How To Make Your Own Organic Gardening Compost

The most vital part of an organic garden is organic gardening compost. Yard waste and table scraps can be composted together to make a natural compost. Using your table scraps also helps eliminate the amount of trash that you send to the landfill which over time will produce methane gasses.

First, it is important to understand what compost is. Basically it is produced by organic materials decomposing with the help of organisms such as worms. The process can take anywhere from a few months to a year depending on weather conditions. Compost is full of nutrients that plants need to thrive, and is great for adding to the soil of your garden.

What goes into compost?

Any organic matter that will decompose can go into your compost. Here are some examples:

Nut shells
Egg shells
Leaves
Grass clippings
Paper
Napkins or paper towels
Natural fabric scraps such as cotton
Food scraps
Dryer lint
Sawdust
Peelings from fruits and vegetables

These items should never be composted:

Diseased plants
Meats
Dairy products
Oils
Fats
Pet litter and animal droppings
Anything that has been treated with pesticides or other chemicals

Large items should be broken down first before composting. For tree branches you can contact your local city public works department to have your tree branches mulched in order to use for your compost.

Before adding anything to your organic gardening compost, you should consider if the item has been treated with chemicals. It is important to have only organic, non-chemically treated items in your pile. A good rule of thumb is not to put anything into your compost that you would not feel comfortable coming into contact with your food. In the end the compost that you mix into your soil will provide nutrients for your crops.

How Do I Compost?

Compost piles are created easily in your own yard. Some people invest in specialty made containers for this purpose. These can become very expensive. A cheaper alternative is to throw your scraps into one big pile in an open area, or place an inexpensive fence around your pile to contain it. It is important that the pile sits on the ground so that organisms that are found in the ground can help decompose the compost.

You want your compost pile to have equal amounts of greens and browns. Vegetables, food scraps, coffee, fruits, and lawn waste is considered green. Browns are mostly wood materials such as twigs, mulch, and paper. 

If your compost pile is not equally mixed with browns and greens, it may begin to produce a foul smell. You have to be careful to make sure that it is balanced out or you will have slimy compost instead of moist compost. If you notice that your compost has a foul odor, turn it over and see if you can tell what needs to be added to the pile.

Your organic gardening compost must remain moist. Rain can help this naturally. If you are experiencing a drought, you may have to water to your pile in order to maintain moisture. You should also cover your pile with some type of tarp during a frost.