Composting 101

The soil in your vegetable or flower garden needs organic material to thrive. Compost is the best possible environmentally friendly solution.
A compost pile is simply made up of all the decaying vegetable matter from your yard and garden. Don't worry about odor, as a well constructed compost pile has very low odor.
Composting is a natural process that began with the first plants on Earth. Leaves fall, plants die, animals and insects decay. Layer after layer rots, giving us new soil and new life.
The compost pile is just an intiensified version of this natural process. In a good compost pile, beneficial bacteria break down the material so quickly that odors have no chance to develop.
The most effective way to produce compost is in a bin or container to keep the compost from spreading out.
You can make a square bin from screen or chicken wire and 1x2 lumber. Make two L-shaped sections to make it easier to manage. Simply fasten the two sections together with hook and eye hardware.
The simplest compost bin to construct is a wire mesh cylinder. Use a heavy guage wire mesh, supported with stakes driven into the ground to form an open topped cylinder.
The best height for a compost pile is about 4 feet. A lower pile loses too much heat and a higher one may pack down and interfere with decay. A compost pile is built in layers, with each layer being watered as it is completed.
Compost ingredients:
Start with a 2 or 3 inch layer of coarse material, such as cornstalks, twigs, or straw. The coarse layer is designed to let air flow to the bottom. If these materials are not available, you can use sawdust. Remember to moderately water each layer.
Next, add a 6 inch layer of garden trash or dead leaves. The more shredded the material, the faster you'll have compost.
Over this, add a light sprinkling of synthetic fertilizer, or 2-3 inches of manure. This layer supplies the nitrogen needed for breakdown.
The next layer should be a thin cover of topsoil or old compost. Some people will top this with a sprinkling of lime.
Repeat the layers until your pile is about 4 ft. high. Create a shallow indent in the top of the pile for water to seep in. Moisture is essential for good compost. The pile should always be damp. In dry weather, water it every few days. In very wet weather, cover it with a tarp or plastic.
The pile should be turned with a shovel every week to aerate. This speeds up the decomposition, and keeps odor low.
Compost is perfect and ready to use when the pile no longer gives off heat or odor when opened up. The material should be brown and crumbly.
The end result is the absolute best fertilizer ever for your vegetable or flower garden. Get ready to enjoy the fruits of your labor!