Making compost at home is possible for everyone! How do I know? Well, I’ve been making healthy, HOT compost since 1986 in Kodiak, Alaska, even in winter! I’m here to show you that composting doesn’t have to be stinky, attract rats or other pests, can get hot no matter where you live, and can supply your garden with black gold for years to come!
There’s a little bit of science that I think everyone should know, but if you’re in a hurry to start a compost heap, click here to jump to compost directions ↓
The science behind composting
The compost process is rather simple: It’s food plus water plus air, plus a home for microbes. By turning it, you can accomplish temperatures of 160 degrees Fahrenheit or 70 Celsius.
This diagram below is the path to hot compost, or finished compost. Ideal garden soil is not all about adding more organic material. 50% of ideal soil is air and water, only 5 to 10% max is organic material, the rest ground up rocks and so on. Considering that compost is made for materials that we might throw away, it’s pretty amazing, isn’t it?
One of the next most important parts that make up healthy compost are the microbes! Those hard-working little critters that do all the heavy lifting to break down the materials and turn them into that rich, dark gold we call finished compost. And just like us, those microbes need the right fuel to keep them going.
A big part of successful composting is understanding the science behind what makes those microbes tick. Once you’ve got that down, the rest is just a matter of giving them the right home and letting them do their thing.
Add this blog post to your reading list: Composting tips for beginners
What you need to make a compost pile
Making compost is easy if you have the right set-up.
- Some kind of container or bin to keep your compost in. If you don’t already have a bin, tumbler, or other container to make your compost in, head to our blog here for a DIY compost bin!
- Organic materials from around your yard, garden, and kitchen
- Composting thermometer
- Tools for turning the compost like a pitchfork or shovel.
Compost heap ingredients
The possible ingredients for your compost heap are nearly endless! Here are a few ideas to get you started. Almost anything from organic matter is good. Remember the diagram above when choosing your ingredients!
- Food waste or other kitchen scraps
- Coffee grounds
- Green or brown materials from yard waste like leaves, sticks, grass clippings, or other garden waste
- Seaweed
- Various manures
- Used potting soil
- Straw
- Cardboard (but not boxboard)
- Newspaper
- Sawdust
Directions for making compost
Time to assemble: 1 hour
Total time: 6 weeks
Skill-level: Anyone can do it!
Cost: Free if you use materials around the house!
Ready to make compost in only 6 weeks? Here’s how you can break down organic materials and have hot, finished compost in only 4 steps!
- Gather ingredients: Collect nitrogen-rich materials like grass clippings, manure, and food scraps, as well as carbon-rich materials like leaves, straw, and cardboard.
- Mix the ingredients thoroughly: Build the compost pile all at once, rather than adding materials over time. This helps the pile heat up properly. Remember: Add food scraps during the first two weeks only, and always to the center of the pile.
- Add water as needed: Keep the compost pile moist but not soaked. Cover the pile to retain moisture.
- Turn the pile frequently: Turn the pile every 5-10 days to expose materials to air and speed up the decomposition process and break down of the ingredients.
Schedule for turning compost:
- Day 2: Turn the pile and check its temperature during the process
- Day 4: Turn it again.
- Day 7: Turn.
- Day 10 and beyond: Turn every 5 days or so.
Why is it important to turn compost?
The graph below tracks the temperature changes in four compost piles I created one year. The yellow column on the left shows that within a seven day period, most of the piles reached 145 degrees. The colored lines represent each of the four compost piles that I tracked during this ‘citizen science’ experiment. As you can see, they resemble the ups and downs of a roller coaster!
As for the blue line: At first, the pile heated up well. But because it wasn’t turned, the temperature quickly dropped to 50 degrees F. and never recovered. This pile was made entirely of leaves. It was an experiment within the experiment to see what would happen with a compost pile full of leaves, and plenty of microbes. It heated up within about five days, but then cooled and didn’t finish breaking down. While it will eventually decompose, it could take years.
Frequently asked questions about composting
How long until compost is ready?
Following my method above, and remembering to turn your compost according to the schedule and measure its progress with a thermometer, compost should be ready to use in your garden in 6 weeks.
Should I layer my compost?
No, do not layer your compost. Because similar composting materials tend to clump or mat, you run the risk of restricting the movement of oxygen and moisture which can slow down the process of materials breaking down.
Better than layering ingredients, is to shred them with a pitchfork (think pulled pork) as you add them to the pile. This is a great upper body workout, I promise!
What is the fastest way to make compost?
Hot composting is by far the fastest way to make compost, and the fastest way to get compost hot is to follow the method I’ve perfected above. Now, I know it might take a little practice to get the hang of it, but trust me, it’s worth the effort.
If you really want to take things to the next level, I’d highly recommend checking out my Compost Academy program. I’ve packed it full of all my hard-earned secrets and techniques to make hot composting a breeze. With my guidance, you’ll be swimming in finished compost before you can say “black gold!”
So what are you waiting for? Let’s get that compost cooking! Learn more here.
