How To Make Compost At Home Step By Step

Composting not only eliminates pollution in the waste disposal fields, but also enhances the home environment. Compost is organic material that can be added to soil to help plants grow. Composting is the best way to turn your family's organic scraps into plant food without paying any cost for it. Composting at home is tricky and not dirty, as many think so. You can start composting by following the guide on how to make compost at home step by step.

Basic Requirements Of Composting

Any type of composting basics are three major elements:
Greens, Browns Water

To create an environment for composting you must control these five areas:

Nutrient Balancing:
For a controlled and complete decomposition of materials, requires balanced organic materials. Materials that contain a large amount of nitrogen and carbon are ideal for this process.

Bite-Size:
The surface area where microorganisms will eat increases with scraping, chipping, and shredding products. Smaller particles also generate a more homogeneous compost mix and enhance stack insulation to ensure optimized temperature.

Moisture Content:
A compost pile requires sufficient moisture for the survival of microorganisms. Water is the key element that helps the transportation of compost substances and makes nutrients accessible to the microbes in organic material.

Proper Ventilation:
The ventilation of the pile enables decomposition to occur faster than anaerobic conditions. However, it must be careful not to provide too much oxygen to dry the pile and impede the process of composting.

Temperature:
In order to achieve optimal activities, microorganisms require a specific temperature range. Such temperatures favor rapid composting and destroying weed seed and pathogens. The temperature of the core of a pile may increase to at least 140 ° F through microbial activity. In any case, the temperature of the pile does not increase, rotting occurs. Then you need to improve the previous conditions.

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How to Start Composting?

You have an extensive choice to start, decide whether an open stack or a compost bin or maybe both you can adopt; it depends on your selection and the free space where you can store as well as stir quickly. The advantage of the bin is that they are clean, keep animals out, and sustain heat. Bins for composting are available at the stores that hold accessories for gardening and home. If you are no interested in buying it from the store, you can build your own from the scrap bins.

The size of the bin will determine the quantity of the material you want to generate from your compostable.
You should know before choosing the place for your bin that will require a suitable flat surface, well-drained, and most crucial element sunlight.

The Best Food For Composting
Generally, the waste of our kitchen or scraps of organic food like a waste of veggies and fruits we choose to decompose in nutrient-rich composting. We use the term greens (rich in nitrogen) and browns (rich in carbon). To know in detail how to make compost at home step by step, we have added a short-list of greens and browns:

Rich in Nitrogen (Greens)
Green leaves/garden waste
Cut flowers
Scrap/waste of vegetables
Scrap/waste of fruits
Coffee grounds/filters
Tea leaves/bags

Rich in Carbon (Browns)
Dried leaves
Shredded newspapers
Straw
Wood ash(not too much)
Shredded cardboard
Dead plants from your garden

Except for greens and browns, you can add eggshells also.

Materials that can harm your plants or slower the breakdown process:
Diseased plants/weed with seeds
Cooked food/oil
Citrus fruits (reduces the production and activity of worms)
Dairy products
Meat and bones
Grease and glossy paper
Cat or dog feces
Aluminum foil (any metal; metals doesn't decompose)

The Best Composter Location& Step By Step Guide
Once you have selected the right size of bin and the best convenient location, It time to implement on how to make compost at home step by step:
a. First, we will make a layer of materials like twigs; to let smooth drain excessive water and aeration from the bottom.
b. Spread some browns like dried leaves and straw, rich in carbon material.
c. In this turn, you will add some of your greens; that we accumulated from the kitchen scraps. We suggest you add organic nitrogen-rich material.

“Note: To make the right finished product, you should maintain the ratio of greens and browns 50:50 percent.”

Tips. Place a container wherever you want, where you can access while cooking your lunch, and put all the waste of greens in it. When scraps container is full, add it into the compost bin.

Remember this; at the time of filling compost bin with your food scraps or yards waste, make sure you are not leaving them at the top, add more browns to cover the layer of greens. In case you are not capping with browns, it will affect the process of break down, and your compost will be wet.
If it is convenient to collect dry leaves in the fall and store, so it will help you to use throughout the compost year.
There can be specific ways of adding and maintaining compost, based upon the type of compost bin you have chosen. Most containers yo:u buy include instructions; follow instructions to achieve the best results.

How To Add More Material During The Composting Process?

Check your compost basket to make sure the following conditions are met in order to make the compost faster:

At the time of adding more material, make sure to stir it well with the lower layer.

The compost material should be wet enough, and you can add more dry material or water whenever it is needed to maintain a sponge level of moisture.

Stir the compost at least once a week to eliminate odor and help the breakdown process.

Time Of Harvesting Compost Bin:

Compost is completed when the color is dark and rich, easily crumbles and you can't pick any of the first ingredients. It should smell sweet and earthy. It is ready to feed your plants. If you are following this step by step guide, your compost will be prepared in four to five months of starting your bin.

Top of the bin or compost stack is the finished compost .. Remove all finished compost from the container and leave unfinished material in the container to further decompose. Before you use your compost, make sure the decomposition process is complete; otherwise, pathogens may take nitrogen from the soil and harm plant growth.

Benefits And Use Of The Compost:

You can sprinkle composted material a few times in a year to add nutrients in the soil of your lawn.
It enriches the soil, helps to maintain humidity, and prevents plant and pests diseases.
It promotes the production of good bacteria and fungi that break up organic matter to make a rich material filled with nutrients, humus.
Reduces the requirement of chemical fertilizers.