{"id":3784,"date":"2015-05-08T20:27:33","date_gmt":"2015-05-08T20:27:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/homegardenjoy.com\/site\/?page_id=3784"},"modified":"2023-06-15T10:30:37","modified_gmt":"2023-06-15T14:30:37","slug":"how-to-make-compost","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/homegardenjoy.com\/site\/how-to-make-compost","title":{"rendered":"Starting a Compost Pile: The Essential Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Starting a compost pile for your home garden isn&#8217;t hard. It takes a bit of knowledge to start it off right but once it gets going nature will take over and help you make beautiful garden compost.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>Table of contents<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-make-nutrient-rich-compost-for-your-garden\" data-level=\"2\">Make Nutrient-Rich Compost for Your Garden<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-garden-soil-it-s-more-than-dirt\" data-level=\"2\">Garden Soil &#8211; It&#8217;s More than Dirt<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-soil-bacteria-the-good-guys\" data-level=\"4\">Soil bacteria, the good guys<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-what-is-compost\" data-level=\"2\">What is compost?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-what-does-good-compost-look-like-video\" data-level=\"2\">What does good compost look like? Video<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-starting-a-compost-pile-first-steps\" data-level=\"2\">Starting a compost pile: first steps<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-starting-a-compost-pile-what-to-add\" data-level=\"2\">Starting a Compost Pile &#8211; What to Add<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-grass-and-leaves\" data-level=\"4\">Grass and leaves<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-newspapers-and-plain-paper\" data-level=\"4\">Newspapers and plain paper<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-what-you-can-add-to-the-pile\" data-level=\"4\">What you can add to the pile:<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-what-about-manure\" data-level=\"3\">What about manure?<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-make-sure-manure-is-broken-down-first-before-adding-to-garden-soil\" data-level=\"4\">Make sure manure is broken down first before adding to garden soil<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-what-shouldn-t-you-add\" data-level=\"3\">What shouldn&#8217;t you add?<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-do-not-add-weeds\" data-level=\"4\">Do not add weeds<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-wood-ash-yes-or-no\" data-level=\"4\">Wood ash, yes or no?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-layer-method-for-starting-a-compost-pile\" data-level=\"2\">Layer Method for Starting a Compost Pile<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-don-t-panic-if-you-see-steam\" data-level=\"4\">Don&#8217;t panic if you see steam<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-make-sure-the-pile-can-breathe-add-air\" data-level=\"3\">Make sure the pile can breathe &#8211; add air<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-what-is-turning-over\" data-level=\"4\">What is turning over?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-water-also-helps-plant-materials-break-down-into-usable-fertilizer\" data-level=\"4\">Water also helps plant materials break down into usable fertilizer<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-do-you-need-to-make-a-compost-bin\" data-level=\"3\">Do you need to make a compost bin?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-piling-up-bricks-to-form-walls\" data-level=\"3\">Piling up bricks to form walls<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-plastic-compost-bins-and-tumblers\" data-level=\"3\">Plastic compost bins and tumblers<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-how-can-you-tell-compost-is-ready-to-add-to-the-garden\" data-level=\"2\">How can you tell compost is ready to add to the garden?<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-good-compost-looks-like-crumbled-devil-s-food-cake\" data-level=\"4\">Good compost looks like crumbled Devil\u2019s food cake.<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-worms-and-bugs-are-great-welcome-the-wigglers\" data-level=\"4\">Worms and bugs are great! Welcome the wigglers!<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-the-best-compost-is-at-the-bottom-of-the-pile\" data-level=\"4\">The best compost is at the bottom of the pile<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-no-time-to-make-compost-buy-compost\" data-level=\"2\">No Time to Make Compost? Buy Compost<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-what-is-mushroom-soil\" data-level=\"3\">What is mushroom soil?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-worm-composting\" data-level=\"3\">Worm composting<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-the-evolution-of-my-compost-pile\" data-level=\"3\">The evolution of my compost pile<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-my-dad-s-compost-pile-was-made-from-bricks-in-a-small-urban-yard\" data-level=\"4\">My dad&#8217;s compost pile was made from bricks in a small urban yard.<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-my-husband-built-a-compost-pile-behind-the-shed\" data-level=\"4\">My husband built a compost pile behind the shed<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-we-had-an-open-pile-here-at-seven-oaks\" data-level=\"4\">We had an open pile here at Seven Oaks<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-our-solution-a-large-elaborate-cement-pile\" data-level=\"4\">Our solution: a large, elaborate, cement pile<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-now-it-s-your-turn\" data-level=\"2\">Now it&#8217;s your turn!<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-shop-for-composting-bins-tumblers-and-pails\" data-level=\"2\">Shop for Composting Bins, Tumblers and Pails<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-make-nutrient-rich-compost-for-your-garden\"><b>Make Nutrient-Rich Compost for Your Garden<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-garden-soil-it-s-more-than-dirt\"><b>Garden Soil &#8211; It&#8217;s More than Dirt<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Garden soil is made up of minerals, air, water and nutrients, as well as living beings that form a microscopic ecosystem, an interconnected web of life within the dirt. Fungi, bacteria, <a href=\"https:\/\/homegardenjoy.com\/site\/2015\/05\/how-to-make-compost-worm-composting-and-more.html\">worms<\/a> and insects interact within this microcosm to break down plant material into nutrients that other plants can absorb. During this process, they may feed upon the plant material and excrete wastes that end up feeding the soil and soil bacteria.