Completed compost is a living, humus-like byproduct of the breaking down process of organic material. Composting speeds up decomposition so the materials break down faster than they normally would in nature.

Compost benefits:

  • Improves the texture of your soil
  • Holds space for water and oxygen
  • Increases the presence of micro and macro-organisms

What does a good compost pile need?

  • Green material (these lists are not exhaustive)
    • Grass clippings
    • Vegetable and fruit scraps
    • Animal manure
    • Clippings from bushes/trees
    • Weeds (be careful of seeds)
  • Brown material 
    • Pine needles
    • Fall leaves
    • Straw
    • Sawdust
    • Paper
  • Oxygen/Aeration
  • Moisture
  • Temperature

You’ll want to build your pile at least 3-ft x 3-ft x 3-ft to maximize the heat process, which will break things down faster.

If you want to learn more about composting and maximizing your garden yield, check out our course Soil Health, Composting & Natural Fertilizers, which details several methods of composting and teaches you how to transform organic waste into enriched soil.