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Why compost?  Why not?  Compost is one of nature's best fertilizers.  By using compost it improves the soil, aeration and texture.  It also increases the soil water-holding capacity.   

The compost provides the microorganisms with food, which in turn helps keep the soil in a healthy state.  The feeding of the microorganisms will in turn produce nitrogen,potassium and phosphorus naturally.  

Most  gardeners and landscapers  understand how compost can make a healthful enviroment for the lawn and plants. You can start by putting all your own yard waste to work by composting.

Compost is what you are left with after all the microorganisms, bacteria, fungi, worms and insects break down the organic matter.

Our focus in composting is to create humus. Just about any organic material can be used in a compost pile. The pile  will need to consist of a proper ratio of dried brown (carbon-rich) leaves, straw and wood chips and green (nitrogen) grass clipping and scraps from  the kitchen.

Here is a list of common materials used to make compost:

• algae, seaweed, lake moss
• kitchen rinse water/ beverages
  
• cardboard
• coffee grounds / filters
• compost activator
• corn cobs/ stalks
• dryer lint
• egg shells
• hair
• manure
• newspaper
• oak leaves
• untreated sawdust / wood shavings
• pine needles / cones
• grass clippings
• kitchen refuse (melon rinds, carrot peels, tea bags, apple cores, banana peels)

The first thing you must consider is where would be a good location to build your compost site.  It should  be constructed on a well drained and level area in your yard.  If you live in a cool latitude put it in a sunny area and if you live in a warm latitude put it in a shaded area.  Also use some shelter to protect it from freezing cold winds.

It is also recommended to build it over the soil or lawn in order to take advantage of microbes, earthworms,etc.  that help in the composting process.

When you are actively making compost you can expect to get finished compost in about 3 to 4 weeks.  The pace at which you reach a finished compost is determined by how you collect and mix them together and if they are chopped and shredded.  Also how you layer them is important.

By using shredded organic materials it will heat up rapidly and start to decompose quickly.  The result will be a uniform compost. 

It is important to monitor the temperature of the managed pile.  It is the temperature that indicates the activity of the decomposition process.  If the compost pile is warm or hot then everything is proceeding properly.  If the pile is  the same as the outside air then the process has slowed down and you need to add more green (nitrogen) material such as manure, grass and kitchen waste.

Do not let the pile dry out, it will not decompose as fast.  It needs to stay moist in order for the decaying process to take place.  But also be careful as to not to over water it, because this can also slow the decaying process.

The pile needs to breathe in order for the organisms to survive that decompose the material.  A great way to do this is to add some vertical ventilation tubes to different areas of the pile and give it a shake every now and  then.

I would also recommend that you buy a compost themometer for your compost pile. The optimum temperature would be a range of 104 to 131 degrees. The pile should be turned if  the temperature falls below a 104 degrees.

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