Home Composting

Get to know your Greens and Browns

A successful compost pile relies on two essential ingredients: carbon-rich “browns” and nitrogen-rich “greens.” Maintaining the right balance between the two ensures efficient decomposition and prevents odors.

Carbon-Rich “Browns”

These provide structure to the compost and help with aeration:
✔️ Cardboard (egg boxes, paper towel rolls)
✔️ Dried leaves
✔️ Wood chips & sawdust (untreated)
✔️ Straw & hay
✔️ Shredded paper (non-glossy)

Nitrogen-Rich “Greens”

These decompose quickly and provide essential nutrients:
✔️ Vegetable & fruit scraps
✔️ Fresh grass clippings
✔️ Fresh leaves & plant trimmings
✔️ Coffee grounds & tea leaves
✔️ Manure (herbivore only, like cow, horse, or chicken)

Now that you know your greens and browns, you’re ready for the next step! 🌱♻️

Get the Right Balance

While all organic matter will eventually decompose, balancing the ratio of carbon-rich browns and nitrogen-rich greens helps speed up the process and prevents common composting issues.

For everyday home composting, aim for a mix of 3 to 4 parts brown material to 1 part green, measured by volume (not weight). Layer greens thinly rather than piling them up, ensuring even contact with browns for better aeration and decomposition.

Troubleshooting Compost Problems

🔴 Too Much Green (Nitrogen-Rich) Material?
🛑 Signs: Compost is wet, slimy, and has a strong odor.
✅ Fix: Add more browns (shredded paper, straw, or dry leaves) to absorb moisture and restore balance.

🔵 Too Much Brown (Carbon-Rich) Material?
🛑 Signs: Compost is dry, slow to break down, and lacks heat.
✅ Fix: Mix in more greens (vegetable scraps, fresh grass clippings) to add moisture and kick-start decomposition.

👉 Golden Rule: It’s always better to have too many browns than too many greens—extra browns just slow the process, but too many greens can cause bad odors!

With the right balance in place, your compost pile will decompose efficiently, creating nutrient-rich soil in no time. On to Step 3! 🌱♻️

Keep things covered

Covering your compost heap is essential for maintaining the right conditions for decomposition. A cover helps by:
✔️ Protecting from excess rainfall, preventing waterlogging
✔️ Retaining heat, which speeds up decomposition
✔️ Reducing odors, keeping pests away
✔️ Slowing down moisture evaporation, keeping the pile balanced

Choosing the Right Cover

🔹 Natural Covers (can be composted later!)

• Thick layer of cardboard
• Dried leaves or straw
• Dried grass clippings

🔹 Artificial Covers (reusable, long-lasting)

• Old tarp
• Scraps of carpet

When adding new material, simply pull back the cover, layer in your greens and browns, then replace the cover to keep things protected. This allows the microorganisms inside to focus on decomposition without being disturbed by external elements.

With your compost pile covered and well-maintained, you’re on your way to rich, healthy soil. Let’s move on to Step 4! 🌱♻️

Turn and maintain moisture

Regularly turning your compost (every couple of weeks) helps aerate the pile and speeds up the process. The compost should feel damp, like a wrung-out sponge—not too wet or too dry.

When is compost ready?

✅ Texture: Dark, crumbly, and soil-like
✅ Smell: Earthy and pleasant (not rotten)
✅ Timeframe: Typically 3 to 6 months, but it continues maturing over time

Be patient and harvest when ready. Good compost takes thre to six months to mature. Your finished compost will keep improving as soil life refines it, creating a magical boost for your plants! Now, all that’s left to do is use it in your garden and enjoy the benefits of your homemade compost. 🌱♻️✨