Let's Talk Dirty - The Basics of Beginning Composting

dead animals, poisonous plants or sick plants. Don't use grass or leaves that have been previously treated with toxic chemicals or show obvious signs of disease. And it goes without say that plastics and metal should NEVER be added - they simply don't decompose.

How do you know when compost is "done"? Well, the general rule is that your compost is ready when you can't determine the grass from the banana peels from the eggshells, and it's a nice dark brown, fluffy substance.

If all of this seems terribly confusing, see below for some sites that offer great insight into compost ingredients.

The best way to start a new pile is with a couple of big bags full of shredded, non-clumped leaves. Spread a 4" layer about 3' across where your pile will be. Add a little water. Then, mix together whatever else you have collected, i.e. kitchen scraps, newspapers, etc. put in on the pile and add a little more water. Each time you add stuff to the pile, try to make sure it is damp, but never soggy. An efficient compost pile measures at least 3' high. After about a week, you should be able to peel open the pile, hold your hand over the middle and feel heat coming from it. If your pile isn't heating up adequately, add a little more of any "green" item, like grass clippings, and make sure it's a little damp.

The Poop On Poop

Heat is vital to the function of a good compost pile, and is a death sentence for any pathogens that may exist in the contents. Here's one reason why that's so important:

There is an ongoing controversy regarding the addition of manure -- specifically, pet waste -- to the compost pile. A high percentage of seasoned composters advise against it. The argument is that the feces of meat-eating animals like cats and dogs can contain diseases, and should therefore not be composted.

However, an efficient compost pile will break down the pathogens present in manure. Therein also lies the problem, though - a small compost pile or one without the adequate balance of "green" and "brown" ingredients will not have the proper amount of heat in the middle to burn away such pathogens.

I must admit I am a bit of a fence sitter on this topic. As the mommy of two large and very poop-productive doggies, I do compost their

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