat the waste, turning it into plant food. The heat from your compost comes from these little workers.

At just above freezing, a few microbes start working. But the real party happens when it’s 130 to 140 degrees F. They’re helped by earthworms, slugs, and more who enjoy the compost meal. This whole team works together to make your garden flourish.

The Composting Process

Making compost means less trash in the landfill.² About 59% of what we throw away can turn into compost.

Plus, compost is good for gardens and free for anyone willing to try. It makes the soil better for plants by improving how water and air move through it. This helps plants grow strong and healthy.

Benefits of Composting

Compost can also help fight off some plant diseases. Good guy microbes in compost fight the bad microbes that hurt plants. This means compost not only cuts down trash but also makes your garden safer for plants.

Getting Started with Composting

Compost Bin or Pile

Use wire fencing or pallets to make a compost space. Wire fencing is good because it lets air in and you can easily pick up fallen bits.³ Pallets work well too but need more work. If you can’t do that, just stack your compost in a pile.

Carbon Materials (Browns)

Carbon materials, or “browns,” include wood chips, leaves, sawdust, and cardboard.⁴ If you’re low on browns, you can find sawdust at cabinet shops, shred cardboard, or ask folks for leaves.

Nitrogen Materials (Greens)

Nitrogen materials, or “greens,” are kitchen waste, lawn trimmings, and animal waste.⁴ These are parts of the compost that bring necessary nutrients.

How to Make Compost at Home

Layering Materials

Start your compost by laying a brown base. If it’s too dry, sprinkle water on this layer.² Then, add a layer of finished compost to boost microbial activity and speed up composting.² After, put a green layer over it all.

Keep adding brown and green layers until your pile is 3 feet high. This layering helps your compost work well.

Maintaining Moisture and Aeration

After setting up your pile, check its moisture. It should be moist, not dripping. If it’s dry, add water.² When water starts to leak out, stop adding more.

To check if it’s working, put a thermometer in the middle after 3–5 days. You should see it get warmer. This means the composting has begun.

By layering right and keeping it moist, you’ll make great compost for your indoor garden. Just remember to mix brown and green materials. This keeps your compost healthy.

Types of Composting Methods

There are many ways to compost, each with its upsides. You can choose from 8 types of composting methods. These include open air, direct, tumbler, worm farm, EMO, combo, commercial, and mechanical composting. Each method fits certain needs at homes or businesses.⁵

Cool or Passive Composting

Passive composting doesn’t need much work but takes time. It uses a specific group of microorganisms with a wide temperature tolerance, between 40°F and 110°F.⁵ These microbes work slowly but make great compost over a year. To use this method, remove some compost from the bottom yearly or start a new pile. Keep piles no higher than 5′ to avoid issues like too much weight or poor air flow.

Hot or Active Composting

If you prefer quicker results, active composting is for you. It needs regular care and the right bin size, at least 3’x3’x3′.⁵ This size supports various microorganisms that create heat. With the right mix and conditions, they reach 130°F to 170°F. You can get compost in about two months with this method.

Sheet Composting

Use this method to prepare planting beds easily. First, remove the grass and weeds by mowing or weeding. Then, lay down newspaper or cardboard. Top this with compost, manure, or other organic matter.⁵ By spring, the soil will be ready for planting, without needing to till it.

Trench Composting

This method is great for small gardens. Dig a trench and fill it with kitchen scraps, covering them with soil or leaves.⁵ It’s best to rotate the spots and have a fence to keep out animal pests.

Composting Temperature and Turning

Keeping the right temperature is key for good compost. Your pile should stay between 100 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. For quick compost, try to hit 120 degrees F.²

Ideal Compost Temperature

For the best in composting, aim for 130º–140º F.² Thermophiles, the essential heat-loving bacteria, thrive in this range. They produce the heat needed for hot composting, up to 170°F.² By keeping the right temperature, your composting will be most efficient.

When to Turn the Compost Pile

It takes two to four days for your pile to warm up properly.² Once it’s at 120 degrees F, turning is a must. This helps keep the heat up. If it cools down, turning helps keep things working fast. Turning every other day means you can have finished compost in just 18 days.²

Troubleshooting Compost Issues

Odor Problems

Does your compost pile smell bad? This can be because of too much water or not enough balance between carbon and nitrogen.⁶ Fix it by including more carbon-rich items such as shredded paper, sawdust, or dry leaves. They will soak up extra water and help equalize the pile.

Slow Decomposition

Is your compost breaking down too slowly? It might be lacking in moisture or not getting enough air.⁶ Make sure the pile is damp but not soaking. Turn it over to let in more air. You can also throw in nitrogen-heavy materials like fresh grass or kitchen scraps to speed things up.

Using Finished Compost

Signs of Finished Compost

Your compost is ready when food scraps are no longer visible. It should smell earthy, not sour, and stop making heat. Also, it should be dark, crumbly, and not wet.²

Applications in the Garden

Use your finished compost on the garden as mulch or in pots. You can also put it on grass to make it healthier.⁷

Save a third of the compost for later. This keeps the composting cycle working. Having a second bin for new food scraps helps while the first finishes composting.⁷

Composting Tips and Tricks

Place your compost bins or piles away from trees. This helps stop roots from growing into them.¹ It’s better to mix materials well than to layer them. This step helps them decompose faster. Add more nitrogen, like cottonseed meal, each time you mix.¹

Keep your compost pile damp but not wet, about as moist as a wrung-out sponge. This makes for better decomposition without bad smells. Too much water can lead to a bad kind of rot and smelly compost.¹

Composting Tips	Benefits
Locate compost bins away from trees	Reduces likelihood of root growth into compost
Mix materials thoroughly	Enhances decomposition process
Add extra nitrogen sources	Speeds up composting timeline¹
Maintain proper moisture levels	Prevents anaerobic decomposition and odors¹

Follow these suggestions to keep your compost healthy. This way, you’ll have plenty of great compost for your garden. It’ll be good for the soil and help your plants grow strong.

