Composting 101
Everything you need to know to turn kitchen scraps and yard waste into garden gold.
Why Compost?
Compost is the foundation of healthy soil. It improves drainage in clay soils, increases water retention in sandy soils, feeds beneficial microorganisms, and provides slow-release nutrients to your plants. Every pound of organic material you compost is a pound diverted from the landfill.
All GMGA chapters maintain shared composting stations. Whether you contribute to the communal pile or build your own at home, understanding the basics will help you produce better compost faster.
The Basics: Browns and Greens
Composting is a balance of two types of material:
Browns (Carbon-rich)
- Dried leaves
- Straw or hay
- Cardboard and newspaper (shredded, uncoated)
- Wood chips and sawdust (untreated)
- Dried plant stalks
Greens (Nitrogen-rich)
- Vegetable and fruit scraps
- Coffee grounds and tea leaves
- Fresh grass clippings
- Green garden trimmings
- Manure (herbivore only — horse, cow, chicken, rabbit)
What NOT to Compost
Meat, fish, dairy, or oily foods — attract pestsDiseased plant material — pathogens can surviveWeeds that have gone to seed — seeds may survivePet waste from dogs or cats — parasitesTreated or painted woodSynthetic materials of any kind
Building Your Pile
- Choose a spot: Partial shade, good drainage, convenient to your garden. At chapter sites, use the designated composting area.
- Start with browns: Lay down a 6-inch base of dried leaves or straw for airflow.
- Alternate layers: Add 2–3 inches of green material, then 4–6 inches of brown. Repeat.
- Moisten: The pile should feel like a wrung-out sponge — damp but not dripping.
- Turn regularly: Every 1–2 weeks, turn the pile with a fork to introduce oxygen. This speeds decomposition and prevents odors.
Troubleshooting
| Problem |
Cause |
Fix |
| Pile smells bad |
Too much green / too wet |
Add browns, turn the pile |
| Pile isn't heating up |
Too dry / not enough green |
Add water and green material, turn |
| Pile attracts pests |
Meat/dairy in the pile |
Remove offending material, cover with browns |
| Decomposition is very slow |
Pieces too large |
Chop or shred material before adding |
Finished Compost
Compost is ready when it's dark, crumbly, and earthy-smelling — usually 2–4 months for a well-managed pile, longer for a passive one. Sift out any large chunks and toss them back into the active pile. Apply finished compost as a top-dressing, mix it into planting holes, or use it as a seed-starting amendment.
Chapter Composting Stations
Each chapter's communal composting station is maintained on monthly work days. Please follow these guidelines when contributing:
- Chop large items before adding them.
- Always cover green additions with a layer of browns (kept in the adjacent bin).
- Do not add prohibited items (see list above).
- If the bin is full, start a new pile in the overflow area and notify your Chapter President.
Rot happens. Make it work for you.
