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Learn how to compost! You don't have to have a green thumb to successfully create a healthy

compost bin in your own backyard.

These instructions will help you learn the basics of the composting process. Composting is a cheap,

environmentally beneficial way to enrich soil for gardening and landscaping. It helps prevent pollution

by reusing organic materials instead of filling up landfills. Composting replaces the need for harmful

fertilizers and pesticides, and also prevents erosion. No experience or fancy equipment is needed to

start your own compost pile at home. This is not an exact science - just an easy, hassle-free way tobenefit your yard. Just follow these simple steps, and within a few months your compost will be ready to

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About This Instructable

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Mar 3, 2011

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add to your garden!

HOW IT WORKS

The composting process is comprised of four main parts: air , water, browns, and greens.

 AIR : In order for fast decomposition, the compost pile must have plenty of air. This means that it is

essential for the compost materials to be regularly “fluffed” and turned.

WATER : The pile should always be moist, not wet. As one compost-guide describes, the pile should

be “moist as a

wrung-out sponge.” If the pile is too dry, the decomposition will be slowed. If the pile is too wet, air iskept from

circulating in the pile and decomposition will slow.

BROWNS : Dry and dead plant material. This includes straw, brown weeds, autumn leaves, wood

chips, and sawdust. These materials often need to be moistened before added to the compost.

GREENS : Fresh plant material. This includes green weeds, fruit and vegetable scraps, green leaves,

coffee grounds, tea bags, etc.

Step 1: List of Materials

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Gather the following materials:

-pitchfork or rake

-gloves

-chicken wire (24 in x 10 ft)

-zip ties/cable ties

-gardening soil (1-2 bags of 40 lbs)

-hose/watering can

-compost material (refer to table of "What to Compost")

-4 wooden stakes 3’ - 4’ tall

-mallet hammer 

-a friend willing to lend a hand!

What to Compost:

-coffee grounds

-grass clippings

-leaves

-shredded paper (omit non-recyclable)

-tea bags (be sure to remove any staples)

-vegetable and fruit scraps

-wood chips

-cardboard

-yard scraps (old plants, flowers, and small prunings)

-egg shells (be sure they are free from yolk residue)

-hay/straw

What Not to Compost:

-ashes

-charcoal

-dairy products

-food sauces

-invasive weeds

-meat/fish/poultry

-bones

-non-organics (plastic, metal, glass, etc.)

-pet feces

-treated wood

-any material containing preservatives/toxins

Step 2: Choose a Location

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Choose a shady location in your backyard, preferably near a water source (e.g., a faucet).

Step 3: Constructing the Bin

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Fasten chicken wire into a cylinder using plastic ties.

This may require some assistance.

Step 4: Stake It!

Weave wooden stakes through chicken wire to secure bin to the ground.

Step 5: Secure Bin

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Secure bin by hammering stakes into the ground until bin is stable.

Step 6: Add Leaves

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 Add approximately 6 inches of leaves into the bin.

Remember you don't have to make it exact.

Step 7: Add Soil

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 Add a layer of soil, enough to cover the leaves.

Step 8: Water Lightly

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Water lightly.

Don't over water. Should be damp as a wrung-out sponge.

Step 9: Alternate Layers

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 Alternate adding layers of leaves and soil, until the bin is half-way full.

Step 10: Add Compost Materials!

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 Add compost materials to bin.

Refer to list of "What to Compost" and "What Not to Compost."  

Step 11: Mix It Up!

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Stir to incorporate compost, leaves, and soil together with pitchfork or rake.

Step 12: Stir, Water, Repeat

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Learn How to Compost in Less Than an Hour  by jrobich89 (/member/jrobich89/)

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Download (/id/Learn-How-to-Compost-in-Less-Than-an-Hour-1/?download=pdf) 14 Steps

Favori

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Stir and water lightly a few days a week.

Step 13: Enjoy Your Compost!

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Continue to add compost materials to your bin, and enjoy this eco-friendly alternative to keep your 

garden growing!

Step 14: Troubleshooting

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Post Comment

Why does my compost smell bad?

This could be caused by compaction.

