Add garden soil periodically.
Save your autumn leaves, adding them in spring and summer.
If it’s a pile, you might want to cover it with a tarp to keep it moist. (Most bins have covers.)
Using a pitchfork, turn the compost lightly. Alternatively, you might just want to punch holes in the pile so it’s properly aerated that way.
If you turn it periodically, you may get faster results. Read up on turning if you decide to do this though.
It’s like cooking. You never know how it’s going to turn out. You have to improvise. You might decide it’s dry and add water. If it’s too hot, there’s too much nitrogen. (Add more carbon materials.) If it smells very bad, there may be too much nitrogen.
Decomposing may take two weeks or two years. It depends on the materials you use, how often you turn it, and the size of the pile.
The bottom layer eventually becomes a rich dark color. This indicates it’s ready to use.
Composting is an inexact science. Once you do it, you’ll find out what works and what doesn’t.
You might want to join a workshop or class. There is a plethora of information on the Web, too. Find composting programs in your area.
