Simple Composting: Turn Leaves into Black Gold for Free

Compost happens. You just manage the conditions. This bag method is the laziest effective way to turn autumn leaves into rich, disease-suppressing humus.

Bag Method (2–3 Months)

1. Collect bagged leaves from neighbors (ask first; it's neighborly).
2. Poke holes top & bottom for air/water exchange.
3. Soak leaves thoroughly.
4. Add 1–2 shovels garden soil (inoculates microbes).
5. Shake/roll to mix. Repeat monthly; remoisten if dry.
6. Result: dark, crumbly leaf mold = compost. Use ½–1" as mulch/amendment.

Faster Method (Weeks)

• Shred leaves first (mow over, or string trimmer in trash can—wear goggles/mask).
• Mix with grass clippings & kitchen scraps (greens).
• Keep moist; turn weekly.

Why It Works

Leaves = carbon. Grass/scraps = nitrogen. Microbes + moisture + air = decomposition. No bin, no turning (bag method), no cost.

Free fertilizer. Healthier plants. Less waste. Start this November.