How Do I Compost?
There are two parts to good compost:
greens and browns.
- Greens contain a lot of nitrogen and consist
of grass, vegetable & fruit peelings, eggshells, plant or yard trimmings, coffee grounds and tea bags. Nitrogen provides necessary protein, but too much nitrogen may produce a rotten odor.
- Browns are rich in carbon and include leaves, hay, straw, sawdust, woodchips, napkins, and paper towels. Carbon provides energy for the microbes, but too much carbon will slow the
decomposition process.
You can compost either in a pile or in a bin. Choose a location that is fairly level, has good drainage, and that receives approximately equal amounts of sun and shade. It can take anywhere from a couple of months to over a year to get a finished product. The more you manage your pile, the faster the compost will
be produced.
Your pile should be damp, but not wet. If many of your materials are wet, try to find some dryer materials, such as leaves or shredded newspaper, to mix in. If the pile starts to dry out, just water it a little with a hose.
