However, making really great compost requires the right mix of ingredients. Mixing up the layers at least every 10-14 days, by turning a compost pile, will keep microorganisms at work by circulating critical oxygen through the pile. A compost pile is easy to make and doesn’t require much space. Water it to the point of being moist, but not soggy. Start your compost pile on bare earth. Mix 4-5 parts leaves to one part green waste. Add more scraps as you get them, dampening them with water as you go. 8. Continue alternating carbon and nitrogen layers until the compost pile is about waist-high. The compost should be ready after 4 weeks. Packing layers of brown and green matters into a compost pile is not going to make compost alone. In actual practice, such layers are less well defined. This prevents the moist greens (grass clippings, for example) from forming compact layers that may restrict the flow of water and oxygen through the pile. The compost pile does NOT have to be at least 3-foot tall by 3-foot wide by 3-foot deep in order to generate enough heat to make compost. Add the mixture to the compost … Once several layers are formed, however, composting will be most rapid if the layers are mixed before making new layers. Go Bigger. Check the temperature of the pile … Add compost materials in layers, alternating moist and dry. Adding compost accelerator to your pile will add a boost of microbes to help the composting process. Make layers. 2 – Create a layer of brown material, roughly 1-2 inches thick (5 cm) 3 – Add a layer of green material on top. For winter composting, move compost bins to a sunnier part of the yard if possible. Steps to build a Compost Pile. Turning the Compost Pile. To prevent attracting pests to your compost pile and to speed up the composting process, bokashi composting is a great way to pre-compost your food waste. An alternative to composting wood chips in a traditional pile is to use them as mulch. Layers of brown material, food scraps and green material decompose, turning into nutrient-rich soil for your garden. 2.) Ideally, a compost pile should be made up in layers (Fig. Your compost pile should have an equal amount of browns to greens. If you have a hard time getting a shovel into the pile, it’s too compact. You can also easily make your own composter or even simply create a compost pile. Air needs to be added by turning the compost with a rolling composter or a fork. Lay twigs or straw first, a few inches deep. The first layer should be coarse plant material, such as branches and twigs, to allow oxygen to circulate up through the pile. Begin with eight to ten inches of leaves, grass or plant trimmings. If your pile gets too dense, they won’t be able to breathe. Unlike hot compost, you don't need to turn the pile. The fork is a perfect tool to turn a compost pile. Surround your enclosure with straw bales, line the walls with several layers of cardboard, or pile snow, straw, or leaves around it. Compost at least a few feet away from buildings so moisture from the pile doesn’t seep into foundations. That amount is necessary for generating enough heat. If the pile has been made correctly the internal temperature should reach about 140° F within 7-10 days. Day 1: Assemble your pile, keeping in mind the guidelines above. This aids drainage and helps aerate the pile. Avoid thick layers – break up layers with pitchfork and remix the pile adding in brown materials. Choose an outdoor space for your compost — you need at least 3 square feet of space — and a bin. After sprinkling, check the center of the pile to be sure it's moist—sometimes you'll need to turn the pile and water the layers as you go. I also added homemade biochar to this compost pile to get it “charged” for future projects. Just my opinion, but it seems to me that all of the "instructions for making compost" that are out there probably discourage more people from starting a compost pile than anything else. Put an oscillating sprinkler on top of your dry compost pile and run it for an hour—this will moisten the materials better than running an open hose on top. Matted layers of leaves or grass. The pile does not generate any heat at all, it is the micro-organisms inside the pile that are breaking down the compost … You can either turn your pile with a fork or add dry, fluffy things like strat to your pile. Layer the materials to distribute browns and greens throughout the pile. Layering is a good way to ensure that the materials are added in the proper proportion. A closed bin is a good choice if you're worried about the way your compost pile … The boundary is made from cut limbs hammered into the ground and woven about with palm fronds. Piling on the layers When it comes to constructing a compost pile, you can alternate layers of browns and greens like a chocolate layer cake, or toss everything together like a giant chopped salad. Constructing the compost pile, in bins, windrows or in piles, is usually described in terms of layers. When heap is completed, water well until water drips from the bottom 1. Particularly, brown materials, as they can be stored long term very easily. In the fall, I plan to remove the top layers of the pile that are still more or less intact, take the well-rotted lower layers, and till them into the garden beds along with some aged manure and bedding. Add a nitrogen source, such as ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate or an inexpensive high nitrogen lawn fertilizer without herbicide. Turning the pile is important because it mixes the different layers, making the decomposition faster and more complete. 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