Start a compost pile

30 minutes, then a few minutes a week · Easy · 6 steps

Turn kitchen scraps, leaves, and grass clippings into free, rich compost.

Cutaway of a working compost bin
123456

Fig. Cutaway of a working compost bin.

  1. Lid, open for turning and adding
  2. A long thermometer: a working pile reads 130 to 160°F
  3. Greens: kitchen scraps, coffee grounds, grass clippings
  4. Browns: dry leaves, straw, shredded cardboard, about 2 to 3 times as much as greens
  5. Coarse sticks at the bottom let air in
  6. An open bottom on bare soil lets worms move up

What you'll need

Amazon links are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

You'll also need

  • "Browns": dry leaves, straw, shredded paper, cardboard
  • "Greens": vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, grass clippings, garden trimmings
  • A lidded bucket for kitchen scraps

Steps

  1. Set the bin on bare soil in a spot that's easy to reach, partly shaded if you can.
  2. Start with a few inches of coarse browns, like small sticks or straw, so air can get under the pile.
  3. Add greens and browns in layers, about 2 or 3 parts browns to 1 part greens.
  4. Keep it as damp as a wrung-out sponge. Water it if it's dry; add browns if it's soggy or smells.
  5. Turn it with a fork every week or two to add air. A pile that's working will reach 130 to 160°F inside.
  6. When it's dark and crumbly, smells like soil, and you can't tell what went in, it's ready: in 2 to 6 months if you turn it often, a year if you don't.

Tips

  • Leave out meat, dairy, oils, pet waste, and diseased plants.
  • Chop or shred big pieces. Smaller pieces break down much faster.
  • Save bags of fall leaves: they're the browns you'll need all summer.