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How to Make Organic Compost
The first step you need to take in making your compost is finding materials that you can use. Basically if it can rot, then it can be used for compost, although there are some items that are best steering clear of.
For best results you should use a mixture of types of ingredient. Grass cuttings and soft young weeds act as activators and are good for getting your compost off to a good start, but if used on their own rot to a stinking mess. Older and tougher plant material is slower to decay but gives body to the finished compost and normally make up the biggest percentage of compost . Woody items decay very slowly and are best chopped or shredded first.
Some good compost ingredients include:
Cardboard
Young weeds
Grass trimmings
Paper towels and bags
Fruit and vegetable scraps
Coffee grounds and tea bags
Old hay or straw
Dead flowers or houseplants.
Hedge clippings
Strawy manure
Some other items can also be used like; sawdust, autumn leaves and wood shavings, but they tend to rot very slowly.
Items you should avoid composting include:
Meat
Fish
Old newspapers
Cooked meat
Coal ash
Disposable Diapers
Glossy magazines.
How To Make Your Compost
Gather together some compost materials making a layer of at least 30 cm in the bottom of your compost bin. It's a good idea to create a base by putting twigs or harder material at the bottom.
Start filling the bin and spreading the material out toward the edges and firm down gently.You can either alternate soft and tough items or you can mix them together before spreading. Water well as you go-about every 30-60cm. Always try and create a good balance of the different items you use.
Add to the container regularly. Once it is full or you stop adding to the container, empty out and see what layers have actually composted. Any layers that have composted can be used on your garden. Any uncomposted layers should be mixed together well. If the material is soggy add dry items. If it is dry, water well, put back into container and leave to mature.
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