Let's Talk Dirty - The Basics of Beginning Composting

At the same time, because a compost pile is not the most aesthetically pleasing site in the world, you may want to choose a fairly remote corner of the yard if possible. I have my main pile in the backyard by our swimming pool equipment and satellite dish, with a plastic 6' lattice in front of it acting as a screen. In all cases, make sure you can adequately reach the middle of the pile from a couple of angles. Stirring, sifting and observing all the worms munching on your pile are all part of the fun!

Compost, Contain Thyself!

The second thing to consider on behalf of your new pile is a container. Having one isn't necessary. My "Major Pile" is just that - a 4' mini-mountain sitting on the ground. However, a container or bin will keep your compost under control, looks nice, and can even speed up processing.

Compost containers come in the form of fancy barrel-shaped tumblers, "pyramid" boxes, double- and triple-compartment louvered bins and more innovative shapes. The basic rule is to make sure the compost gets air and water.

Although an outdoor container isn't required, a must-have is a receptacle for gathering kitchen scraps. I keep a small 1.5-gallon size plastic composting bucket under the kitchen sink. I love the fact that it has a carbon filter in the lid; believe me, the smell of rotting onion skins and coffee grounds isn't something you want hanging around. Mine came from Gardener's Supply (www.gardeners.com) and was only $17. Replacement filters are available.

The Recipe for Cooking Compost

Now, onto the real nuts and bolts of composting - the ingredients. Some people say you can put in "anything that used to be alive", but that's a little broad and daunting for the beginner. Let's concentrate on obvious, easy stuff.

Here's a good starting list for your pile:

Chopped leaves
Grass clippings
Small twigs
Shredded newspaper (not colored slicks)
Vegetable and fruit scraps
Coffee grounds (paper filters too)
Eggshells
Sawdust
Animal manure

The important thing is to have a good balance of "green" or nitrogen-rich ingredients (like grass, manure, coffee grounds and veggie and fruit scraps) and "brown" or carbon-rich ingredients (like shredded leaves and newspaper, and sawdust). A good ratio of "Green" to "Brown" is 1:30. That is, much more leaves than grass.

When starting a new pile, added food scraps should be "pure" - no oils, sauces, etc. Don't add any meats, dead

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