Those who love gardening and wish to conserve the environment have probably already discovered the adventure and benefit of making compost. Composting is an inexpensive way to make mulch or natural fertilizer to encourage the healthy growth of plants. Depending on how quickly a gardener wants his compost to be "done", there are 2 methods to make it. Some helpful tips for producing your own compost will follow, as will the benefits of composting.

METHODS OF COMPOSTING
There are two ways to make compost: you can either manage your compost or passively compost. The method you select determines the supplies you will need to use to compost. Managing your compost speeds up the composting process. You could have compost in as little as 4 weeks. However, passive composting can take as long as 2 years before it yields compost that is ready to mix into your soil.

TIPS FOR MAKING YOUR OWN COMPOST
Here are some tips on successfully producing compost:
*Buy a compost bin at your local home improvement store or find a spot in your backyard for your compost pile. The best placement for your pile depends on your location and climate. Check www.compostguide.com for more information on selecting the best place for it.

*Instead of disposing of kitchen scraps (like coffee grounds, vegetable and fruit peels, and eggshells), put them in the composter or on your pile.

*As your bin fills or your pile builds, the compost needs to be stirred, to expose the materials to oxygen. Oxygen aids the materials in breaking down, which turns them into compost. Use a lawn rake or pitchfork to re-distribute the pile.

*Add water-some moisture is required to keep the composting process going. The key is not too much or it develops an unpleasant odor or gets soggy. Too little moisture will make the compost too dry for the process of composting to occur.

*Use both kitchen scraps and grass clippings together to make good compost. Remember that an abundance of one impedes the compost process. A good balance of materials makes the best compost and ensures a successful batch.

BENEFITS OF COMPOSTING
There are many benefits to making your own compost.

*You save money normally spent on chemical fertilizers that might pollute streams through run-off and may sicken wildlife.

*Adding compost to your lawn or flower garden aerates the soil and improves its potential to retain water.

*Compost is beneficial to all types of soils. It improves clay soils because it alters the texture by loosening the soil. For sandy soils, adding compost will aid in water retention.

*The environment benefits because food scraps and lawn waste that would normally be discarded and end up in a landfill somewhere are instead, used to make compost. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's composting webpage, 24% of landfills are organic waste that could have been used for composting.

SUMMARY
Don't hesitate to try composting. It's simple and inexpensive. Composting promotes the healthy growth of your lawn, flowers, and plantings while using waste products that would normally just be discarded in landfills and take up space.

REFERENCES
Compost Guide Website
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Composting Website

Learn more about this author, Rita Chaney.
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