Solution : Aerate! Stir the mixture more often to create more air movement.

Or, this could be caused by over-watering.

Solution: Add dry leaves or wood chips to soak up water and stir often to promote air flow.

How do I know when my compost pile is ready to be mixed into my garden?

If the pile has:

- shrunk significantly (up to half its original volume) OR

- the original organic materials (the leaves in Step 5) are no longer recognizable OR

- the compost pile is more crumbly than solid

the compost pile is ready. This can take a few months, be patient!

There are flies around my compost bin - how do I ge t rid of them?

Flies should not be attracted to your compost pile if the food scraps are stirred under the soil and

leaves.

Dumping food scraps on top of the pile will attract flies.

Why are there ants in my compost pile?

 Ants are a sign that the compost is too dry. Remember to lightly water the compost pile regularly.

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pfiddle (/member/pfiddle/) says:

 Actually it's fun to add potatoes that are 'seeding' to the compost when it's nearly ready (say earlyspring) and in a few months when the compost is ready to be spread out over the veg-patch one getsloads of fresh (small) potatoes.Par-boil - cool and freeze. Then deep-fry. Great with quiche and a fresh rocket salad. Alternatively surround the upper wire with clear or at least translucent-plastic (to keep out verticallychallenged carrot flies and such) and grow carrots, parsnips or other root-crops. Poke a stick in moistcompost fill with good earth mixed with sand and top with young plant. The root-crop will grow straightand look, clean and chop better/easier.This will also keep your growing season going longer as the rotting compost emits heat and a light

ranslucent 'lid' will keep out frost and one can have crops well into winter. Surround the basket withblack(covered) containers filled with (rain/shower)water to keep heat for even longer season.

behrang_a (/member/behrang_a/) in reply to pfiddle

s it possible that it drain theompost nutrient to produce potato ?

NaturalCrafter (/member/NaturalCrafter/) in reply to pfiddle

am interested in knowing morebout carrot flies. Not sure how youay to place the plastic..and whyertically challenged. I love learningew things.

bahaminb (/member/bahaminb/) in reply to pfiddle

wesome tips. i think i will try theotatoes.

maji1108 (/member/maji1108/) says:

hy in the beginning do you layer then mix? Doesn't mix ing defeat the purpose of layering? Andalso, if there is a heavy rain, should i cover it?

dim20 (/member/dim20/) says:

you can also compost dog poop lol

thecoonskin (/member/thecoonskin/) says:

hy are bones in the "don't compost" list? Wouldn't they provide useful nutrients like calcium? Bonemeal is considered an organic fertelizer and that's just crushed up bone.

RoBear613 (/member/RoBear613/) in reply to thecoonskin

ones typically still have someeat on them and meat will rot

p.u.) and attract flies.

f you boiled the meat off the bones,ou could probably add them, but

t'd probably be a lot easier to pickp some bone meal.

csantiago3 (/member/csantiago3/) says:

Hi! I am looking for ways to compost,etw said throwing banana peels, left-over veggies, old fruit etc..Can anyone tell me if it would harm my plants?

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(/member/LULUBUG53/)

 Aug 29, 2011. 9:49 PM Reply (C897O3ZGRTHQ4X6)

(/member/LULUBUG53/)

 Aug 29, 2011. 9:45 PM Reply (CRM2COOGRTHQ4WT)

(/member/carman.sharp/)

 Aug 22, 2011. 6:34 AM Reply (CTWEF1VGRFNDJ1B)

(/member/vincent7520/)

Mar 6, 2011. 7:37 AM Reply (CO0RO29GKS0S730)

LULUBUG53 (/membe r/LULUBUG53/) in reply to csantiago3

orry I did not add it will not harmour plants, I water my plants with

eftover coffee and some water iluted, and also sprinkle coffeerinds in their surrounding soil, year ound. They seem to like thisndoors or out. Just don't putnything cooked in oil or butter.ope this helps. Does seem to

ake a while, do not understandow some are quicker at makingompost then others. Still learning.

