Starting Your Own Compost Pile - How To Get Started

Are you looking for a way to save some money and help the environment as well? Compost is an accepted way and can be used as a great natural fertilizer for your soil. People have been making their own compost for years, but recently it proves that the landfills are dwindling. Knowing that making your own compost helps the environment, city officials are starting to charge for removal of the waste. To get rid of the waste, you can go to a composting site or do this in your own yard. This will show you the easy way of doing it yourself. Think of the basics - leaves, cut grass, and vegetable leftovers can help start your own compost.

Many things can go into this new compost. It is very simple to do. You can just keep adding items such as the vegetables or leaves with a bit of soil and let it set until it is done.

In order to keep your compost pile under control, you could either purchase a compost bin or you can make your own. If you decide to purchase a compost bin, the components of the bin sometimes make the process of decomposing faster. But you can also make your own, you can use a variety of objects such as wire mesh, concrete blocks, or wooden crates. Be sure to make this receptacle no larger than three to five feet across and five feet high.

The way that the compost starts to work is by adding the leaves, cut grass, leftover vegetables, or even weeds to the soil. The soil needs to remain moist for the bits and pieces to decompose. They do take awhile to decompose so do not expect this to happen over night.

If you can construct your compost bin to heat up the material to more than 140 degrees, you could have good compost within a few weeks. Basically you need to kill any bacteria that might remain in the soil, so it does harm your garden.

The best way is to create layers for your compost. Add leftover vegetables first, and then manure, and a thin layer of soil; repeat this process until you are near the top of your bin. This helps in the breakdown process.

Any pieces that are smaller will decompose faster. If you take the time to make all pieces small then your compost will mature better and more rapidly. You will get more use out of your compost and sooner than expected.

It is best to keep your compost mixed well. The reason behind this is because once the bacteria breaks down the pile, the oxygen diminishes and needs to be replenished. This is normally two weeks after starting the pile. The oxygen is the key to the breaking down process.

Depending on how you set up your compost bin, you can turn the compost within itself or shovel the material into another bin. If you make a three-sided bin, this helps with the turning of the soil.

Store bought compost bins will sometimes have a drum to turn the compost with ease.

After about 3 or 4 weeks, you can mix the compost with your garden soil. Just keep out the larger pieces for more decomposing.

There are many ways to help with your compost pile. Keep this these ideas in mind:

Red earthworms help to break down your kitchen waste

Use your blender to chop up your leftover vegetables

You can even just place your kitchen wastes in your garden beds under the soil.

Some of the more common kitchen wastes are the following - coffee grounds, eggshells and vegetables. Some of the uncommon wastes are hair, which will decompose, as well as feathers, ashes from your wood stove or fireplace and ground stone. Some things to consider do not place meat or bones inside, as it will attract vermin, which of course is never good. Plastic or anything metal, sawdust and pet manure should also be avoided.

To avoid large pieces making it into your garden soil, you can use a screen to separate the good compost from the not finished yet. Doing your own composting is the easiest way to save money and help the environment at the same time. Your garden soil also benefits from it.