Compost

Making compost is really not difficult as long as you follow some very basic principles.

Things you can place on your compost heap:

Any organic garden waste, yes weeds as well, just make sure if you do use weeds that already went to seed they are buried at the center of the heap so the heat of the compost heap can destroy the seeds.
Cardboard such as egg trays and paper that is free from glossy print.
Egg Shells which adds plenty of calcium to your compost.
All non meat and bone kitchen waste

Brown Matter

Brown Matter refers to materials that are dead or turned brown such as brown grass, leaves that has fallen from the trees, cardboard etc.

Green Matter

Green matter refers to any organic matter that is still partially alive and have its colour mostly in tact such as green grass clippings, vegetable scraps etc.

Making a compost heap:

Compost heaps should be made above ground level to ensure a supply of oxygen that is required. Further compost heaps should be kept moist but not soggy.

The ideal ratio of brown matter and green matter is 25% green and 75% brown, however getting the exact ratio at any given point in time is impractical. It is really not that important, its just ideal.

Remember that the green matter gives nitrogen to aide the composting process therefore try to as far as possible get your green matter underneath the brown matter, else a lot of your nitrogen escapes the compost heap as ammonia.

Turn your compost heap once a month to ensure more oxygen availability.

When your compost heap gets enough water, oxygen gets turned regularly and started off with the correct ratio’s, you will have compost within as short space of time as three months!

Do not have the time for turning, watering and ratio’s?

Don’t worry, just piling stuff on a compost heap with little regard for the basics is also fine, you just need to have more patience since the composting process will slow down significantly and can take between 1 year and 18 months. This is completely fine, as long as you keep on making compost heaps you will eventually have a steady supply of compost, with minimal effort.