People have composted in one form or another since ancient times. Agrarian cultures probably didn’t know much about the billions of microorganisms at work, yet they valued the result — a crumbly, earthy matter that helped their plants grow well. As our landfills brim with waste, the idea of using yard refuse to enrich garden soil is as popular as ever. Why toss those leaves to the curb when you can start composting with just a few simple steps?

Start with a bin

Some people pay a lot of money for trendy composting bins, but for a few bucks you can buy 12 feet of 36-inch high galvanized dog fencing — the kind with 2-by-4 inch rectangular openings — available at hardware stores.

Next, select a location for the bin with good drainage, either in the sun or shade, that’s water-accessible and a convenient distance from the kitchen. Shape the fencing into a circle and fasten the ends.

The recipe

The microorganisms that produce compost need these basic elements to function:

• Browns — Carbon-rich materials such as leaves, shredded newspaper, straw or wood shavings.

• Greens — Nitrogen-rich materials such as alfalfa pellets (rabbit food), commercial compost starter, garden fertilizer, green yard debris, grass clippings, fruit/vegetable kitchen scraps, coffee grounds or barnyard manure — but NO dog or cat feces.

Primp the pile

This composting method is great in the autumn and throughout the winter when fallen leaves are plentiful:

• Set up your compost bin on the selected location. You’ll need at least five large bags of raked leaves, a 40-pound bag of alfalfa pellets and a garden hose.

• Place a layer of sticks or tree limbs in the bin to provide a little air circulation under the pile. Next, fill the bin about a third full with leaves. Water the leaves as you dump them into the bin and pack them down. (A small child or two jumping in the bin is very helpful!)

• Sprinkle in half of the bag of alfalfa pellets and water well. Repeat with a layer of leaves up to about two-thirds full. Water again and pack down. Add the balance of the alfalfa pellets and more water. Complete the pile with a layer of leaves.

• Water some more — your pile should be as damp as a wet sponge, but not soggy.

Within a few days, the pile will begin to steam and heat up. If you want compost in a hurry, turn the pile completely over every week or so until it no longer seems hot. The easiest way is to move the bin. To do this, unfasten the seam in the fencing, remove it from around the pile, close the seam and set it beside the pile. Then, using a pitchfork or manure fork, put the pile back in the bin, watering as necessary.

When the bin material looks like dark soil-like particles with some larger chunks still remaining, it’s ready to use. For a fine consistency, sift the compost through wire mesh.

Ellen Goff is a master gardener and environmental advocate. Aside from writing about and photographing plants, Ellen tends to a 3-acre landscape she shares with her husband, cat and border collie on the shores of Lake Wylie, S.C.

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