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-soil-bacteria-the-good-guys\">Soil bacteria, the good guys<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some bacteria actually form a symbiotic, or mutually beneficial relationship, with plants. The bacteria break down materials in the soil that can be absorbed plants; plants in turn feed the bacteria.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The soil in your backyard teems with life. Most of this life thrives under the earth, where you can\u2019t see it, but you can see the results. Healthy garden soil nurtures healthy plants. A thriving lawn, strong and stately trees, juicy fruits and vegetables, and beautiful flowers are all the results of the complex interplay between air, soil and water.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-compost\"><b>What is compost?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Compost is essentially decayed organic material used as plant fertilizer. When gardeners speak of adding compost to the garden, they\u2019re talking about the end product of a weeks or months-long process of decomposition that transforms plant material and animal manures into nutritious fertilizer for the garden.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-does-good-compost-look-like-video\">What does good compost look like? Video<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/aezTyVMEDP4\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-starting-a-compost-pile-first-steps\"><b>Starting a compost pile: first steps<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Making your own compost is a lot like making your own soup or stew: the end product takes time for the flavors to meld. A compost pile should be started as soon as possible, because it will take several weeks or months for the flavors, or materials added to the pile, to \u2018blend\u2019 and breakdown and form the actual compost that is added to garden soil.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Compost requires materials, heat, water and air in order for the bacteria living among the scraps to work efficiently.<\/span> Starting a compost pile requires the right ingredients to &#8220;cook&#8221; or break down into organic material that can be easily added to soil. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/homegardenjoy.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/What-can-you-add-to-a-compost-pile-1.jpg\" alt=\"what to add to a compost pile\" class=\"wp-image-11530\" srcset=\"https:\/\/homegardenjoy.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/What-can-you-add-to-a-compost-pile-1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/homegardenjoy.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/What-can-you-add-to-a-compost-pile-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/homegardenjoy.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/What-can-you-add-to-a-compost-pile-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/homegardenjoy.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/What-can-you-add-to-a-compost-pile-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/homegardenjoy.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/What-can-you-add-to-a-compost-pile-1-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/homegardenjoy.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/What-can-you-add-to-a-compost-pile-1-360x361.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-starting-a-compost-pile-what-to-add\"><b>Starting a Compost Pile &#8211; What to Add<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Any plant-based materials can be added to the pile. This includes kitchen scraps, such as fruit and vegetable peels and cores. I always toss in the outer leaves of cabbages and lettuce leaves that are wilted or brown.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-grass-and-leaves\">Grass and leaves<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grass clippings make a great addition and will &#8220;heat&#8221; the pile during decomposition. In the fall when you rake leaves, add them to the pile, too.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a few other items you can safely add to the compost pile. These include egg shells. Rinse egg shells out and crush them up before adding them to the pile.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-newspapers-and-plain-paper\">Newspapers and plain paper<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Newspapers and other papers can be shredded and added too (but not shiny magazine pages or catalog pages &#8211; the paper and ink used in colorful, shiny paper is not good for composting.)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And coffee grinds and paper filters as well as tea bags and tea leaves are also great additions to the compost pile.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-you-can-add-to-the-pile\"><b>What you can add to the pile:<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leaves<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grass clippings<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vegetable scraps from the kitchen, such as tops of carrots, peels, and similar items<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fruit peels and cores<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hay, straw and other plant residue<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Garden debris such as pea vines, spent flowers<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-about-manure\"><b>What about manure?<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have access to a horse farm and an offer of free horse manure, get a bucket and shovel ready. Yes, you can add certain animal manures to the pile but a few words of warning.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Always use only the manure of herbivores. An herbivore is an animal that eats plants such as grass or hay. Horse, cow, sheep, goat, and rabbit manure is great for the compost pile. However, hay that animals eat contains seeds. They poop out the seeds.