How to Make and Manage a Compost Pile

One of the most useful things a green living enthusiast can do for the environment is to make a compost pile.  Compost piles are an important part of the sustainable life style, since compost provides valuable nutrients for your vegetable plants.  Here are some basic tips to help you get started: 

• Gather green and brown materials to make a balanced pile.  Brown materials are things such as hay and leaves, while green materials are things like grass clippings or vegetable tops.  Alternate several inches of brown and green materials in layers to make a pile about two to three feet high and wide.

• Add a bit of garden soil or a compost booster to your pile to help it break down more quickly.

• Turn the pile several times a week to increase oxygen and help speed the breakdown process.

• Don’t allow the compost pile to dry out or to become too wet.  It should be moist like a damp sponge, but not wet.