Along with fuel efficiency, water conservation, and reduction in meat consumption, home composting is one of the most environmentally beneficial activities of modern society.  Yard and food scrapes make up approximately 30% of the waste in the U.S.  Composting is a natural method of recycling organic materials into valuable humus.  Finished compost is nutritious enough to use as a soil amendment, buffering the pH and helping to retain water in the soil.  It can cool the soil's surface, and help mitigate water in the soil.  It can cool the soil's surface, and help with erosion.  Why buy topsoil when you can create your own endless supply?
How To CompostOxygenation:  Oxygen is required for respiration by all aerobic inhabitants with in the pile.  Adequate ventilation and manual turning or mixing will help keep the anaerobic critters from producing foul odors.
 
Temperature:  The optimum temperature for fast decomposition is between 110 and 145 degrees F.  Whether it is due to cold climate or insufficient bacterial activity, when the temperature falls below this, decomposition will slow, but not cease.

Water Content:  An efficient compost pile needs to have a moisture content around 50% (feels like a damp towel). If it is too dry, decomposition will slow down considerably, while overly wet piles can smell. 

Surface Area:  Maximize this by shredding and clipping all clipping and waste into small pieces.  The more area you expose to mirco-organisms, the larger the dinner table, and the faster the decomposition.

Carbon/Nitrogen Ratio:  Organic materials rich in nitrogen are refered to as GREENS (fresh veggie grass clippings), while the others can be lumped together as BROWNS (hay, twigs, dried leaves).  A good general rule of thumb is use 2-3 parts brown to 1 part green.  I have a lot of grass clippings so sometimes my ratio is more green.  I just don't add as much water because the water content in grass clippings is already high!  Always remember to layer, layer, layer (brown, green, brown, green).   If an ammonia smell is detected, ease up on the nitrogen- rich greens.


What To Compost
Plant food scraps from the kitchen, shredded cardboard boxes, and sawdust from untreated wood will all contribute nicely to your organic pile, just don't put too much of any one thing in, it can throw off the N-P-K balance, not to mention the pH.  Always remember to throw a handful of good garden soil to inoculate the new pile with living organisms.  To speed up the process you can add our Compost Enhancer,
You can also use any of our other organic fertilizers to you compost like the Blood Meal, Bone Meal, Soy Bean Meal or Kelp Meal.
Items To Use From The Yard And Kitchen

• grass clippings
• leaves
• shrub and tree waste
• sawdust and wood chips
• coffee grounds
• tea bags
• veggie and fruit scrapes
• corn husks

What Not To Compost
First and foremost, no pet (dog and cat)  excrement should be added to the bins (manures are fine). It can harbor harmful bacteria, and there is no guarantee that the high temperature of your pile will successfully kill them.  Second , stay away from greasy foods, dairy products, meat scraps and bones.  Not only can their decomposition result in  'colorful' aromas, they can attract rodents.  Ashes from your fireplace are basically worthless-- they are already broken down and have little energy to offer the micro organisms in your pile.  Beside, ash can drastically alter the pH of the soil.  If you have experienced blight, curly top or diseases you wouldn't want to put any of that plant material into your compost.

What Am I Doing Wrong?
Occasionally, a compost pile's performance is less than optimal.  That's OK.  Make sure that  your pile has sufficient warmth for high levels of bacterial activity.  You can raise the temperature by adding blood meal or a nitrogen rich fertilizer.  A Compost Thermometer can help gauge the temperature of your pile.  I have used one for years.  It's worth the investment.  Colder climates might require insulation jackets be placed around the pile.  Moisture is probably the leading problem with compost piles, either to wet or to dry.  A well drained, well-moistened compost pile with moderately elevated temperatures and proper Carbon:Nitrogen mix seems to work best.