Choose a container, wooden frame, wire mesh, or plastic bin
Select a dry, shaded, well-drained location
Ensure airflow with holes, gaps, or open sides
Add a base layer of twigs, straw, or coarse material
Add alternating layers of green materials and brown materials
Green materials: fruit scraps, vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, grass clippings
Brown materials: dry leaves, cardboard, paper, straw, wood chips
Keep a balance of roughly equal green and brown materials
Chop large scraps into smaller pieces
Keep the pile moist, not soggy
Turn or mix the compost regularly
Avoid adding meat, dairy, oils, and pet waste
Cover the top with brown material to reduce odor and pests
Continue adding materials until the bin is full
Let the compost break down until dark and crumbly
Use the finished compost in soil or garden beds