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Compost Making: The Creation of Fertile SoilCompost making can be as simple as putting your garden cuttings on a pile in an area of your garden. This works, but takes too long for the breakdown of matter and can get rather smelly. If you put a little planning and a little effort into the process, you will be able to speed up the time that it takes to make humus. Humus is the end result formed from the break down of the decayed leaves and vegetable matter. It is dark brown in color. It is this humus that is rich in nutrients and microbial life that will enhance your garden. Let's get your compost matter ready for use in 6 to 8 weeks. Here is what you do... Compost Making 1. Use a composting container or select an area in your garden to use. Choosing an area of garden will kill any weeds underneath the pile and also create a very fertile area for the expansion of your garden. So it is good practice to move the next compost to another location so that you can use the new fertile area. 2. Collect enough material to fill your container or the area of garden. We will put it into the container in Step 4. Use your kitchen scraps-like vegetables, egg shells, coffee filters. Don't use bones. Also use grass clippings, weeds, twigs, cardboard or egg cartons. You can collect what you have and get more from neighbors or even the farmer's market. 3. The smaller the pieces the faster they will decompose. So use garden shears to cut the larger pieces down. 4. Now mix the ingredients together as best as you can. Then put it all into the container layer by layer. With each layer, water it down. 5. Mix the pile again. 6. You will quickly have your pile feeling hot to the touch. Usually within a few days. This is normal and desired. After a week or two it will begin to cool down. 7. When it has cooled, remove the contents from the container. Mix it all up. If it is dry, add water. If it is really wet or soggy, add some dry materials. 8. Put it all back in your compost bin or your pile. 9. You have added air by mixing, so you may find the pile will heat up again. Probably not as hot as the first time. You can mix the pile a few more times after each cooling. This will speed it up, but is not necessary. How to tell that it is ready... You will know that your composting is finished by what you have left in the container or on your pile. The material would have turned to a humus-a dark brown material with an earthy smell to it. This is now added to your soil to give it life and nutrients. Compost making is you helping Mother Nature create the fertile soil needed for your organic vegetable garden.
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