How to Make Garden Compost

Did you know you can make your own garden compost from food scraps, leaves, and yard debris? Turn it in nutrient dense soil for your garden. Good for your garden and less waste! 

You can compost any natural material; however, it’s best to avoid composting meat, dairy, and smelly leftovers. You don’t want to attract critters. Typically, I feed all kitchen scraps to the chickens and whatever is leftover goes to the garden compost bin.

What is it Made of? 

Garden compost is an even mixture of two types of materials – green and brown. Green materials are high in nitrogen. Brown materials are high in carbon. 

Green Materials

  • Vegetable scraps
  • Egg shells
  • Fruit scraps
  • Grass clippings
  • Weeds
  • Green leaves

Brown Materials

  • Dried leaves
  • Wood chips
  • Sawdust
  • Coffee grounds
  • Tea bags
  • Twigs
  • Paper towels
  • Paper bags
  • Shredded newspaper

The Pile 

Your garden compost pile is just that, a pile. There are many creative ways to contain a pile. My favorite is to drill pallets together. This way the pile can get air circulation but is also contained. 

  1. Build your compost pile by layering an even amount of green and brown materials.
  2. The smaller the pieces the easier they will decompose
  3. As the materials begin to decompose, the pile will begin to get hot and steamy
  4. Turn it on occasion with a pitch fork to mix up the materials and oxygenate it. 
  5. Once the materials are decomposed into somewhat of a dirt substance, it is the perfect nutrient-dense addition to your garden.