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your&nbsp; pile doesn&#8217;t reach temperatures to kill grass seeds, you may get extra weeds in the garden. Commercial, bagged manure sold at garden centers is heated to prevent weed germination.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-make-sure-manure-is-broken-down-first-before-adding-to-garden-soil\"><b>Make sure manure is broken down first before adding to garden soil<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Good well-aged manures also enhance your garden soil. Cow manure is an old standby, but horse manure may be easier to come by in your area. Just make sure it\u2019s well rotted; don\u2019t add fresh manure to your garden beds. It\u2019s too high in nitrogen and can burn delicate plant roots.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-shouldn-t-you-add\"><b>What shouldn&#8217;t you add?<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><b><i>Never<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> use animal fats, animal manures, or animal scraps in a compost pile. This includes adding dog or cat feces. Animal by-products do not break down quickly enough and rot in the pile, adding foul odors, potential disease-causing microbes and parasites, and attracting vermin like rats.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-do-not-add-weeds\">Do not add weeds<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some gardening guides suggest composting weeds, but I advise against it. Unless your compost pile gets very hot inside, it won\u2019t kill the weed seeds, and you\u2019ll end up sowing them back into your garden the following year when you spread your compost. That\u2019s not what you want to grow, is it?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-wood-ash-yes-or-no\">Wood ash, yes or no?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other items to avoid adding directly to a compost pile are lime and wood ash.&nbsp; Both can increase soil pH and can be dangerous to add to the soil without having a thorough soil test conducted at your local Cooperative Extension office.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-layer-method-for-starting-a-compost-pile\"><b>Layer Method for Starting a Compost Pile<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Experts recommend a specific layering sequence so that the materials heat up properly and speed up the composting process.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First, put down a layer of either raked autumn leaves or grass clippings, depending on when you start your compost pile.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The leaves are called brown material, and the grass is called green.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Compost piles should be an even mixture of brown and green. Brown is cool, and decomposes slowly; green gets hot, and decomposes quickly.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Too much green material makes compost piles stinky, but brown leaves added to green materials evens out the decay process and reduces nitrogen and ammonia that turns sweet smelling compost into a stinky mess.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep layering whatever you have handy.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep a container such as a pail or bowl in your kitchen to easily collect kitchen scraps for your compost pile. Good things to add to a&nbsp; pile are lettuce leaves, fruit peels, vegetable peels, tops and bottoms of carrots and similar veggies, coffee filters and used grinds, tea bags and used tea, and even shredded paper. Do not add meat, fat, or bones.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When your kitchen container fills up, add it to the pile.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If fruit flies become problematic, use a lid on your&nbsp; pail.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-don-t-panic-if-you-see-steam\">Don&#8217;t panic if you see steam<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once the pile gets going, you may see steam rising from the top. Steam is good! It shows that the pile is getting warm inside. The warmth increases the rate at which the beneficial bacteria can multiple and do their \u2018dirty work\u2019 to decompose the materials in the compost pile.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-make-sure-the-pile-can-breathe-add-air\"><b>Make sure the pile can breathe &#8211; add air<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aeration speeds composting. My dad used to take a PVC pipe, drill holes along the side, and stick the pipe into the&nbsp; pile like a vent stack to aerate the entire pile without turning. I used the same method successfully, too.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-turning-over\"><b>What is turning over?<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Turning compost over means using a spade or pitchfork to dig into the compost pile and flip it so that the top is on the bottom. By digging into the pile and flipping spadefuls over and over again, you add air and mix up the compost, enabling the bacteria and other microbes to do their work. It mixes in air, moisture, and plant materials to help with decomposition.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A compost tumbler, which looks like a barrel with a handle and crank, does the same thing with less labor. Plant materials go into the tumbler barrel, you close the hatch and turn the crank. The tumbling action aerates and mixes the compost just like turning it mixes it.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-water-also-helps-plant-materials-break-down-into-usable-fertilizer\"><b>Water also helps plant materials break down into usable fertilizer<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Compost must be kept moist to help it decompose. Most piles do just fine without added water. Rainfall is typically enough to help plant materials compost along, but if you\u2019re afraid your pile is too dry, just give it a little sprinkle with your garden hose. Compost shouldn\u2019t be soaking wet, but it should be brittle dry, either.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Simple three-sided compost bin.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-do-you-need-to-make-a-compost-bin\"><b>Do you need to make a compost bin?