How to Make an Organic Gardening Compost Pile

In a previous article, we looked at the value of Organic Gardening compost, and looked briefly at how to make an Organic Gardening compost pit.

An Organic Gardening compost pit is fine if you live in an area with low rainfall and a long dry season. In wet climates, however, a pit may become waterlogged.

Those who live in wetter areas will want to make an Organic Gardening compost pile instead.

Location of Your Organic Gardening Compost Pile

Use an area that is close to your garden. It should be sheltered from rain, runoff, sun, and wind. Your pile should never get too dry or too wet. Do not build it tight against a building, or a fence made of solid material. It should have air circulation.

Constructing Your Organic Gardening Compost Pile

You will need a strong shovel, a watering can, and wood ash. Follow these steps to make an Organic Gardening compost pile.

Measure off a rectangle for your pile. Make it about 4×6 feet. Longer is fine, but not wider, since you will have to work the pile without stepping on your Organic Gardening compost. Remove about 1 foot of soil, putting it aside for later use.

Build your pile of layers, sprinkling each layer with water before adding the next. Your layers should resemble these for good Organic Gardening compost.

1. Layer #1 should be about a foot’s depth of rough waste materials such as dry straw, corn stalks, etc. Chop larger pieces so air will circulate in your pile. Sprinkle some water on Layer #1.

2. Layer #2 should be approximately 6 inches of finer dry materials. You might use lawn clippings or small pieces trimmed from hedges.

3. Layer #3 is animal manure. This is a vital ingredient of your Organic Gardening compost.

4. Layer #4 will be a sprinkling of wood ash. This layer contains valuable minerals, and neutralizes the acids produced during decomposition of the Organic Gardening compost.

5. Layer #5 can include vegetable and fruit peelings, green tree leaves, and other fresh waste materials. This is a “green” layer, and should be about 6 inches thick. Sprinkle with water.

6. Layer #6 is a topsoil layer. Sprinkle on a little of the soil you originally took from the site. Old compost may also be added in this layer. Both contain bacteria that will help decomposition of the Organic Gardening compost.

These are the basic layers of your Organic Gardening compost pile. You may repeat layers on top of this, starting over with Layer #1. Make your last layer a topsoil layer. Over that, place something like big, dry banana leaves or plastic to keep the pile moist.

Helpful Tips

Insert a long, sharp, pointed pole as a thermometer. Drive it through the Organic Gardening compost pile at an angle, from top to bottom.

After 3 or 4 days, the Organic Gardening compost will have begun to decompose and the thermometer stick will be warm when you extract it. Pull the thermometer now and then to check your pile. If the thermometer is cold, it’s time to turn the whole pile.

Turn the entire pile every 2 weeks. Sprinkle the pile with water every 3 days. If it rains, that is the sprinkling for that day. You want the pile to be moist, but not soaked.

The Organic Gardening compost should be ready to use in 4 weeks. Check the pile’s temperature. If the thermometer stick feels warm, the pile has not finished decomposing and the compost is not ready. Finished Organic Gardening compost should have a fresh, earthy smell.