Building a Compost Pile

• "Wet" material
• Dry plant debris
• Wood ash or lime
• Manure, blood meal, or garden soil
• Water
• Garden fork for turning

 

Step 1. Alternate layers of
"wet" and "dry" materials.

1. Alternate layers. Build a compost pile from alternating layers of "wet" material (green plant matter, fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds) and dry plant debris.

 

Step 2. Determine the pH you'll
need, depending on how you intend
to use the compost.

2. Adjust for pH. Sprinkle wet layers with wood ashes (for potassium and to lower pH) or lime (to raise pH) and livestock manure, or blood meal (a slaughterhouse by-product), or garden soil.

 

Step 3. Moisten the compost pile
regularly.

3. Spray compost with water. Spray the compost pile with water until it is as moist as a squeezed-out sponge. Moisten the pile whenever it gets dried out.

 

Step 4. Turn compost once a week.

4. Turn the pile. Turn the compost once a week, moving material from the outer edges of the pile into the center. The compost is ready to use once it is dark brown and crumbly.