<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many people prefer to use a bin instead of simply piling up the compost in a corner. Bins do keep compost contained and tidy, and they\u2019re easy to make. They are basically square containers, sometimes with two separate sides for new and old compost, with mesh or chicken wire sides to allow good air circulation. You can build the frame with scraps of lumber, old pallets, bricks or stones.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-piling-up-bricks-to-form-walls\"><b>Piling up bricks to form walls<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My last compost pile had walls built of bricks we recycled from a construction project a few blocks away &#8211; they were throwing away the old bricks, which had been used on a walkway and gotten very green with algae, and so we asked and the homeowner said sure, take them. So we carted them back to the house and used an existing fence as the back two walls, and the leftover bricks for the third wall, simply piling them up. The fourth wall we left open to easily access the finished product.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-plastic-compost-bins-and-tumblers\"><b>Plastic compost bins and tumblers<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can also<a href=\"https:\/\/homegardenjoy.com\/site\/shop-for-composting-resources\"> purchase bins made of plastic<\/a>. Most of these have study construction and are easy to assemble. For those living in urban or suburban environments, such a compost bin comes in handy. It keeps the peace with your neighbors who might object to a lovely pile of rotting leaves in a corner of your yard. I wouldn\u2019t object &#8211; I\u2019d be more likely to ask if I could borrow some compost &#8211; but not everyone understands us gardeners, you know what I mean?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/homegardenjoy.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/worm-compost.jpg\" alt=\"compost ready to add to the garden\" class=\"wp-image-11529\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-can-you-tell-compost-is-ready-to-add-to-the-garden\"><b>How can you tell compost is ready to add to the garden?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now we get to the fun part &#8211; how to tell when your compost is ready to add to the garden.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-good-compost-looks-like-crumbled-devil-s-food-cake\"><b>Good compost looks like crumbled Devil\u2019s food cake.<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It should be dark brown, crumbly and rich looking, and smell like sweet soil. If you can still see things like banana peels (and recognize it as &#8220;Hey, that was my banana from October!&#8221; it&#8217;s not done yet.)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-worms-and-bugs-are-great-welcome-the-wigglers\"><b>Worms and bugs are great! Welcome the wigglers!<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There may be worms, millipedes or other bugs crawling in the compost pile. That\u2019s good &#8211; you want to see those critters there. Worms, for instance, eat up decaying plants and poop out nutrients. They\u2019re like little squirmy fertilizer factories. Don\u2019t you just love nature?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-best-compost-is-at-the-bottom-of-the-pile\"><b>The best compost is at the bottom of the pile<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The best compost will be at the bottom of your pile or bin, and that\u2019s where the back breaking labor comes in . Sorry to disappoint you, but unless you have a tumbler, you\u2019re going to have to dig into your pile with a pitchfork or shovel to find the black wonderful compost at the bottom of the pile.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use the second compartment of a commercial compost bin, or dig up the top material, turning it into a second pile. At the bottom of your original pile you\u2019ll strike the compost soon enough. Fork it into a bucket or wheelbarrow, and move it into your garden beds.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If you have raised beds, add it to the soil and use a pitchfork to mix it in. If you have a directly sown garden, till the soil or spade it and add the compost the old-fashioned way. For container gardens, mix about one-third compost to two-thirds soil.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-no-time-to-make-compost-buy-compost\"><b>No Time to Make Compost? Buy Compost<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not everyone feels like channeling her inner Mother Nature. Some people just don\u2019t have the time, space or inclination to create a compost pile. That\u2019s okay. You can always buy compost.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bagged compost is typically made from recycled materials and cow manure. Most of it is heat treated to kill weed seeds, so it may lack some of the beneficial soil bacteria that homemade compost adds to garden soil. Nevertheless, it adds valuable nutrients.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-mushroom-soil\"><b>What is mushroom soil?<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mushroom soil is a special type of compost available in specific parts of the country such as Pennsylvania and Virginia. It\u2019s composed of leftover materials from the mushroom farming industry.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The rich soil mixture used to grow mushrooms must be discarded after each crop is harvested, so the farmers recycle it. It\u2019s still wonderful for the home garden. Mushroom soil contains horse manure, cow manure, straw or hay, lime and sometimes other vegetative material. It smells like good manure mixed with compost. Mushroom soil is sold by the bag.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-worm-composting\"><b>Worm composting<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/compost.css.cornell.edu\/worms\/basics.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Worm composting<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a concentrated way of composting in a small amount of space.&nbsp; Worms are kept in the house or garage (somewhere fairly worm) and fed on a steady diet of kitchen and paper scraps. As the worms break down and eat the refuse, they poop out high-quality compost. This is harvested and added to house plants and garden soil.