Composting Doesn't Have to be Hard

Compost building doesn't always have to be hard. There are probably as many ideas about making good, rich compost as there are gardeners. Here I will give you an example of one easy way to do it.

It occurred to me that Mother Nature didn't do like how I was always taught to build a compost pile. In nature the mix is not layered neatly with dirt, then a layer of organic material, such as leaves or kitchen scraps and a layer of steer, rabbit, or horse manure and then constantly turned. No one has ever turned nature's leaf piles yet new, rich, black, beautiful and life giving soil is created naturally and easily. The light bulb went off in my head right then you might say. It hit me I could make a compost pile that works as easily as in nature.

First you need to decide the dimensions you want for your compost pile. I built the one pictured at the bottom of this hub, that is 6 feet wide, by 8 feet long and 4 foot tall at very little cost to me. Next purchase new or recycled wood in sizes of your choice, 1 x 4's, 1 x 6's, etc. cut to the right lengths. Most lumber yards cut to length for little or no charge. Don't forget four fence posts also. If you are lucky like I was you'll have recycled wood at your disposal and therefore little expense. Old wooden fences, garages, sheds, anything you can find might give you all the used wood you will need. If reusing old wood, first be sure and pull all the nails. Then simply cut off any rotten ends as you're cutting your boards down to length.

Now dig a fence post in at each corner and refill the hole with the dirt you pulled out of the hole. There is no need for concrete around your posts. Leaving open the side you want to be able to access, attach your boards to the posts either with nails or screws. Space the boards 3-4 inches apart for air to be able to easily breathe through your mulch pile. On the open side of your new compost pile only put your cross boards about knee height, enough to stabilize the box and yet low enough for you to have easy access. Now start adding your yard waste and all vegetable scraps into the box. Add soil and steer, horse or rabbit manure when you have it. If you find rotten soil when working in your yard or planting beds, dig it out and haul it over to add to the top of the compost pile. Also when it's time to empty out the patio pots in fall, in they go, soil and all. Let everything just sit, continuing to add the same yard and plant waste in all year long. It takes longer before everything breaks down into compost doing it this way, but there is very little effort used to produce compost once the box is built. The first couple of years you may want to keep a small hand turn-able barrel type composter, until your new compost box has done it's job.

Soon you will have an unending supply of crumbly, worm filled compost to top dress your plants with and amend your planting beds. The finished compost can be easily pulled out of the bottom of the box with a hoe or rake when it's ready. Plant vining perennials or annual seeds such as morning glories around the compost box. Now not only is it easy to build and use, it can be pretty too.