Choose a compost bin or pile in a dry, shaded, well-drained spot
Add brown materials such as dry leaves, cardboard, paper, and straw
Add green materials such as fruit scraps, vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and grass clippings
Chop large scraps into smaller pieces
Keep a balanced mix of browns and greens
Avoid adding meat, dairy, oily foods, and pet waste
Keep the compost moist like a wrung-out sponge
Turn or mix the pile regularly for airflow
Add water if it becomes too dry
Add more browns if it becomes too wet or smelly
Add more greens if it is not breaking down
Cover fresh food scraps with brown materials
Remove any non-compostable items
Wait until the compost becomes dark, crumbly, and earthy-smelling
Use finished compost in garden soil, pots, or around plants