What Goes Into a Compost Pile?
• Air. Compost needs air; do not enclose it in an airtight container. You can stir the compost if you want but I do not. • Water. Add enough water to keep the pile damp but not soggy. • Yard Waste. Grass clippings, leaves and weeds are good. Avoid crab grass. • Soil. Ordinary soil contains organisms that help the compost break down. Soil also helps control odor. Also, a shovel-full of finished compost is great. • Kitchen Waste. Most of what you normally put down the garbage disposal can go into the compost instead. Keep an open compost bowl in your kitchen and dump it on the compost every day. Do not use a closed container; it will cause the scraps to stink. Good materials include: peels and rinds, smashed egg shells, fruit and vegetable trimmings, non-greasy leftovers, coffee grounds and stale bread. Avoid meats and sweets and greasy foods because they attract pests. • (Optional) Manure. Manure speeds and enriches the development of compost, but you do not have to use it. Avoid dog do
