Compost Recipe

Just as a good recipe will produce a good batch of cookies, a good batch of compost will result from following a basic recipe. And the ingredient's list is much simpler than what's required for a batch of gingersnaps or macaroons!

First of all you'll need a source of carbon to provide the microorganisms that do all the work in a compost pile with the energy they'll need to decompose your raw materials. Carbon-rich ingredients include dry, fibrous plant materials like leaves, straw and sawdust. They're often referred to as being the "browns" of composting.

Next you'll need a source of nitrogen to provide the microorganisms with the protein they need to digest the carbon in the compost. Manure, fresh grass clippings, garden refuse, coffee grounds and kitchen scraps are excellent sources of nitrogen. These materials are a compost's "green" ingredients.

Oxygen and moisture are also important to the composting process. The most efficient microorganisms in a compost are the ones that live in an oxygen-rich environment. And they work best when the moisture content of the compost ingredients is about 45%.

So how should these ingredients go together? Basically you'll need to combine the "greens" and the "browns" in your compost bin or pile in a 1:1 ratio by weight. You should wet the pile so that it's moist to the touch, but not so much that water runs out when you squeeze a handful. Once that's done, then you can let the microorganisms go to work. If you turn the pile periodically you'll supply it with the oxygen required to keep the composting process speeding along. Every time you add a new carbon source to the pile, try to add an equal amount of nitrogen-based material. It's that easy!