Make your own1. Find a suitable composter. From a DIY box made from pallets (Youtube is full of tutorials) to fancy garden centre offerings – they all work. It will help if the composter is bottomless and stands on soil as it will make it easier for soil life to move in and boost the process for you.
2. For effective composting, you need a mix of “green” and “brown” materials. “Greens” are high in nitrogen and include fresh grass clippings, most kitchen scraps and manure (it’s not about the actual colour!). “Browns” are lower in nitrogen but rich in carbon (wood shavings, cardboard, non-glossy paper, straw etc.). I wouldn’t sweat the exact ratio as it can be hard to achieve. If it heats up, it’s working!
3. If you have some herbivorous pets or chicken, their used bedding is a great boost for homemade compost. My two guinea pigs have made me and my garden completely self-sufficient.
4. If there is a lid on your composter, water the contents every now and then. They need to be damp but not soggy. This will help keep rats out too they hate the wet!
5. Turn the compost from time to time to aerate.
6. Watch the magic: as you mix and water your compost materials, they will become hot, steaming when you open the lid even on a winter morning. The result might not look as perfect as shop-bought peat, but it’s full of life and goodness, it has cut the amount of waste your household produces and helped the environment.
