Backyard Composting

Reap a Heap of Benefits

Composting is a lot easier than you may think. Organic material breaks down around us in nature all the time. Composting is just a method of speeding up the process.

Most compost bin designs are so simple they can be built in a few hours. Once you gather your yard waste and form it into a pile, the only time you'll spend is for occasional maintenance. Then sit back and let nature do the rest.

Composting Equipment

Tools: All you need are some basic gardening tools, like a pitchfork, a rake, and a shovel. Materials: Compost bins can be built with inexpensive materials like snow fencing, woven wire, or used cinder blocks and lumber.

Soil

You don't need store-bought "soil activators" or potting soil to compost. One inch of soil from your yard or garden has all the ingredients needed to start the composting process. Compost is ready for use when it is reduced to a crumbly, sweet-smelling material called humus. If pieces are not decomposed, you can sift those out and use them to start a new batch. Compost improves soil structure, holds in moisture and plant nutrients, and promotes strong, healthy root systems for plant growth.

What You Can Compost And 

Do Compost

  1. Grass clippings
  2. Leaves
  3. Weeds and garden debris
  4. Small brush and twigs
  5. Clean wood ash
  6. Sawdust and wood chips
  7. Eggshells
  8. Coffee grounds

Do Not Compost

  • Whole branches, logs
  • Pet or human waste