by Don Simkovich

Created on: May 06, 2008   Last Updated: May 20, 2008

When you peel carrots, slice watermelon off the rind or shred paper you have ingredients to create rich compost to supplement a garden, flower beds or potted plants.

1. Getting Started Compost Container
I started composting about 7 years ago when my wife bought me a square plastic bin as a present after I finished graduate studies (we both have a sense of humor!).

The plastic bin has an easy-to-remove lid and is well-ventilated. I also made a second compost bin using a plastic trash can by poking holes up and down the sides then covering it and keeping it in a shady area.

You can expect to pay $ 24.95 for a simple bin and up to $ 480.00 for a dual chamber bin.

Place the bin directly on the ground. Clear away a patch of grass to expose dirt below. This allows worms to readily crawl up and in to your compost and help mulch the materials.

2. Placing the Container
We placed our container directly behind our garage and next to a neighbor's fence. I hung brackets on the back of our garage wall to hang shovels, rakes and trowels so it has become our gardening area.

I prefer the backyard instead of a space like our kitchen to make full use of our yard space.

Composting done correctly will not smell or have foul odors so you can place a container near sitting areas.

3. Creating Compost
I recommend buying a small amount of topsoil and place it in your composting container. Then collect vegetable scraps from the kitchen in any amount such as fruit and vegetable peelings or coffee grounds.

Toss them into the composter and then they'll begin to "cook."

Take some dirt from your backyard and sprinkle it on top to give the microbes in the soil a chance to begin living off what you're creating and helping with the decomposing process.

4. Layer the Materials
As you continue the process, begin to layer the materials. Use kitchen waste as one layer until it's an inch or two thick. And then place in layers of shredded papers or layer in yard waste such as leaves or small twigs.

I've read recommendations that each layer should be up to six inches thick. However, in our real world of busyness I don't feel it's an essential rule.

5. Mix Regularly
There are bins with dual chambers and handles to turn and easily mix the compost daily.

In my plastic bin, about 3 feet high, I dig in a shovel and spend about 5 minutes to turn the compost once weekly.

6. Caution
Don't mix in materials such as dog waste or meat bones.

Twice a year, I mix the compost at the base of our fruit trees. We're also re-doing top soil in our back yard and we'll use the compost to enrich the soil.

For further reading, here are three helpful web sites:

www.howtocompost.org
www.compostguide.com
www.ma rquisproject.com/compost101

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