LULUBUG53 (/membe r/LULUBUG53/) in reply to csantiago3

purchased a canister with a lid,nd throw egg shells, coffeerinds, tea bags and filters, fruitsnd veggie peelings in. Anything

n raw state. So it is not sonsightly on the kitchen counter.think the one I purchased cost1 at a yard sale and may haveeen an old canister. with thelamp on lid. It is black. Thenhen it is full I take it outside toy homemade from an old

athtub Composter.

have a very heavy metal cover or it. I am getting compost,owever, it needs a lot of hurning and turning, and findhat adding a few containers of orms does a really good job. If 

hings are large like bananaeels, cantaloupe skins,orn cobs, I cut them down tomaller pieces, either through the

ood processor, or with the cobs,let the worms take what theyant and bury the rest in thearden. It seems to decomposever the winter months. Grassnd leaves helps also. Thinking of 

ust doing one with grass and

eaves this year, to see whatorks best. Also think thatorms do a great job, so would

ike to do worm farm.

carman.sharp (/member/carman.sharp/) says:

My dog likes to do her "business" either close to or a lo of times in my flower garden.I have a seperate area on the back side of my home for veggie gardening. Is the dogbusiness going to end up being unhealthy i f he only thing I plant in there is flowers? The

plants seem to love the doggie doo fertilizer.I would never put it on my veggies thoughhat's why the 2 are completely seperated.

vincent7520 (/member/vincent7520/) says:

very helpful … thanks for posting.

I have 2 questions though ::1) the compost bin seems quite small regarding the time it will rest before being usable. True is ismeant to shrink, but as one will also add almost daily some fresh stuff, it may be a lot for such an(apparently) small volume…

2) why some organic materials are excluded from the compost ?I understand that anything that contains, or may have contained contaminants such as chemical /industrial fertilizers, treated wood, etc… must be discarded. But what about toxins ? They arenaturally all over the place !!!…Then why not ashes / charcoal ? They are used as natural fertilizers in many places : the first

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3

(/member/Tazo/)

Jun 1, 2011. 7:41 PM Reply (CHOPZ7SGOE35NAK)

(/member/vincent7520/)

Jun 1, 2011. 9:31 PM Reply (CA7QT6PGOE3409I)

5

(/member/marcintosh/)

Mar 6, 2011. 10:05 AM Reply (CSXLE9VGKXTX2UD)

(/member/pfiddle/)

 Apr 7, 2011. 1:57 PM Reply (CJYJYWGGM7E9YP9)

fertilization process humanity invented was to burn fields before ploughing them and mixing asheswith earth by the same process…Same question for dairy products, food sauces (for instance homemade ketchup is only groundedomatoes and spices) …

It seems quite clear to me that bones should be written off the list as they take so long to decay, butwhy meat, fish, poultry (unless the reason why is that you don't want to attract animals such asdogs, foxes, forage cats rats, etc…) should be too ?…Same question for pet feces : animal manure is still the best manure / fertilizer on earth (remember a3 decades ago the Chinese used human manure to fertilize their fields !…), so why discard them ?…The last thing that somewhat puzzles me me is is egg yolk residues : are they so toxic that theywon't decay properly and / or ruin the whole process ????…I would be very happy if you could answers us (if you got t ime and patience, of course… otherwise,no harm done !…).Cheers !…

Tazo (/member/Tazo/) in reply to vincent7520

here are many reasons why youhould not put sauces, fattys or highrotein stuff (meat, eggs, feces) inour compost many thay havelready mention but the main reason

s simple.ou want to be friendly to theeighbours all around you.atty acids and proteins will make

he compost STINK really reallywful.hrowing oily or greasy food scraps

nto the compost is the first mistakeany people do and they never go

ack to composting after thatappens.

vincent7520 (/member/vincent7520/) in reply to Tazo

hank you … That explains why myeighbor's wife doesn't want toefriend me !!… OK, only joking, buttill don't want to loose my neighborsice friendship.

marcintosh (/member/marcintosh/) in reply to vincent7520but why meat, fish, poultry (unlesshe reason why is that you don'tant to attract animals such asogs, foxes, forage cats rats, etc…)hould be too ?…" Fatty materialson't compost, they rot.Composting is not the same asotting.