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now, before you get all grossed out on me, let&#8217;s get a few things straight about our friends, the garden worms. They are wonderful little critters that add fertility to the soil. Worms in the garden aerate the soil by digging small tunnels that allow water and air to pass through to the plants&#8217; roots.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Worm poop? Excellent fertilizer for your plants!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And worms do not smell bad or attract flies. They will stay in their bin.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To learn more about worm composting, see our interview with book author and avid <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/homegardenjoy.com\/site\/2015\/12\/worm-composting-an-interview-with-henry-owen.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">worm composter Henry Owen.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-evolution-of-my-compost-pile\"><b>The evolution of my compost pile<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I&#8217;ve had four compost piles in my life<\/span>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-my-dad-s-compost-pile-was-made-from-bricks-in-a-small-urban-yard\"><b>My dad&#8217;s compost pile was made from bricks in a small urban yard.<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My dad built a wonderful pile behind the garage in my childhood home from bricks he&#8217;d salvaged and scavenged from building sites. He&#8217;d ask if he could take the broken or extra bricks home. He simply piled them up, sometimes using mortar, sometimes not, and added shredded leaves, grass clips, and kitchen scraps to the pile. The compost was so rich and wonderful that when we sold his house my older sister dug it up and took it all to her garden.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-my-husband-built-a-compost-pile-behind-the-shed\"><b>My husband built a compost pile behind the shed<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My husband built a compost pile behind the shed in his parent&#8217;s yard after he learned about composting from my dad. We used the same method as my dad&#8217;s brick compost pile except we had cement blocks instead of bricks.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-we-had-an-open-pile-here-at-seven-oaks\"><b>We had an open pile here at Seven Oaks<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Starting a compost pile can be as easy as piling up plant materials. Our first compost pile on the farm was made similarly to the three-sided bin but we used cement blocks on the three sides. Unfortunately, we didn&#8217;t site the pile well and it was in the woods. It never got sunlight so it stayed cold. Worst of all, we built it on top of pine tree roots. We had well-fed trees who loved the compost and none left for our garden.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-our-solution-a-large-elaborate-cement-pile\"><b>Our solution: a large, elaborate, cement pile<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our new compost pile is large, elaborate, and made out of poured concrete and cement blocks. We graded the floor of the compost bin so that excess water would flow out the holes in the back. We left plenty of air holes along the sides for aeration and ensured worms and other critters would find the pile by adding aged horse manure obtained from a local farm.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I keep a small plastic kitchen garbage pail behind our big waste receptacle and my family adds kitchen scraps throughout the day. We empty the pail once every other day into the pile and also add grass clippings, leaves, and soil from the containers and window boxes when I empty them at the end of the growing season.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My new&nbsp; pile works wonders and I&#8217;m pleased to say I&#8217;ve had plenty to add to our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/homegardenjoy.com\/site\/2014\/03\/how-to-build-a-vegetable-garden-using-raised-beds.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">raised bed vegetable garden.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-now-it-s-your-turn\"><b>Now it&#8217;s your turn!<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether you built it or buy it, adding compost to the garden soil will do wonders for your plants. It recycles scraps and keeps them out of landfills. It adds to soil health and fertility. I hope you start composting today!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-shop-for-composting-bins-tumblers-and-pails\">Shop for Composting Bins, Tumblers and Pails<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I&#8217;ve put together a page of products so you can <a href=\"https:\/\/homegardenjoy.com\/site\/shop-for-composting-resources\">shop for composting bins, tumblers, and pails<\/a> easily and quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;<\/span>Although you don&#8217;t need a commercial bin or tumbler for starting a compost pile, it can help make the process easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em>This page was updated on December 31, 2021 to include a video and new links. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Starting a compost pile for your home garden isn&#8217;t hard. It takes a bit of knowledge to start it off right but once it gets going nature will take over and help you make beautiful garden compost. Make Nutrient-Rich Compost for Your Garden Garden Soil &#8211; It&#8217;s More than Dirt Garden soil is made up&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/homegardenjoy.com\/site\/how-to-make-compost\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_wp_convertkit_post_meta":{"form":"-1","landing_page":"0","tag":"0","restrict_content":""},"footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-3784","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","5":"entry","6":"has-post-thumbnail"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.5 (Yoast SEO v27.5) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Starting a Compost Pile: The Essential Guide - Home Garden Joy<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This guide to starting a compost pile includes everything you need to know about composting. 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