{"id":2719,"date":"2014-10-16T16:22:53","date_gmt":"2014-10-16T16:22:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/homegardenjoy.com\/site\/?p=2719"},"modified":"2025-12-12T15:11:50","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T20:11:50","slug":"how-to-start-a-compost-pile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/homegardenjoy.com\/site\/2014\/10\/how-to-start-a-compost-pile.html","title":{"rendered":"How to Start a Compost Pile"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"tomatoes\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I learned how to start a compost pile many years ago from both my dad and my neighbor on Long Island, Mr. Hoffman. Starting a compost pile is fairly easy. I\u2019m considering a new method of composting called lasagna gardening or lasagna composting, and I thought I\u2019d share with you tips for how to start a compost pile as well as this new method that will be my winter experiment here at Seven Oaks.<\/p>\n

What Is Compost?<\/strong><\/p>\n

What is compost? Compost is the name given to garden and kitchen scraps that break down into nutrient-rich material that nourishes the soil. In nature, leaves and other plants tumble to the ground, where water and weather begin the process of decomposition. Worms get the party started by munching the tasty decaying materials, and bacteria, fungi and other microbes join the party. Soon the plant material turns into crumbly, nitrogen-rich material that looks like dark chocolate cake mix. That\u2019s compost, and it\u2019s called \u201cgardener\u2019s black gold\u201d for a good reason. It nourishes and replenishes the soil, adds valuable macro and micro nutrients, builds up the soil composition, and adds healthy bacteria into the soil. It\u2019s just plain good for your soil.<\/p>\n

A compost pile is simply a contained place to create compost. Nature does the hard work. You prepare a welcoming place for worms and microbes to do their job, and let time and nature do the rest.<\/p>\n

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Compost piles can be simple, homemade, elaborate or complicated. It really depends on your own personal preferences, time and budget.<\/p>\n

The first compost piles I knew on Long Island were in my yard and my next door neighbor\u2019s yard. My dad used old bricks recycled from a friend\u2019s house; his pal called and said he was tearing out a brick patio, and would my dad like the bricks? Of course! The bricks were piled into a wall in the corner of our tiny urban yard. My dad had built a lean-to greenhouse next to the detached garage. The fence corner formed two walls of the compost pile, the greenhouse wall the third, and the bricks, the fourth. Pretty simple, right?<\/p>\n

Our next door neighbor build his compost pile from some of the extra bricks my dad didn\u2019t need and treated wood 2 x 4s he\u2019d nailed into a box shape behind his shed.<\/p>\n

Notice that both my dad and my neighbor hid the compost piles. While they shouldn\u2019t smell, they can develop an earthy, grassy odor. A well maintained compost pile doesn\u2019t stink. During the time my dad and neighbor gardened in that small little town, the pile DID stink – a strong ammonia odor. That\u2019s a sign the compost is decomposing too quickly and the pile is getting too hot. The problem started when fresh green grass clippings were added without brown matter, or leaves, to counteract the nitrogen and heat. Adding air to the pile and sprinkling lime onto it helped. But if you do live close to your neighbors, make sure your pile smells sweet and fresh…don\u2019t let it get smelly!<\/p>\n

\"raised<\/a>
\nHow to Start a Compost Pile in Five Easy Steps<\/strong>
\nNow that you\u2019re ready to start your compost pile, where do you begin? Here\u2019s my step by step guidelines for starting a new compost pile.<\/p>\n

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    1. Choose a location:<\/strong>\u00a0I prefer my compost piles out of sight and out of the way, but that also makes them difficult to access during bad weather or at night, when it\u2019s dark. Consider how easy it will be to walk your kitchen scraps out to the compost pile on a dark, cold February night and then you\u2019ll get a good idea of how close to place it near your house. Most people like to place compost piles behind sheds, garages, or at the rear of the garden, and that\u2019s fine. It\u2019s helpful but not required to have a water source nearby such as a hose to add water to the pile, but you can add water using a bucket or simply rely on rainwater.<\/li>\n
    2. Build your walls<\/strong>: You can use cinder blocks, bricks or wood. Wooden pallets, often discarded by warehouses and other stores, can be obtained either free or at a very low cost and nailed into a square with and open top. That\u2019s my favorite method of creating the compost bin; it recycles something most people throw out and anyone can nail together pallets! If using bricks or cinder blocks, stack them in a staggered pattern and don\u2019t build the walls too high without mortar.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/ol>\n

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      The compost bin above is actually a commercially available product called the\u00a0\"\"Leisure Season CB2730 Compost Bin. \u00a0You can make one similar to this with old pallets. Adding screens or chicken wire on the inside of the bin keeps compost inside the bin. This one is convenient and so pretty you won’t mind seeing it in the garden. \u00a0The\u00a0Leisure Season CB2730 Compost Bin <\/a>is available online from Amazon. I’m an affiliate, so if you click the link, I get a little money if you buy something, but it does not increase your price.<\/p>\n

      3. Add the first layers of compost<\/strong>: The bottom layers can be any organic material. I prefer using old newspapers or cardboard. It kills weeds and encourages worms, those garden friends who will transform your kitchen waste into black gold.<\/p>\n

      4. Add additional layers of garden and kitchen scraps:<\/strong>\u00a0Here\u2019s what you can add to a compost pile<\/strong><\/em>: grass clippings, leaves you rake up from your trees, and any scraps from the kitchen that are uncooked and made of plants. Lettuce leaves, potato and carrot peels, celery tops, and any vegetables that have gone \u201coff\u201d are fine. You can also add used tea bags, coffee grounds and filters. I add eggshells, first rinsing them with clear water in the sink, then smashing them up with a spoon so that pieces go into the compost pile. If you can find horse, cow, sheep, goat or chicken manure, add it to the compost pile. What NOT to add:<\/em><\/strong> any animal products such as meat, poultry, pork, fish or bones from animals. Not only will your compost pile smell like a refrigerator where all the meat has spoiled, you\u2019ll end up attracting all sorts of unpleasant vermin to your yard. Who wants raccoons, skunks and coyotes rummaging around in the compost? Not me! DO NOT<\/strong> add cat or dog feces either. It smells bad and can also add diseases, including potential parasites, into your soil where YOU and your family will eventually eat it. YUCK! No! Just think \u201cgreen\u201d as in \u201cplants\u201d of what to add to your pile.<\/p>\n

      5. Turn the compost pile:<\/strong> Rain water should be enough to moisten the pile. If not, add some water from the hose. After a few months, you should \u201cturn\u201d the pile. Dig into the compost and move the bottom layers to the top. If they look ready – like crumbly chocolate cake or really rich potting soil – the compost can be added into the garden.<\/p>\n

      \"lettuce\"<\/a><\/p>\n

      Bugs in the Compost<\/strong>
      \nWhat if you spot bugs in your compost pile? Don\u2019t worry! Bugs are your friend in the garden. Beetles, worms and other insects all help decompose plant material. They\u2019re harmless and are your helpers and friends in the garden.<\/p>\n

      Smelly Compost<\/strong>
      \nAs I mentioned earlier, a good compost pile smells nice. Earthy, like the forest after a rainstorm, sometimes with a little sour smell to it but it shouldn\u2019t stink. If it stinks, or smells strongly of ammonia, you\u2019ve got a problem.<\/p>\n

      A few reasons why your compost pile might smell bad:<\/p>\n