pet feces : animal manure is stillhe best manure / fertilizer on earth"Not necessarily, there are things

ike worms that dogs and cats getnd all sorts of pathogens that jumphe species barrier. So, no, not

the best stuff on earth"

gg yolks? Dunno perhaps relatedo fats and will rot- you'll have tooogle it sometime.ere's a linkey-ttp://www.compostinfo.com/tutorial/http://www.compostinfo.com/tutorial/

arcintosh

pfiddle (/member/pfiddle/) in reply to marcintosh

've no problem with putting a scrap

aste-pipe buried into the ground andartly filling over a year with doggie-

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(/member/vincent7520/)

 Apr 8, 2011. 2:26 AM Reply (C25PDK6GM8MILL4)

(/member/cheftpm/)

Mar 10, 2011. 2:50 AM Reply (CAJX48LGKS0QUV3)

(/member/vincent7520/)

Mar 10, 2011. 4:24 AM Reply (CVQ81X8GKS0SZCB)

(/member/wendilane/)

Mar 6, 2011. 2:19 PM Reply (CTS03E1GKXTX42J)

oo doo and then (carefully) l ifting theipe cover the poo with some soil andhen plant a tree/shrub on it..f you can burn the bones (in a wood-urner) and use the ash on your eggies - potash it's called. Don't useoal-ash on vegetables - all sorts of eavy metals (quiet kind) in it - butgain fine for shrubs and trees - inmall amounts - you don't want your arden to be a toxic dump - andlways remember what you put in the

lowers this year gets on the veggiesext year. Shrubs and trees usually

ast a few years - at least.

vincent7520 (/member/vincent7520/) in reply to pfiddle

ell this turns into an above-my-levelonversation and I don't want to makefool of myself. So I'll leave it at that.ut keep posting : that makes me

earn more.

o all of those who read this post :ave a nice week-end !.pring is here, at least in the northernemisphere, and I hope you all haveappy moments ! …

cheftpm (/member/cheftpm/) in reply to marcintosh

OU CAN ADD EGGSHELLS FOE ALSIUM ,DOG CAT AND HUMANESSES IS TOXIC THE ONLYMINAILFESSES YOU CANOMPOST IS HORSE COWHICKEN,BECAUSE THEY GETRAIN AND HAY WHICH ISOMPOSTABLE

vincent7520 (/member/vincent7520/) in reply to cheftpm

h OK !…

hank you so much for thenformation.

est wishes8

wendilane (/member/wendilane/) in reply to marcintosh

t is true ... without applying theroper amount of time for thereakdown process to complete, youould run into problems. However,nderstanding how this process works

s key to ensuring safety.

he Humanure Handbook breaksown the science of composting fecalatter, and would be a good read (not 

to mention, it's kind of fun to have a

copy lying around when first time

uests stop by, just to see the

reaction on their faces ... HA!).

ttp://humanurehandbook.com/contenthttp://humanurehandbook.com/content

BtheBike (/member/BtheBike/) in reply to marcintosh

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Mar 6, 2011. 2:12 PM Reply (CLAD287GKS0THZX)

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Mar 6, 2011. 2:04 PM Reply (CSQW17VGKS0SAWX)

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May 31, 2011. 4:39 PM Reply (CVR522EGO6VAKVF)

3(/member/Tazo/)

Jun 1, 2011. 7:47 PM Reply (CS0IS33GOE35NCD)

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Jun 1, 2011. 8:56 PM Reply (C5A02PZGO6VAXEG)

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 Apr 25, 2011. 9:10 PM Reply (C23GYEHGMX7SSNN)

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May 26, 2011. 10:15 AM Reply (CT18GLXGO502FEB)

(/member/sosogood313/)

Mar 17, 2011. 2:09 PM Reply (CG5LR9JGLE1IAWU)

hank you . to say composting is just rotting material is to grossly oversimplify . One canlso take into account future use of the material . Many folks who compose for foodroduction are very aware of the difference and details .

