Making Great Compost: The Secret to Healthy Soil

Compost is the single best soil amendment—superior to manure or synthetic fertilizer. It teems with beneficial organisms that restore soil structure, retain moisture, and deliver nutrients slowly. Think of it as yeast for your garden's "bread."

Nine Rules for Quality Compost

1. Only organic material—no plastic, stones, or synthetics.
2. Shred or crush inputs (cabbage stalks, etc.) to speed decomposition. Avoid woody prunings, pine needles, rose cuttings.
3. Exclude meat, cooked food, and fat—they attract rats.
4. Dry persistent weed roots (couch grass, dock) on racks or burn and add ash.
5. Keep moist, not soggy.
6. Build in a wooden bin on bare earth.
7. Don't dump large batches of one material (e.g., grass clippings) – it excludes air.
8. Turn once to introduce oxygen.
9. Be patient: 6–9 months for finished compost.

Application

One wheelbarrow per 3 sq. meters (sq. yard) per season transforms raised beds. Compost builds humus—essential for flavor, yield, and nutrition. No chemical substitute matches it.