How to Compost!

Making Compost

Cool Heap
1. Collect a batch of compost materials. Try to get enough to make a 30cm layer or more. Aim for a mix of soft and tough items.
2. Start filling the bin which should be on bare soil. Spread the ingredients out to the edges and firm down. Alternate soft and tough items. Unless items are already wet, water every 30-60cm.
3. Continue to fill the container as material become available. Items can be added individually, but a bigger batch is better. If you are only adding kitchen waste, it will be wet and need some dry material to balance it. Torn up newspaper and junk mail is ideal.
4. When the container is full—which it may never be as the contents will sink as it composts—or when you decide to—stop adding material. Either leave the compost to mature or go to step 5.
5. Remove the container, or everything from the container.
If the lower layers have composted, use this on the garden. Mix everything else together well; add water if it is dry and dry material if it is soggy. Replace in the bin and leave to mature. This can take up to 12 months.

Hot Heap
1. Gather enough material to fill your compost container in one go. Make sure that you have a mix of tough and soft materials.
2. Chop up tough items using shears or a sharp spade.
3. Mix ingredients together as much as possible before adding to the container. In particular mix items such as grass mowings, that tend to settle and exclude air, with more open items that tend to dry out. Fill the container, watering every 30-60cm.
4. Within a few days, the heap is likely to get hot to the touch. When it begins to cool down, or a week or two later, turn the heap. Remove everything from the container and mix it all up, trying to get the outside material to the inside. Add water if it is dry or dry material if it is soggy. Replace in the container.
5. The heap may well heat up again. Step 4 can be repeated several more times if you have the energy. When the compost no longer heats up leave it undisturbed to mature. This can take 3-6 months.

Building a compost box
The following instructions will make a moveable, wooden compost box 75cm × 75cm × 75cm. It consists of identical interlocking sections which are stacked one on top of the other. This can be adjusted to suit your requirements and the materials available. Reclaimed timber is ideal, such as floorboards and pallets. As the compost decomposes and decreases in volume, the top sections of the box can be taken off and used to start a new container. Keep the rain out with a wooden lid or a square of old carpet or polythene.

Materials and equipment
To make one section of the box you will need:
· 2 × 75cm wooden boards, 7.5cm wide* minimum 1.5cm thick.
· 2 × 72cm wooden boards, 7.5cm wide* minimum 1.5cm thick.
· 4 wooden corner blocks, 5cm × 5cm x 5.5cm.
· 20 of 3.6cm screws, size number 8 1 screwdriver, 1 drill and 1 saw.

Total materials for 10 sections
• 30m of 7.5cm × 1.5cmtimber
• 2.2m of 5 × 5cm timber
• 220 of 3.6cm number 8 screws
• Wider or slightly narrower boards may be used, as long as the size of the corner blocks is adjusted to suit. There is no need to keep the same width for each section if the timber available is variable. Length and thickness should be constant.

Building the box
1. Cut 2 boards, each 75cm long from the 7.5cm x 1.5cm timber.
2. Cut 2 boards, each 72cm long from the 7.5cm x 1.5cm timber.
3. Cut 4 lengths of 5.5cm from the 5cm × 5cm timber. These will make the corner blocks.
4. Take one of the two 72cm boards and place it in position with a corner block at each end. The ends of the board should be flush with the blocks; the blocks should be positioned so that they project 2cm beyond the edge of the board
5. Hold the board in position on the blocks. Drill 3 holes, through the board and into the block below. Fasten with 3 screws.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 at the other end.
7.Now repeat steps 4-6 with the second shorter 72cm board. You will now have two end pieces with attached corner blocks.
8. Stand these two 72cm boards on their ends approximately 75cm apart with the protruding ends of the corner blocks away from you. Place a 75cm board on top of the blocks to form a third side. Ensure that the ends of the 75cm board are flush with the outer edges of the 72cm boards.
9. Drill and screw each end of the 75cm board as in step 5. Use 2 screws only this time.
10.Turn the section over so that the unfinished side is uppermost. Place the second 75cm board between the 72cm boards as before. Position squarely and drill and screw as in step 9. You have now completed the first section of your compost box. Continue making sections until you have completed the number you need.