Starting a compost bin

[JudyB]

You will want to start with a layer of dry leaves, grass clippings and kitchen waste(ie: banana peels, apple cores, coffee grounds etc...). Keep adding until you have a 6 inch layer and then top with 3-6 inches of soil, manure or finished compost.

Alternate with organic material and soil or manure until you have apx 3 feet of height to your compost.

Make sure it is kept moist(not wet), beneficials can not survive in too wet of an environment. Turn regularly.

Bins are usually best kept in semi-shade. Too much sun will cause the compost to dry out too much.

It will take apx. 2 months for your compost to be ready for use.

[Michelle]

Don't forget to turn it regularly too!

[cllgefrk13]

How do you know when it's ready to use?

[my.hero's.mrs]

Forgive the dorky question but by "turn it" you mean take a shovel to it and kind of mix everything up, right? If you turn it while you're still working on the initial 6-inch starting layer.... is that not how you do it? I'm so lost. I've always thought about a compost bin (for the day I actually have a yard) and I love the idea of creating less waste, but I want to make sure I know exactly how to do it.

[helloimkaley]

Egg shells are AWESOME for compost!

Other than that I'm clueless.

[my.hero's.mrs]

Thanks Kaley