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Compost piles are a win-win. They're great for the environment and can give your garden a real boost. Building a compost bin takes a little time, but is well worth that nutrition-packed, composted soil.

Recycling food back into the mother earth takes work, determination, and rolling up your sleeves. Here's how you can take on the task yourself and compost like a pro.

make-a-homemade-compost-bin-middleHow to Make a Compost Bin

1. Compost Using Tiny Organic Pieces

Instead of throwing whole chunks of grapefruit skins or potatoes into your compost bin, tear or rip compost material into tiny pieces. This will make your compost turn into soil much faster.

2. What to Compost

Any organic material can go right into the compost bin. The general rule is if it comes from nature, it can go back to nature. Try to have a good balance of green materials for enough nitrogen and brown materials which are rich in carbon. Leaves, twigs, nut shells can join fruit rinds, grass clippings and even coffee grounds to make a balanced mix of healthy compost. Wondering what not to compost? Never add meat, fish or diary products. Also, never throw paper with ink, pet droppings, sick plants or any other chemicals into your compost bin. Ever!

3. Heat It Up

High temperatures speed up the composting process. Leave your compost bin in direct sunlight to increase temperatures and get your compost bin to its ideal compost temperature.

4. Let Your Compost Bin Be

Nature is a fantastic thing. While you can keep a high maintenance compost bin and stir it and add things to break it down, life’s natural process needs very little direction. Awesome soil doesn’t come from a machine or a high-tech process, it will be a result of your patience! So don’t fuss over your compost bin. If you’re adding enough material, you’ll have compost before you know it.

5. Mixing Compost Soil With Your Garden

Congrats, rich soil is yours! To get the full benefit of your hard work, add the soil to your garden a couple days before you plant. This will give your compost the chance to work into the old soil naturally.

6. Worms are Wonderful for Compost Bins!

A steamy compost bin a worm’s dream palace. Yes, they are kind of repulsive but they work all day and all night to eat your way through your compost soil and churn out richer compost. All they ask in return is more of your scraps. Give worms a chance and purchase red worms at your nearest bait and tackle shop. Some garden shops also have worms for sale.

What are your best composting tips? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter!

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