There are 3 types of bins; holding, turning and worm.

Holding containers that store waste until the materials break down into compost. These bins should have opening in the sides to permit plenty of air but small enough to still contain the materials that are composting, this is the easiest way to compost.

Turning bins are used for building and turning active compost piles. Turning unit allows wastes to be conveniently mixed for aeration on a regular basis. Make a 3 sided bin leaving the fourth side open for turning the pile or for access to the finished compost.

Worms can be used to consume organic waste, producing a great topsoil additive. Worm compost can even be done indoors with relatively no odor; you can get worm composter bins on line too.

Finished compost is dark brown, crumbly and earthy-smelling. To use as a fertilizer, spread it an inch thick on your garden beds to improve poor soil, spread 2 to 3 inches of compost over a tilled surface working the compost into the top 6 inches of earth. Compost can be beneficial in any season. However to maximize its benefits, spread your compost in the fall, cover with mulch and allow to sink into soil, fertilizing it thoroughly by spring time.

Look for a level well-drained area. If you plan on adding kitchen scraps, keep it accessible to your back door and not so far away that you’ll neglect it. Look for a spot that is shaded and protected from wind. Start your pile on soil or a lawn to take advantage of the earthworms and beneficial microbes and other decomposers.

You can choose to compost in a passive or proactive manner.

Passive composting involves the least amount of time and energy on your part. Set up an enclosed area and start adding your organic wastes. The materials will eventually break down into finished compost. After a year or two your pile will produce a few cubic feet of compost yearly.

Proactive composting involves active participation. By using this method you’ll have finished compost within 3-4 weeks depending on what materials used, whether you chopped up and how you mix them together. Your compost pile needs a proper ratio of carbon rich material or “browns” and nitrogen-rich material or “greens”. Among the brown materials are died leave, straw and wood chips. Nitrogen materials are fresh or green such as grass clippings and kitchen scraps. Mixing certain types of materials or changing the proportions can make a difference in the rate of decomposition. The ideal ratio is 25 parts browns to 1 part greens but you can experiment with what works best for you. Good compost is moist and odorless and maintains a temperature of 130 degrees. Too much carbon slows down the decomposition while too much nitrogen causes odor

Yes. Compost decreases your waste. About 1/3 of the space in landfills is taken up with organic waste from our yards and kitchens, just the type of material that can be used in compost. Since the average American household produces more than 200 pounds of kitchen waste every year, composting is an important component to reducing your environmental impact and landfill use.

Compost enhances your soil’s structure, texture and aeration by loosening it and increasing its water-holding capacity. It improves your soil’s fertility, stimulates healthy root development in plants, and provides food for microorganisms.

Composting is the ultimate garden fertilizer. It contains virtually all the nutrients a living plant needs and slowly delivers them over a period of years. It enlivens your soil no matter where you live. Farmers around the world will testify that healthier soil grows healthier plants that naturally resist disease, insects, and other environmental pressures.