How to Make Compost

Spring is coming and it's time to start thinking about your garden. One of the best ways to enhance your garden soils is to use compost.

Why Make Compost?

Compost happens in nature through decomposition brought on by carbon, air, water and nitrogen. Past generations regularly incorporated composting principles and used these ideas to maintain beautiful and fruitful gardens. In recent years, the activity has regained popularity as organic gardening and eco-friendly lifestyles become more mainstream.

The benefits of composting are many. It is a way to enhance garden soils by providing one of the best mulches and all natural soil ingredients.

It improves soil structure, aeration and increases the soil retain water. Compost improves soil fertility and encourages healthy root systems in plants. The organic compost matter keeps the soil balanced in nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus by introducing feeding microorganisms. It helps eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers and it's cheap!

In addition to its benefits to gardens, composting is a very eco-friendly activity. It diverts solid waste from septic tanks and landfills, saving energy and maintenance costs. About one third of all landfills are composed of organic kitchen and yard waste. By composting these materials, you are cutting down the need for landfills and enriching your garden.

Compost 101

The first thing you need to know when starting a compost pile is that organic matter rots. This is the basis for your project and a very good thing for gardeners. The next thing you need to know is Air + Water + Carbon + Nitrogen = Compost.

Compost is the end product of decomposition, a feeding process of hundreds of different little organisms including bacteria, fungi, worms and insects. After all their work a rich, earthy substance is produced - compost. This is Mother Nature's work but you can organize and speed up the process with your own compost pile so let's get started.

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