How to Build a Compost Pile: Backyard Method for Free Fertilizer

A simple heap in the yard yields premium compost with minimal infrastructure. Here's the no-bin approach.

Site & Setup

• Convenient, semi-hidden backyard spot.
• Bin optional but helpful: contains pile, deters pests, manages moisture. 3×3×3 ft ideal.
• If bin: drill side/bottom holes for airflow.

Recipe

• 2 parts brown (dry leaves, straw, wood chips, paper) + 1 part green (food scraps, fresh grass, plant trimmings)
• Chop everything small
• Add garden soil (microbe starter)
• Water to damp

Maintenance

• Add kitchen/yard waste regularly
• Turn weekly (fork)
• Strong smell = too wet → stop water, add browns, or sprinkle agricultural lime
• Never add: meat, oil, dairy, pet waste, pesticide-treated plants

Finish Line

3 months–1 year. Done when: original materials unrecognizable, no heat, dark/crumbly/earthy. Screen before use if desired.

Low tech, high return. The original composting method still works perfectly.