he improper use of fecal matter has been the demise of large groups of our ancestors . Aimilar lack of understanding dirt can make us relive that scenario today . One should knowhe amount of time it takes for earths systems to break down the bad stuff we shouldn't bengesting .

vincent7520 (/member/vincent7520/) in reply to marcintosh

h well …uess I'll stay on top of myountain where the air is pure and

he trouts are fresh …

kalithenowhereman (/member/kalithenowhereman/) says:

My compost pile is coming along nicely,regardless of the fact I rarely water or turn it.However, the last time I mixed it I washorrified to find it was filled with ants. Is thereanyway I can get rid of them without havingo destroy the pile? I had previously noticed

maggots and beetles, which I assumed wereokay and did most of the composting, butwas I wrong in thinking this?

Tazo (/member/Tazo/) in reply to kalithenowhereman

nts are OK they help compostinglso earthworms and few other 

nsects, it is beetles the ones youont want there (beetle larvae -aggots- are pests in gardens) alsoake sure you dont´t have

ockroaches.f insects overall are geting out of ontrol spray the surface of theompost with insecticide just to keephe population from exploding

kalithenowhereman (/member/kalithenowhereman/) in reply to Tazo

hanks for the information! Are thereny natural things I can do to get the

nsect population down? I would likeo keep the pile free of chemicals,uch as insecticide.

 jj. inc (/membe r/jj. inc/) says:

I would truthfully like to know if grass clippings is a green, brown, or a don't

 jrobich89 (/member/jrobich89/) (author) in reply to jj.inc

rass clippings are considered agreen," and they can definitely besed in your compost pile.

sosogood313 (/member/sosogood313/) says:

How long does it take for the compost tobecome of use for garden soil?

pfiddle (/member/pfiddle/) in reply to sosogood313

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(/member/pfiddle/)

 Apr 7, 2011. 1:48 PM Reply (C8PKNYWGM7E9YNW)

(/member/gemjunkie/)

Mar 7, 2011. 6:04 PM Reply (CJEK5ZXGKS0TQX2)

(/member/JimPlaysDrums/)

Mar 27, 2011. 6:36 AM Reply (C4J6GERGLQCLAJM)

(/member/gemjunkie/)

Mar 27, 2011. 10:10 PM Reply (CKH90CWGLL4ZOUY)

2

(/member/caarntedd/)

Mar 4, 2011. 8:01 PM Reply (CCHFTV5GKS0QHYE)

(/member/fenris/)

Mar 10, 2011. 3:29 PM Reply (C4W6RQGGL46L0YK)

(/member/johnny3h/)

Mar 6, 2011. 1:30 PM Reply (C5G3QLHGKS0THMA)

ow long is a (useful) piece of tring??he conditions of what you put in -ampness - aeration (cardboard -ome wood ash and sawdust helps)nd heat generated will all make aifference - too damp and aerationtops and stinky goo results. Toory - little happens at all. There areages of info on this - go seek.ne tip I'd give is to consider usingharcoal - ground up if possible -todd to the compost - firstly it'll helperation greatly and secondly it will

elp you rediscover Terra Pretahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terra_preway that the original peoples of iddle and South America createdsuper soil to grow extraordinary

mounts of food in tiny allotments.e use it here at Glenribbeen to

ramatic effect in our raised beds.ompost is like life what you put innd how you behave determines theuality of the return and indeed thepeed of the return.

gemjunkie (/member/gemjunkie/) says:

Nice info! But, how about composting in a cold climate ? Want to keep it going all year around. Anyhelp here?

JimPlaysDrums (/member/JimPlaysDrums/) in reply to gemjunkie

ou can stack hay bales aroundour bin to keep the wind out and

nsulate the pile. You can alsoover it, I use come clear plastic toeep the snow and cold rain out.

gemjunkie (/member/gemjunkie/) in reply to JimPlaysDrums

K--the hay bales are a gooddea. Thanks for the suggestion!

caarntedd (/member/caarntedd/) says:

ouldn't a teabag staple just rust away?

fenris (/member/fenris/) in reply to caarntedd

ndeed it would, and the garden canut a small amount of iron to veryood use. You need a smallmount of iron in your diet, as well,nd if it ain't in the ground it won'te in your vegetables either.

 johnny3h (/member/ johnny3h/) says:

I'm not a compost professional, but have been composting for over 37 years and I agree with ETW, AND add a few more comments. First, in spite of all the 'hoopla,' compost is nothing more thanROTTED ORGANIC MATTER, just like occurs naturally on the floor of a forest.

