How to Compost at Home

Home composting is an economic and smart way to use the household wastage for making homemade organic fertilizers. It is a very simple process and does not require special skills. Using compost not only aids in healthy growth of plants, but also helps in improving the quality of soil. There are various methods of making compost at home and you can opt for the one that is convenient for you. Here are some simple steps on making compost at home.

How to Make Compost at Home

You can go for a conventional composting or composting with help of compost bins. Conventional composting is nothing but preparing the compost by digging ground and adding compost ingredients into the pit. But conventional composting makes it difficult to keep away rodents and pests from the compost and can cause destruction of the compost pile. Thus, these days people prefer using compost bins, since they are easy to maintain and avoid stinking problem as in conventional composting.

Selecting the Compost Bin

Before you actually start making your homemade compost, first you need to decide the type of compost bin you will be using. Composting at home requires enough space to hold the compost bin. So, if you have large backyard you can go for large and immobile compost bin, while if you have no space, you can go for small and portable compost bin. Given below are some of the basic types of compost bins.

Wooden Compost Bin: A wooden compost bin is nothing but large wooden square shaped box. Such type of compost bins are suitable for worm composting, where you get useful compost with help of worms like red worms. These bins also help in protection of the compost from rodents and climate changes. Wooden compost bins are large in size and suit for larger compost areas.

Compost Tumblers: Compost tumblers are rotating mobile compost bins with typical design and they go well for small spaces. You can make a compost tumbler by yourself or purchase a ready-made one. Compost tumblers help in easy mixing of the compost ingredients and also aid in easy addition and removal of the compost. Compost tumblers have no empty bottoms as other compost bins.

Wire-Mesh Compost Bin: This type of compost bin consists of a round shaped or quadrilateral shaped structure made up of wires. Wire-mesh compost bins are very economic and can be easily prepared at home.

Snow fence bin, block bin, turning bin, etc., are some more compost bin plans. Once you have decided the type of compost bin, build the compost bin or purchase a ready-made one.

Collecting the Compost Ingredients

Now, when you are ready with your compost bin, you can start collecting the material required for making compost at home. You just cannot add anything to your compost bin to prepare your compost. Preparing a good compost is like cooking a recipe which will taste good only when you add specific ingredients in proper quantity. So, there are some dos and don'ts that you should keep in mind while adding your compost material. You should use egg shells, tea bags, coffee dregs, vegetable and fruit leftover, leftover food, newspaper, garden waste like grass, etc., for preparing your homemade compost. Never use meat, fish, milk products or any poultry or pet waste for composting. These are some of the main ingredients that you will require for composting. Next you require for composting at home, is soil and some organic manure for catalyzing the process.

Arranging the Compost Layers

Once you have all the required material and equipment for preparing your compost, you can start arranging the compost layers. Before arranging the layers, decide the place where you will be placing your compost bin. The location of the compost bin should be such that it has good drainage and is partially shady. So, locate the area and then loosen the soil over it. Loosening the soil will help the microorganisms in the soil to mix up with the pile. Given below are different layers for your compost,

Layer 1: The first layer is of dry leaves or twigs, you can also add shredded paper instead. This layer should measure an height of 4 inches.

Layer 2: Now, add garden trimmings, grass clippings and kitchen scraps. The layer should measure 8 inches. This layer should be sponge damp, so moisten the ingredients with some water.

Layer 3: Add soil over the second layer. This helps in adding micro-organisms to the compost.

Layer 4: Spread a layer of organic manure over the third layer. This supplies the required nutrients to the micro-organisms. This layer is optional and you can skip this. If you are using this layer in your compost, sprinkle some lime to reduce the acidity of the compost. Also sprinkle some water if the manure is dry.

Continue making these layers in same order until the compost bin is full. Once the compost bin is full, mix the compost material with help of some turning tool or garden fork. Mix them properly and then check the moisture content of the compost. The compost mixture should neither be too wet nor too dry. If it's too wet then add some dry material to soak the excess water. Your compost bin is almost ready for composting. Turn the compost pile after 3-4 weeks and add some water if the mixture has become dry. Your compost is ready when it turns brown and smells like soil. Leave the compost to mature for some months and then you can use it for your garden plants. If you are using compost tumbler then you need not prepare layers and simply add the material and rotate the tumbler to mix.

These were some basic steps on homemade compost. To prepare a good compost you will require a good experience at composting and you will eventually learn the tips and tricks. So, now when you know how to compost at home, follow the steps given above and make natural organic manure by yourself. All the best!