I started to make compost when I realized how much garbage my family and I generate each day. All the vegetable scraps from the kitchen and garden rubbish were thrown on a heap. The heap turned into compost and I threw away a lot less garbage.

My compost heap was in the corner of the garden underneath a tree. A previous owner fenced it in from the one side. It could have been a little herb garden in a previous life. I did not realize it then but the shade from the tree made sure that the compost did not dry out. This neglected corner turned out to be the ideal place for a compost heap.

At first I just chucked everything unwanted on the heap, including weeds and branches. Then I started to get interested in making real compost and did a bit of research.

All the bigger pieces of garden rubbish had to be broken into smaller pieces. The smaller the pieces, the quicker it gets broken down. We had a storm that blew a lot of dead branches into the yard. After they had dried out nicely I burnt them and then spread the ashes on the compost heap. Only ashes from wood can be placed on a compost heap. Do not use any ashes from a charcoal or coal.

If you are in doubt about what exactly is allowed on your compost heap, just remember that it has to be from a plant. Vegetables peels, the dead fern and the rotten cabbage lurking in the fridge are okay. The dead canary is not. Bury the body in the garden where it will not be dug up by a dog.

Your compost heap should be wet, but not soggy. If it gets rained on, don't worry it will dry out again. Water your compost heap with the watering can or hose pipe during those hot summer days that dries every thing up. The moisture helps with the decomposing of plants. It also attracts earthworms, the compost heap's friend.

Do not just chuck your grass cuttings and dead leaves on the compost heap. They will just mat together and will not let any air through. I keep them in separate bags next to the heap and sprinkle just a thin layer once a week on the other garden refuge. Some people advice to turn your compost upside down every once in a while. It is not necessary, but it will help the plants decompose quicker.

Also add a layer of soil from your garden every once on your compost heap. It gives a bit of 'body' to your compost and is full of wonderful bacteria. The bacteria also help with the decomposing of plant material. You will know that your compost is ready when it is black and loamy. Don't worry if there is still the odd bit of twig, it is okay to use in your garden now.

I had hoped that the compost heap would generate an awful stench, just to irritate my next door neighbor. She insisted on cutting off all the vines of my wisteria that grew on the fence between our yards. The compost heap did however not smell bad at all. As a matter of fact it had a wonderful earthy smell.

It was sad to say goodbye to my garden when we moved. I made sure to take a few bags of my compost with me. There was a new garden to tackle and no ways was I leaving all that nice compost behind.

A compost heap enables you to do a few things. You are being a good citizen by reducing the refuse that needs to be picked up. You are creating your own free compost and you get connected even more to your garden. Gardening is not always about growing, sometimes it is about breaking down and recycling too. Even rubbish has an important role to play.

Learn more about this author, Marina Shemesh.
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