Secrets of Making Compost

• Compost BinsThe optimum size for a pile and container is one cubic yard: 3 ft. x 3 ft. x 3 ft. The simplest containers are 3-sided bays made of plywood with removable front pieces. Two or three bays make turning easier.
• Locate the container in a moderately shady location such as under a tree.
• Always keep the pile covered with a plastic sheet or tarpaulin.
• In a dry climate, do not use a container with air holes. The pile dries too quickly.
• In a wet climate, allow air to circulate but still keep the pile covered.

• Compost ideally requires raw materials with a carbon/nitrogen ratio of 30:1 by weight. In practice that looks like approximately equal volumes of brown (carbon) and green (nitrogen) materials.
• Brown material = all dry woody stuff: stems, hay, straw, old leaves, egg boxes, wood chips and sawdust, unbleached paper towels, old compost, etc.
• Green material = all fresh damp organic stuff: grass clippings, green plants, table scraps including meat and dairy, kitchen waste (coffee grounds, peelings, refrigerator leavings), animal manures (not dogs or cats), etc.
• If the pile looks too brown or does not heat up, add supplemental nitrogen in the form of Bountea M3, alfalfa pellets, and/or animal manures.
• Shred, grind or chop all organic materials into small particles. Use a chipper-shredder if available.
• Layering differing materials works, but shredding and mixing all materials is easier, quicker and more effective.
• Gather material to make a pile that is a minimum of 3 ft. x 3 ft. x 18 ins.
• Adding minerals such as small amounts of M3, wood ash, lime, bone meal, etc. creates excellent nutrients in the compost.

• The microbes in a compost pile are aerobic and require oxygen to propagate. Keep piles dense and contained, but with small air pockets.
• To little air (too much water or nitrogen) creates anaerobic conditions causing slimy, smelly piles. Loosen and turn the pile with a fork to let air in.
• Too much air creates loose piles with empty spaces that never heat up. Compact the pile by chopping up the material and tamping it down.

• The optimum moisture content is 50%-60% by weight; this feels like a damp but nor soggy sponge. Microbes need water to reproduce and move around.
• Piles with porous brown material need more watering to start.
• Piles with more wet green material need less water.
• If the pile looks soggy, add more brown material, loosen and turn with a fork.
• Surround the pile with the plastic sheet or tarpaulin if there is a chance it will dry out.

• Under good conditions compost goes through 3 phases: the pile heats up to around 150F over 2 - 3 days; the pile stays hot for 1 - 2 weeks; the pile cools down and continues to degrade over a longer period.
• To optimize microbial life, inoculate the pile with Bountea Compost Tea, a cup of Bountea Bioactivator or a quart of Humisoil mixed in well.
• Insulate the pile with old blankets, comforters or carpet to keep the heat contained.
• Some pile may get very hot (170F) and start steaming. Turn the pile after 7 - 10 days to mix materials and adjust the temperature.
• Allow the pile to cool down for at least 2 weeks before using. Worms, insects and microbial life will continue to decompose the compost for months.
• Turn the cool pile as necessary to keep the compost texture uniform.