A Compost Heap is simply a pile of rotting garbage. It mimics Nature's decomposition of biological material. Compost heaps don't need to be designed at all; any shape or size will do. The sole proviso is that to speed up decomposition it should be at least 3 feet in diameter. You may even dig a hole or trench, fill it up with waste material, and use the dug up earth to cover each layer. Remember that three-fourths of household garbage is organic in nature and therefore compostable. Recycling household and garden waste into nutrient-rich compost that improves soil structure and encourages plant growth is an environmentally commendable decision. And all this is cost-free.


Making a Compost Heap:
Virtually any organic material can be added to a Compost Heap. The list is long and includes vegetable and fruit peelings, coffee grounds, tea leaves, leftover food, grass, tree and shrub clippings. Make sure the Compost Heap has food, warmth, air and moisture to encourage micro-organism activity to accelerate the composting process. Additionally, a correct carbon and nitrogen (C/N) ratio should be maintained; a 30:1CN is recommended. An excess of carbon or browns will slow down composting, while an overdose of nitrogen will result in putrefaction.

Water:
It is essential to water your Compost Heap; it should be moist, not wet. The more dry material you add, the more you water. In summers, water with greater frequency however; protect your Compost Heap from rains, as they leach nutrients.

Temperature:
Ideally, the temperature of a Compost Heap should reach 140 degrees Fahrenheit or 60 degrees Celsius at the centre. This sterilizes the heap by killing pathogens. This is perfectly achieved by the 30:1 CN ratio.

Air:
A Compost Heap must have air. To aid air circulation to the center of the heap, make certain your heap is never higher than 5 feet or 6-7 feet square. Airless conditions encourage anaerobic bacteria that putrefy material.

Turning:
Turn your compost every 4-6 weeks so that all material gets to the centre and rots evenly. Mature compost is dark brown, friable and smells like good soil. In summer, you may get compost in as short a time period as 4-6 weeks; in winter it may take longer.

How you go about making and maintaining your compost heap is a personal choice. As ecological awareness gains ground, more households and even municipal governments are getting into composting.



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