What is Compost?

Composting is using the earth's natural process to break down organic material.  

Nitrogen rich material or "greens" such as food waste, carbon rich material or "browns" such as leaves, water, and oxygen, are mixed together in piles. 

Billions of beneficial bacteria enter the pile from the earth and eat all the material in the pile.  All this activity causes heat; temperatures can rise to more than 140 F!  Heat, along with the correct ratio of material, and proper moisture makes the compost process efficient.

The end result is dark brown and crumbly, pH of 7.  It smells like earth and is

full of stable nutrients and beneficial microbes. 

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What does "organic" mean?

When we say organic, we mean something different than the food labels mean.  Organic is anything that is alive, or was recently alive.  Whole to minimally processed plants and animals.  This includes all food, landscape trimmings, even office paper, wood, burlap, and more! 

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How long does it take for food to turn into soil?

It can take as little as 30 days with the absolute best conditions, but normally it takes about 4 months.  

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What's the difference between compost and soil?

I tend to use these two words interchangeably, but they aren't really the same thing.

Soil is organic matter, and aggregates mixed together.

Aggregates include clay, silt, sand, and stones.

Compost is just organic matter.

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How do I use compost?

Add compost to garden beds, crop fields, pastures, lawns, around trees and shrubs, and you can put it in your potted plants!

You can mix it into your soil when turning up a field or garden bed, or making a new plot. 

You can also top dress gardens after your plants are growing. 

Sprinkle it over your lawn and the rain will carry the nutrients and microbes down into the soil.

  If your soil is dry and sandy, or lacking in nutrients, compost will bring it back to life!

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Compost creates healthy soil.  Healthy soil grows healthy food.  Healthy food grows healthy people.