Making Organic Compost: Simple, Natural, and Effective

Creating organic compost requires no special equipment or expertise. While bins and barrels are common, an open pile on bare soil works perfectly. Contact with soil introduces essential microorganisms; if the pile sits on concrete, simply add a few shovelfuls of garden soil. Maintaining two or three piles at different stages ensures a steady supply.

Balancing Carbon and Nitrogen

Compost thrives on a roughly equal mix of carbon-rich "browns" and nitrogen-rich "greens." High-nitrogen materials include manure, soybean and cottonseed meal, kitchen scraps, and fresh grass clippings. Carbon sources include straw, hay, dry leaves, and other bulky, dry plant matter.

Texture and Moisture

Good compost, like topsoil, should be about 50% air and water by volume. Shredding inputs into small (not dust-fine) particles prevents compaction and speeds decomposition. If shredding isn't feasible, the pile will still work, just slower. Maintain moisture like a wrung-out sponge—damp but not dripping.

Let Nature Work

Internal temperatures may reach 170°F, a normal part of decomposition. Turning the pile is often recommended but can disrupt the natural fermentation process. Unless the pile is clearly stalled, it's best left alone. Composting is a forgiving, self-regulating process; with basic attention to moisture and balance, the result is consistently usable humus.