Composting is just a fancy word for the rotting of organic material. IF one just piles the organicmaterial and leaves it alone, it will still eventually make compost.

Composting is accomplished by the action of living bacteria eating/breaking down the organicmaterials. The composting action will occur WITHOUT any special work, but the variety of materials,

7/28/2019 Learn How to Compost in Less Than an Hour

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(/member/cheftpm/)

Mar 10, 2011. 2:51 AM Reply (CJWV6JGGKS0QUV7)

(/member/bwaller/)

Mar 10, 2011. 2:23 AM Reply (C1A22YIGL24A9XE)

(/member/cheftpm/)

Mar 10, 2011. 2:44 AM Reply (CORWC7DGKS0QUUW)

3

(/member/NachoMahma/)

Mar 4, 2011. 5:42 AM Reply (CE8H8YQGKTJNSN6)

Post Comment

layering, watering, and turning [aeration] will create more optimal conditions for the bacteria, and thusspeed up the process.

Just like other living organisms, the bacteria require a hospitable environment. The ‘good’ compostingbacteria are ‘aerobic’ and need AIR to breathe. This is why experts recommend ‘turning’ of the pile.The bacteria also need a moderate to warm temperature in order to live and propagate well. Andfinally, the bacteria need adequate moisture. That is why the entire pile should be kept moist [not‘wet’]. IF your compost pile ‘stinks’ and you haven’t added animal products, that is a sign that the pileis too wet, and only ‘anaerobic’ bacteria are surviving, AND anaerobic bacterial action does createnoxious odors.

The IDEAL compost pile will develop an internal temperature of about 160oF which enhances thebacterial environment, and will k ill weed and other undesirable seeds. Heat generation occursnaturally in a compost pile as the result of the metabolism of the bacteria. The larger the pile, thebetter the heat is contained [self insulating], allowing the temperature to maximize. In this ‘ible, thecompost containment [chicken wire] cylinder appears to be only about 24 to 30 inches in diameter,and thus will loose too much heat which will slow down the process, and in very cold climates, wouldinhibit, if not totally stop the bacterial action.

The recommended MINIMUM dimensions for the most effective compost pile is roughly 3 feet by 3feet by 3 feet, and this is not meant to require a perfect cube. Ideally it would be a hemisphere of atleast a 3 foot radius.

 Another point is that this Instructable indicates the use of a bag of store bought soil [DIRT] which isnot necessary. The purpose of adding dirt to the pile mix is to introduce [inoculate] the pile withbacteria to 'start' the decomposition process. Just using ordinary dirt from your yard will do the jobwithout having to buy anything. Even worse, SOME store bought soils have been ‘sterilized’ [baked]o kill all seeds and organisms and thus kills the beneficial bacteria we WANT in our compost pile.

Sterilized soil is totally useless for inoculating a compost pile.

I mean no disrespect for the ladies' laudable effort to provide a basic ‘ible on composting, and the

above suggestions are only intended to enhance the learning experience.

cheftpm (/member/cheftpm/) in reply to johnny3h

7 YEARS ,YES YOU ARE A PRO.\!!! THANKS FOR THE INFO YOU

OCK !!!!!!

bwaller (/member/bwaller/) says:

Can anybody help me? i had compost bin but my mom chuck too many vegetable which become toosoggy should, plus its in wheel bin and sweats all lot should i have outside compost bin?

cheftpm (/member/cheftpm/) in reply to bwaller 

OU NEED TO ADD MOREROWN ,LIKE LEAVES WOODCARPS AND NEWSPAPER

NachoMahma (/member/NachoMahma/) says:

. What am I doing wrong? The title says lesshan an hour and I've been waiting three - still

no compost. :P. Great job. Keep up the good work.

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