Where were you when I was trying to convince an engineer that he didn't have to study too deeply to just start?

Honestly, now I will refer beginners to your article and that should be nuff said!

Wow, I really appreciate that @crittergarden!

Glad to know it was helpful.

It was, it WAS!
I mean, I've been composting for decades, but I meet with so much resistance based on "It's too complicated" that I get frustrated.
Because it's NOT so complicated!

Loved the article. I have been composting for years and come from a long line of composters! My mother had such lovely flowers, mainly because of the compost she worked into our sandy, nutrient deficient soil.

Awesome article Reid. I love, love, love composting. I started with a tumbler, that got to be to heavy to tumble quit quickly. Then I started a cold pile about 2 1/2 years ago. Then this winter I got brave and tried a Berkley method compost heap. Wow, was that awesome Other than trying to turn a massive pile by hand with a healing broken leg ~ it turned out incredible. I think with practice and action, we all can improve the world, one compost heap at a time

Well said. If you pile it, it will rot.

In my case, it is very small and never gets hot. It's just a pile, not a bin, and isn't enclosed. So it goes slowly, but it gets there.

One way that I "manage" the brown/green ratio is that I usually have lots more browns than greens. As I pick up coffee grounds or fruit stand rejects or collect kitchen scraps, I bury them in my heap. Thus the center rots faster than the edges. Maybe I mix it some every few months (it is a small pile and has twigs for aeration).

There are "enough greens" in it when it looks more black than brown, or whenever I need to use it. I take from the center and leave the browner edges in the pile to be mixed with more greens as I acquire them.

P.S. You really are right that "cold composters" are better off throwing away weeds with seeds. I felt like I couldn't "waste" those big, green weeds. But now I have millions of those weeds everywhere!

It's one more reason to weed often. If you catch them before they go to seed, you can use them for composting.

RickCorey said:It's one more reason to weed often. If you catch them before they go to seed, you can use them for composting.

That's my approach!
I don't mind the minutia of pulling small weeds. I find it relaxing to sit on the ground and focus.

I never thought of the hot/cold...maybe should be called overachieving/lazy, Great article!

I used to get coffee grounds by the 5 gallon buckets from a coffee shop. My compost was really hot then. Mine heats up pretty well without much effort.

Karen

Yeah, if you combine 5 gallons of coffee grounds to a 4x4 pile and mix it up, that is the very best compost you can make. By mid April for me it is finished. The only thing that I can recognize is kitchen scraps.

Nice compilation!! My garden is not big. I have 3 trees in the yard. I use some green leaves also for composting. I have made two small pits, one 'active' and one 'closed'. When the latter is fully broken down - it will take about 2-3 months depending on climate, I remove them into a plastic bag for using a few days later. So this pit becomes empty. The pit is about 15 inches L,B and H. When the former is full, I transfer them into the empty pit and by doing so, rotation happens. I use this pit for fresh additions. I'm doing this way since two years. I also add coffee and tea wastes into it along with some dry leaves, green leaves and vegetable/fruit wastes. I'm enjoying it, so do the plants. I'm seeing some improved results since I started composting - no wonder!! What I compost is just about enough for my requirement. Sometimes I buy 'vermicompost'. I learnt some new things in that article, thanks.

You're welcome @Dinu ! Glad you learned something.

I have a pile of "everything" that I keep adding to all year. Also bury my kitchen scraps and they rot very fast. Even egg shells and orange peels! Makes lovely, light soil.

Yes it DOES!

So I know this an old thread, but I thought it was a great article.
I am brand new to veggie gardening and am trying to learn more about composting.
I live in Canada, albiet a rather warm part of the country, it still gets quite cold in the winter we average 0°C to -15°C from late October till February.
If I have a pile of compost, will the frost/cold/snow ruin it?
Is a bin a better way of doing it rather than a pile because of the winters here?
Just looking for a little advice, TIA!

Glad you liked the article! No, the snow/cold won't ruin it. It will just stop it from breaking down any more. But keep turning on it till the temperature is below freezing. I have had mine steaming in November. Then as soon as it starts warming up outside, start turning it again. A bin or pile is fine. If you put in food scraps, be sure to ja e a bin, or you will attract mice and such.

Compost happens! Son made 4 Lincoln log compost bins for his Eagle project. They were used by the local MG group. Great article!
I'm still using ones that he made 17 years ago as practice!

Hello and sorry for a slightly different subject.
Just wanted to inquire if anyone is producing biogas for cooking purposes. It's so easy. My friend here in India is doing successfully and not dependent on liquid petroleum gas we buy. The 'spent' residue from this simple unit can then be used for compost.