Building a DIY Compost Bin

Materials Needed

You will need a plastic storage bin with a secure lid and a drill. Also, gather dry leaves, dirt, and a shovel.⁸ Don’t forget, wire fencing or pallets can work too for the structure.⁹

Step-by-Step Instructions

First, drill small holes (8-10) in the bin’s bottom and lid for air.⁸ Then, put dry leaves at the container’s base and fill it halfway with dirt.⁸ Now, add kitchen scraps, yard waste, and some water, mixing them in.¹⁰ Finally, keep the bin in a shady spot to let composting begin.¹⁰

Composting Ingredients to Avoid

Composting at home means knowing what not to throw in. Bones, cheese, and dairy should not go in. Also, keep cooking oil, lard, mayonnaise, and meat out. These foods attract pests and cause bad smells.¹¹

Stay away from pet feces, petroleum, and plastic too. These items make the compost unsafe for plants.¹¹

Do not use black walnut tree parts and avoid grass from pesticide-treated lawns. Chemicals from these can hang around in the compost.¹²

Choosing the right materials for composting is crucial. Avoid the items mentioned to keep your compost fertile and safe.¹¹

Environmental Benefits of Composting

Composting is great for the environment. It cuts down on the waste we send to landfills. In the U.S., about 28% of what people throw away is stuff like food scraps and yard clippings.¹³ This is a big help in saving nature and lowering the gases that heat up our planet. That’s because in 2019, it cost $55 to dump a ton of trash in a landfill.¹³

Composting also makes soil better. It adds nutrients. So, gardens and farms grow more. For each 1% more organics in soil, it can hold up to 20,000 gallons of extra water per acre. This is super important where water is scarce.¹³ It means we can use less bad chemicals and still grow lots of food. This is what we call sustainable farming.

Composting is not just about waste and soil. Places like San Francisco are leading the way. They’ve been composting a lot since 2012. Now, they keep more than 80% of their waste away from landfills. This move stops over 90,000 tons of carbon from going into our air every year.¹³¹⁴ It shows how composting on a big scale can really help our planet and create green towns.

Environmental Benefit	Statistic
Waste Reduction	Approximately 28% of household waste in the U.S. is food scraps and garden waste that could be composted.¹³
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction	San Francisco’s composting program has avoided more than 90,000 metric tons of carbon emissions annually.¹³¹⁴
Soil Health Improvement	Each 1% increase in soil organic matter helps soil hold 20,000 gallons more water per acre.¹³
Sustainable Agriculture	Composting reduces the need for chemical fertilizers and supports regenerative farming practices.

When people and groups compost, they do a lot for our planet. They cut down waste, save nature, and fight climate change. Composting turns trash into something good for earth. It helps make a world that can last for future generations.

Conclusion

Composting is a simple way to turn your kitchen and garden waste into nutrient-rich compost. This compost is great for your garden’s soil. By using this guide, you can easily make compost that boosts your soil’s health.¹⁵

Choosing to compost, whether with a simple bin or a more complex system, brings big benefits. It can cut down household waste by up to 30%. Plus, it helps keep the soil healthy and balanced.¹⁵¹⁶

Using your own organic compost can make your plants grow 25% better. It also improves the soil’s ability to hold water by 40%. This is very helpful in dry times. Compost is like “black gold” for your garden. It lets you create less waste and use fewer chemical fertilizers, cutting down on them by half.¹⁵

FAQ

What is compost?

Compost is a material that forms when leaves, grass clippings, and more break down naturally. It’s dark, smells earthy, and is rich in nutrients.

What are the key players in the composting process?

Bacteria, fungi, and other tiny organisms are crucial in composting. They break down organic matter using the carbon and nitrogen in it.

What are the benefits of composting?

Composting keeps waste out of landfills and enriches soil. It boosts soil quality, helps it hold water better, and fights off certain plant diseases. Plus, it’s a free way to give plants what they need to grow.

What materials can I use to create a compost pile?

You can use things like wood chips, leaves, and straw for carbon. For nitrogen, try manure, kitchen scraps, or fresh grass clippings. These layers will break down into compost.

How do I layer the materials in a compost pile?

Start with a layer of carbon materials. If it’s dry, add a little water. Then, sprinkle finished compost on this layer. Follow with a layer of nitrogen materials. Keep this pattern going, making sure to water as needed, and aim for at least a 3-foot-high pile.

What are the different composting methods?

Cool and hot composting, sheet composting, and trench composting are the main ways. Each method manages waste differently. They vary in how much time and effort they need, too.

What is the ideal temperature for a compost pile?

For most compost piles, you want the temperature to be 100-140 degrees. In special thermal composting, aim for 140-160 degrees. Around 120 degrees is perfect – it speeds up the process.

How often should I turn the compost pile?

If the pile is at 120 degrees consistently, you don’t have to turn it often. But if it cools down, turning it will help keep things cooking. Turning it often, like every two days, could give you usable compost in about 18 days.

How do I know when my compost is ready to use?

Your compost is ready when it no longer heats up, smells earthy, and looks dark and crumbly. At this point, it’s not wet or clumpy anymore.

What materials should I avoid adding to my compost pile?

Avoid things like bones, cheese, dairy, and meat. Also, steer clear of plastic, pet waste, and certain chemicals. These items can ruin the compost’s quality and smell.