Recently, composting has become the “in term” with people from all walks of life participating in this endeavor.  Celebrities of movies and film along with the First Lady Michelle Obama have all joined the green masses in this environmentally friendly activity.  Even common folk can be found composting vegetable scraps from dinner or from office and schools are joining in by having students separate trash from “green material.”  This material is then taken to the school’s garden where it is placed in a compost pile.  Today, composting is as easy as counting 1, 2, and 3.

To be able to compost does not require expensive composting tumblers or special containers.  Compost can simply be placed in a pile near the kitchen and garden space but for esthetic purposes a container of some sort is recommended.  This container can be as basic as a chicken wire tube or a food grade plastic container with PVC pipe run through it.  Regardless of the type of container that is chosen, it will need to be 4- to 5-feet in all directions.  This will allow for enough room for one year’s compost material.

Another approach to consider when designing your first composting project is to have two areas instead of one for composting.  This allows you to add to one composting area while the other one is “cooking.”  This is especially important if your composting container does not have a removable bottom by which to remove finished compost.

To make a food grade plastic bucket composter is simple and only requires a few tools.  The first step to this process is to get the materials together.  This includes a hole saw, ½-inch PVC pipe, handsaw, drill, and food grade plastic bucket with lid.  To begin process, measure the length of the PVC pipe.  This can be done by measuring the width of the plastic bucket and adding about 4-inches to that length.  Mark the pipe into three sections the required length and cut with a handsaw.  Using a 1-inch drill bit, drill several holes through the PVC pipes.  This will be the ventilation for the compost.

Then flip the bucket over and drill several ¼-inch holes in the bottom.  This will create an area for the compost to drain.  If you want to harvest the compost tea, nest the composting bucket into another bucket without drainage holes.  The second bucket will act as a “compost tea reservoir.”

Next, measure and mark circles along the side of the plastic bucket that correspond to the number of PVC pipes you have cut.  The PVC pipe will go through these areas and through the bucket once they are cut.  Cut out the marked areas making sure that the PVC pipe fits all the way through to the other side.  Once all areas are cut, place the entire PVC pipe through the openings.

Now you can begin to build your compost.  Compost is made from material that is considered “brown” and “green.”  The brown component of compost consists of dried grass, straw, shredded cornstalks, dried leaves, cardboard, sawdust (limited amounts), and black and white newsprint only.  Green material, on the other hand, includes grass clippings, kitchen scraps, fresh manure from horse, cow, chicken and/or rabbit, weeds, and green leaves.

When adding material to the compost pile, one must add it in the correct ratio.  The bacteria that feeds on the organic matter likes a lot of carbon compared to nitrogen.  This means that for properly functioning compost pile, one must add four parts brown material to one part green.  This formula provides enough energy and food for the bacteria.

To begin the process, add a layer of brown material to a couple of handfuls of green material.  While this is not an exact measurement, it will get you closer to the correct ratio needed.

To aid the compost, turn it at least once a week with a garden fork if using a pile method or turn the PVC pipe to mix the compost, if using the bucket technique.  This mixes in oxygen that the bacteria needs for survival.  Also keep the compost moist but not wet.  Before adding water always check the moisture level.  This is done by grabbing a handful of compost and squeezing it.  If it falls apart, the compost is too dry and needs water.  If it drips with water when squeezed, it is too wet and does not need water.  If it stays together and does not drip, then it is fine.

Other helpful hints that will aid the first time composter are as follows.

1.    Never use cat or dog manure for your compost.  It carries diseases that can be passed to humans through produce grown with this type of manure.
2.    Never add meat, dairy, or fish to the compost pile.
3.    Do not add anything that is not organic in nature.  If Mother Nature did not make it, do not add it.
4.    Shred organic material when possible.  This allows the material to breakdown quicker.
5.    Add alfalfa meal to the compost pile.  This provides additional nitrogen and protein for the bacteria.
6.    To aid in the decomposition of the material, add chamomile leaves and flowers to the pile.
7.    Do not forget to turn the compost often.

Composting is a simple way of making ones own soil and/or fertilizer.  Just remember the three basic steps. One, add organic material to a pile in the correct ratio.  Two, keep the pile moist and three turn it once a week.