When you first get interested in starting a compost pile, it can be intimidating to see all the science jargon, percentages and ratios, and get overwhelmed by all the dos and don’ts. What is green matter anyways? But composting can truly be quite simple! This week we’ll be sharing how to start a compost pile without having to get so scientific it feels like a chemistry experiment.
Location and Size
Before you start making your compost pile, you’ll need to select a location for it. Since this is going to be a place you walk to several times a week with kitchen scraps, you don’t want it to be too far from the house. Our compost pile at our suburban house was located at the back edge of the yard. On our homestead, we have it a quick walk from our back door. Keeping in close makes the chore of dumping your scraps and garden waste simple.
If you get into the weeds about composting, you’ll find that there are certain dimensions that help the decomposition process along. For most home gardeners, a pile that is about 3 ft wide, 3ft tall and 3ft deep (think 4 pallets tied together into a cube) is a perfectly attainable size. But rest assured, whatever kitchen scraps you dump on the ground outside will eventually decompose whether or not you get the pile to the ideal size. But this gives you something to aim for.
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What are green and brown matter?
Green matter is the nitrogen in your compost pile and has nothing to do with the color of the material. It can be anything from lettuce to manure. What helps me keep it straight is to think of the green matter as the moist items. Green leaves, steeped tea leaves, rotten tomatoes, etc. Brown matter is the carbon in your compost pile. Generally speaking this is all your dry materials. Things like dry leaves, wood chips, paper, cardboard, dried plants, and so on.
While you don’t have to get into all the precise ratios and measure everything you add, one key thing to remember is that the carbon is what hides the smells. While compost piles do need some moisture for the process, if it gets too wet or full of green matter, it will start to smell. Whenever you notice an odor, it’s your cue to add some more shredded paper, leaves, sawdust or other brown dry materials you have on hand to absorb the smell.
Compost Maintenance
After you get your pile close to the ideal size, it’s time to let it sit and cook. If you want to be hands off, this is all you need to do. However, if you want to speed up the compost process there are a few things you can do. First, periodically, turn or flip the pile. Turning or flipping your compost pile helps introduce more oxygen into the pile which will help aerobic decomposition (which is the faster kind). This process also allows you to put the outside parts of the pile into the center and vice versa so the whole pile decomposes at the same rate. Also if you notice that the pile is dry or dusty while turning, give a quick spray of water to get it just moist, but not sopping wet.
Are there compost pile no-nos?
You’ve probably seen lists of things you should and shouldn’t put into compost piles all over the internet. Generally speaking, biodegradable items will biodegrade. It’s only a matter of time. Typically you’ll see warnings about meat, dairy, and fats. These will biodegrade… BUT if you don’t want to worry about the science of carbon/nitrogen ratios, temperature of piles and so on, don’t toss them into the pile. If you do want to experiment with non-vegetal decomposition, be sure to check out other articles that discuss the amount of carbon needed to keep the process from smelling and attracting critters and what heat levels you need to achieve to kill off pathogens.
Compost Magic
The last secret to great compost is time. Even with active flipping and management, it will take about a month for the pile to decompose. Or if you’ve chosen to be hands-off, it could take 6 months to a year. You’ll know that the microbes have finished their work when the pile is no longer hot and steamy and it looks like beautiful black dirt. Now you know how to start a compost pile, I hope you start diverting food and yard waste from the landfill and making rich soil right in your own backyard.