Follow the columns down. The simplest left-hand column is the least work, and slowest; the more optional extras you add from the middle or right-hand columns, the faster and more efficient your compost heap.
Basics
Takes a year or more.
A little more effort
Ready in 3-6 months.
Fast and Hot
Ready in 6 weeks?
Step 1
Decide where to put it
It can go anywhere, EXCEPT against the house! Look for easy access (remember that you need to add and remove material!), a level site, with water near by, and good drainage.
Step 2
Set up a compost bin (optional)
Buy one, or (better?) build one, with pallets, bales of hay, concrete blocks, whatever comes to hand! Minimum size for an effective heap is 1 metre by 1 metre by 1 metre.
Build two or three "bays" so you can turn your compost heap from one to another
Step 3
Prepare the material (optional)
Try to get a good mix of carbon to nitrogen by weight, and as wide a variety of materials as possible.
» What can you put in a compost heap?The ideal mix? Anything from 20 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen, to 30 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen - it depends who you read and trust! Does it matter? Probably not, as long as you keep the principle of balancing carbon and nitrogen in mind!
Chop woodier items (twigs, bark, brassica stalks) to 1-2 inches in size.
Step 4
Build the pile - you can't avoid this bit! Pile into a heap, minimum size 1 cubic metre, preferably 2 to 3 cubic metres.
Add material as it becomes available.
Plan building your pile, so you have enough material to do so in one "batch". Carbons in particular can be stockpiled.
Build it in alternate layers.
A little soil, previous compost, or manure heap can be added to introduce helpful organisms. Or human urine!
Wet the ground first to encourage the worms to visit your pile!
· Lay a layer of twigs (up to 6 inches) for
aeration
· Add alternate layers of "carbons" and "nitrogens", about 6 inches of each (less of fresh mown grass).
· Water each layer - the pile should be perhaps 50% water.
· End with a carbon layer.
Step 5
Cover the pile (optional)
Use a black plastic bag, old carpet, or newspapers to keep the heat and moisture in, and stop rain leaching the goodness out of your pile.
Or plant nasturtiums on top (much nicer looking!).
Step 6
Monitor the pile (optional)
If your pile doesn't get hot, it needs more "nitrogens" - so add some soft, fresh, green stuff (or human urine).
If your pile "sinks and stinks", it needs more carbons - so add some newspaper, cardboard, dry stem material.
The traditional method to guage the temperature is to shove your arm into the heap up to the elbow. However, BE WARNED - a well-built heap will reach temperatures of 60C. A really well-built heap will reach maximum heat within 3 days.
Moisture - a handful should feel like a wrung-out sponge.
Step 7
Turn the pile (optional)
No turning - not a problem, but your heap this will take a year or longer to produce usable compost
Occasional turning, moving the outside and top (slow and cool) parts into the inside (fast and warm), will
· mix up the contents,
· break up cold spots,
· aerate the pile to speed up the composting
process,
· and allow you to add water if necessary.
Really keen? Turn the pile regularly - 3 or 4 times until the compost is "ripe"
· Turn the heap as soon as it starts to cool down from its initial burst - after 3 or 4 days, and at intervals of 10 days, to give you compost in 4-6 weeks;
· At intervals of 30 days, to give you compost in 6 months.
Step 8
When is it ready? When your pile has reduced in size (by anything from 25 to 40%, when you can't identify the original constituents, and it looks like rich, crumbly, dark soil, - smelling sweet, earthy and "woodsy".
Use your compost
· to improve your soil - spread a layer (up to 1 inch deep) on top of the soil, and work in with a hoe or a rake;
· to prepare for planting at digging time, add a layer of 4-6 inches of your compost, and work it in;
· What? Your compost heap hasn't properly digested? Add roughly composted material to your plot in autumn; the rotting process will continue, but more slowly in the soil through the winter. BUT DO TAKE CARE - this would be daft, if you've added to your heap lots of couch grass roots, or weeds which have set seed!
· Compost tea? Beg, borrow or otherwise purloin a cloth bag (pillow case?), fill it with compost, and soak for a couple of days. Water plants with the "tea" as a food - and use the compost on a bed!