Steps to Creating an Effective Compost Pile

Composting is a method by which organic material is decomposed over a period of time to create a nutrient rich soil additive for gardens, plants, trees, and most other botanicals. Creating a compost pile is similar to preparing dinner. Simply combine basic ingredients, add water, stir, and let the ingredients ‘cook’ over a period of time.

The Basic Ingredients

The City of San Diego Environmental Services specifies just four components to be included in the composting recipe: greens, browns, water, and air.

• Greens: this would include mowed grass clippings, leaf cuttings, fresh prunings, fruit, and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds and filters, tea bags, egg shells, and breads. Neither meat nor dairy products are recommended as compost additives.
• Browns: this consists of dried wood chips (the smaller and finer the better), dead leaves, pruned branches or limbs, sawdust, and paper. All browns should be shredded or chopped into small pieces for quicker decomposition and aeration of the compost pile.
• Water: the pile should be kept moist at all times. Too much water, however, may be just as detrimental as too little water. A rule of thumb is that the pile should contain the moisture of a wrung out sponge. If the pile begins to emit an offensive odor, then it’s probably too moist. If decomposition occurs at an unusually slow rate, then it most likely needs more moisture.
• Air: all portions of the compost pile need air to facilitate decomposition. The best method for achieving this is to turn the pile once or twice a week. Not only will this enhance decomposition but it will also help eliminate offensive odors caused by anaerobic bacteria. Frequent turning will also deter flies and other insects from infesting the pile and laying eggs.

What Not to Put Into the Compost Pile

The City of San Diego Environmental Services also specifies certain items that must not be added to the composting process. These include:

• Meat, fish, chicken, turkey, and bones
• Dairy products, oils, grease, and lard
• Fresh weeds with mature seeds
• Dog and cat manure
• Charcoal ashes
• Wood products which have been treated with chemicals

Availability of Ingredients

The basic ingredients used in a compost pile are quite plentiful, especially the air and minimal water necessary to aid decomposition. As for the greens, many people have access to mowed lawn clippings on a weekly basis as well as vegetable and fruit leftovers from daily meals. One of the most available greens comes in the form of coffee grounds. Large bags of used coffee grounds are made available free of charge at most Starbucks and other coffee retail outlets. Newspaper and paper from shredded documents are also in plentiful supply.

Given the availability of composting ingredients, the minimal expense to create a compost pile, and the nutrient rich byproduct created by decomposition, anyone with gardens, lawns, flowers, trees, and other botanicals should consider this alternative source for nutrient rich soil.