How do you create compost for the garden?

[#1]

• Lay a bed of grass clippings from lawn. Helps to keep the pile warm and rotting.
• I will take half the dirt from a garden bed. A literal half not the top half. All the way to the bottom and spread the remaining half.
• To start off, if this is your first pile, just top up the bed with a veggie potting mix and stir.
• Back to your compost pile add the dirt.
• Add a layer of hay or straw.
• Add a box of worms.
• Feed then food scraps until you cycle the beds again.
• This uses the old principles of leaving soil fallow to rejuvenate. You're speeding it up with the worms and scraps.

- Dale

Highly recommend aerating your compost. Check out this simple method for a quick solution http://littleveggiepatchco.com.au/blogs/news/8144159-compost-aerator

- timjeffries

Being a busy mum and biz owner, I've found the most sustainable way for me to keep up with my love for gardening while growing fresh food. I've taken the quick and easy approach to doing a few things - and composting is one of those things!

I now use my 'in garden' method, where I use a regular garbage bin, remove the base and set it up IN my veggie gardens. I find that I have fresh compost ready to use just where I want it, I don't have to move it around the garden anymore!

I have three or four bins on the go at once, some are for adding ingredients to, others are resting and almost ready to empty.

Just grab a good quality bin from Bunnings and remove the base, drill a few air holes and you're ready to go! - CathM

Remember to recycle your leaves everyone.

 https://www.workshop.com.au/t5/Gardening/Recycle-your-leaves/m-p/2965

- greygardener

I tend to fill mine up with vegetable scraps, paper towel, and stalks of plants from the garden (pumpkin, tomato, corn, etc).  I add a bit of soil every now and again, usually from the potato crop as that soil really needs enriching.  I keep it moist by throwing a bit of water on it when required, and I just watch all the worms that love my compost bin. They're the best bit in my opinion.

I'm also using compostable bags in my compost bin to save on cleaning. They don't break down as quickly as I’d like, but aren't too hard to separate out from the soil when putting it back into the garden bed. - ​​bluebec

At a recent garden club event I attended, horticulturist Rob provided lots of great advice for the attendees, but the message he stressed over and over was to ensure your compost isn't too dry. Rob recommends adding the same amount of water to your compost as any other material. So for example, add a cup of water for every cup of kitchen scraps.

Many attendees were curious about what should and shouldn't be put in the compost. Rob says citrus and onion should be avoided, as it affects the pH level too much, takes too long to break down and can attract the wrong type of insects. Meat and dairy should also be avoided as they attract rodents.

I would also encourage you to follow the step-by-step guide How to make compost for your garden by Noelle. - Jason