How to Build Compost Heap

Compost Materials Branches (an armful or two)

• Wooden poles (3 or 4) Hay
• Grass clippings
• Leaves
• Weeds
• Sawdust
• Kitchen garbage
• Manure (horse, cow, chicken, rabbit, dog)
• Wood ash or limestone Rich topsoil
• Water

  

Getting It All Together

1. Loosen the soil which will be underneath the compost heap. An area at least 3 feet square is a good size to begin with. Add some manure to supply additional bacteria if the soil does not seem fertile.
2. Push 3 or 4 wooden poles into the loosened soil until they stand up easily. Space the poles evenly in the area the compost heap will cover. These will make vertical aeration holes in the compost heap. Other materials which can be used are perforated drainage pipes or cylinders made of chicken wire.
3. Lay down a latticework of branches over the soil. This provides some air circulation underneath the compost heap.
4. Spread a 5- to 6-inch layer of hay, leaves, or other plant materials over the layer of branches. Combine different materials in each layer. Alternate wet and dry materials, such as green grass clippings and hay. If you use many different materials, your compost will contain a wide variety of nutrients.
5. Spread a 2-inch layer of manure over the layer of plant materials to provide an adequate supply of nitrogen. The bacteria will use the nitrogen to decompose the plant materials. Cottonseed meal or other materials which
   contain nitrogen can be used instead of manure. Do not use commercial fertilizer.
6. Spread a thin layer (about 1/8 inch) of rich topsoil mixed with a light sprinkling of wood ash or limestone. Too much soil will hinder air circulation. Rich soil contributes bacteria and other organisms to the compost heap. Wood ash or limestone helps neutralize acidity and provides additional nutrients. (If you are using phosphate rock or bone meal in the compost heap, mix it in this layer.)
7. Moisten the layers thoroughly, if needed, until the materials feel as moist as a damp sponge or towel which has been wrung out. It is best to moisten the compost heap as you build it, so that the moisture throughout the heap is fairly consistent. Be careful not to saturate the heap.
8. Begin a series of layers again. Spread a thick layer of dry weeds and sawdust or a mixture of other plant materials.
9. Spread a layer of kitchen waste which has been accumulated in a tight-lidded container. Sawdust in the bottom of the kitchen waste container helps to absorb juices. As youaccumulate kitchen scraps, sprinkle limestone or wood ashoccasionally, and empty the container often to help prevent odor and discourage flies from laying their eggs.
10. Add a layer of manure.
11. Cover the manure with a thin layer of soil.
12. Moisten the new layers of the compost heap.
13. Continue layering the compost materials until the heap is 3 to 5 feet high. Combine different textures and alternate wet and dry materials. You can use any combination of materials you choose as long as your compost heap is made of approximately 2/3 plant material and 1/3 manure. The heap needs to be at least 3 feet high for it to be large enough to retain heat. A heap which is higher than 5 feet tends to compress and prevent air circulation in the lower portion of the heap.
14. Cover the finished compost heap with a layer of soil and a thick layer of hay for insulation.
15. Lightly press the top of the compost heap to form a shallow basin to catch rainfall. In an area with heavy rainfall, leave the heap rounded on top. If your compost heap is contained in a wooden bin, you can remove and replace the roof to regulate watering, catching rainfall as needed. Rain is a saturated solution of oxygen and contains microorganisms and many minerals, especially near the sea. Water the compost heap with a hose when there is not enough rainfall.

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