How to Start Composting at Home

Wondering how to start composting? It’s easier than you think! Learn simple methods, what to toss in, and how to turn food scraps into garden gold.

If you’re aiming to live a more sustainable life, composting is one of the easiest ways to make a positive impact. It keeps food and yard waste out of landfills and turns it into nutrient-rich compost that your garden will love.

Gardeners often call compost black gold because it improves soil structure, adds essential nutrients, and helps plants grow strong and healthy. And the best part? You don’t have to buy it. You can make compost right at home using materials you already have on hand.

Our Start with Composting

When we told my parents we wanted to start composting, they offered us two giant wooden boxes, basically the size of coffins, that had been sitting unused at their cabin. They were perfect for compost bins, so we arranged to go pick them up.

By “pick them up,” I actually mean dragging, pushing, shoving, pulling muscles, and getting splinters. These boxes were HEAVY. I thought I was dying at one point during the lift into the truck.

When we got them home, we laid the boxes out in the driveway. Nearly every passerby had something to say:

“Is that a coffin?!”

“Why yes, yes it is. Lovely, isn’t it?”

For some reason, we enjoy confusing the neighbors. It happens all the time.

What Is Compost?

Compost is simply decomposed organic matter, things like food scraps, grass clippings, leaves, and manure. Through the process of composting, these materials break down into a crumbly, soil-like substance that’s full of nutrients.

All you need to make compost are three components: Brown materials, green material, and water. The browns provide carbon for your compost, the greens deliver nitrogen, and the water offers moisture to help break down the organic matter.

• Brown materials: Carbon rich materials such as dry leaves, shredded paper, cardboard, dryer lint, and straw.
• Green materials: Examples of nitrogen-rich materials include chicken manure, coffee grounds, fruit scraps, grass clippings, vegetable waste, and plant trimmings.
• Water to keep things moist and help the microbes do their job.

The process of building a compost pile is simply layering browns and greens like a compost lasagna, and watering as you go. Over time, the material breaks down into compost. If you turn and mix your compost regularly, it will heat up and break down quicker.

Want to learn more about using chicken manure safely in your compost? Check out: How to Compost Chicken Manure.

What Can and Can’t Be Composted

When you’re just starting out, it can be confusing to know what goes in the compost bin and what belongs in the trash. Here’s a quick guide to help you decide what to toss into your pile and what to keep out:

Compost These Organic Materials:

• Vegetable scraps and fruit peelings
• Coffee grounds and paper filters
• Tea bags (check that they’re plastic-free!)
• Eggshells (crush them first to help them break down faster)
• Grass clippings, green garden waste, and plant trimmings
• Dry leaves, straw, twigs, wood chips, and sawdust (from untreated wood)
• Shredded newspaper, cardboard, and paper towels
• Chicken manure and bedding like straw or wood shavings (great for adding nitrogen!)

Avoid Adding These:

• Meat, bones, and dairy products: These can cause odors and attract rodents and pests
• Grease, oils, and fatty foods: They slow the composting process and smell bad
• Glossy paper or anything with plastic coating
• Weeds that have gone to seed: They might sprout when you use the compost
• Pet waste: It can carry pathogens unsafe for compost used in food gardens

If you’re ever unsure, ask yourself: “Did it grow from the ground, and is it free from chemicals or animal by-products?” If yes, it’s probably compostable.

The Composting Process Explained

Composting might seem like magic, but it’s really science at work with a little help from microbes, worms, and oxygen. At its core, composting is the natural breakdown of organic materials into a nutrient-rich soil amendment.

Here’s how it works:

• Bacteria and microorganisms kick off the decomposition process, breaking down food and yard waste into smaller particles.
• Oxygen helps these organisms breathe and stay active. This is why aeration (turning your pile) is important.
• Brown materials (like leaves and paper) supply carbon, and green materials (like food scraps and manure) provide nitrogen.
• Keep your pile moist but not soggy, like a wrung-out sponge.
• Good drainage helps prevent odor and keeps everything balanced.
• Climate and environment matter too. Composting happens faster in warm weather.

Aim for a rough ratio of 2 to 3 parts brown to 1 part green to keep your pile happy and balanced. If your compost smells bad or seems soggy, just add more browns and give it a good stir.

3 Easy Ways to Compost at Home

Whether you live in the city, suburbs, or countryside, there’s a composting method that will work for you:

1. Backyard Compost Bin

If you have some yard space, building a compost bin is a great option. Place it in a shady corner where you can easily reach it with a hose. Turn the pile regularly to aerate.

You can build your own bin out of pallets or repurposed materials, or buy a ready-made compost bin. We love DIY projects, but feel free to skip the “coffin” version!

Watch how to make a simple compost bin from pallets:

2. Compost Tumblers

Short on time or space? A compost tumbler makes it easy. Just toss in your greens and browns, turn the handle every few days, and let the tumbler do the work.

3. Vermicomposting

Vermicomposting uses worms (usually red wigglers) to break down food waste. It’s ideal for small spaces or even indoors. This method requires a bit more maintenance, but the resulting compost and worm tea are incredibly nutrient-rich.

Making Our First Batch of Compost

We used one of our big wooden boxes to start layering food scraps, leaves, and yard debris. The second box was reserved for finished compost.

It was early autumn and we didn’t have many leaves, but our neighbors did, and they had bagged them up and left them at the curb for us. Naturally, we “stole” their trash. You should’ve seen the looks on their faces when we asked if we could have them.

We followed a compost recipe from a book that called for mostly leaves. We added layers of leaves, a little dirt, scraps, and watered until the pile was damp but not soggy.

We cared for this first batch of compost like a newborn baby, watering it and turning it once a week to aerate the material. You wouldn’t believe how excited we were when we first started noticing that what had once been mostly leaves was now mostly soil! Hooray for making compost!

What We Learned: Compost Happens

Eventually, our composting enthusiasm faded. We got lazy. We tossed in whatever scraps we had whenever we had them. We stopped turning the pile.

But you know what? It still worked.

Even better, we started letting the chickens scratch around in the pile. They turned it for us!

The beauty of composting is that decomposition will happen with or without your help. Sure, you’ll get finished compost faster if you turn and balance the pile, but even a neglected pile will eventually break down.

We use our homemade compost in our vegetable garden, mix into potting soil, and side-dress growing plants during the season for an extra boost of nutrition. You truly can never have enough compost.

How to Prevent Common Compost Problems

Even the best compost piles can run into a few issues now and then. Here are some easy ways to avoid trouble before it starts:

• Rodents or pests sniffing around? Don’t add meat, dairy, or oily foods, and be sure your bin has a tight-fitting lid. At one point, we realized our open-air compost pile was attracting rats, so we moved everything into steel garbage cans with lids. Rats can’t chew through metal, problem solved. Learn more in our guide: How to Get Rid of Rats in Your Chicken Coop (and Keep Them Out).
• Funky smells? That’s usually a sign of too much green waste or poor air flow. Add dry browns and turn the pile to introduce oxygen.
• Too dry? Compost needs moisture for the decomposition process. Water lightly and mix.
• Too wet or soggy? Add dry brown waste, such as leaves or shredded paper, to absorb excess moisture and improve drainage.
• Not breaking down? Your pile might need more nitrogen, more air, or warmer temperatures. Try adding more green waste like kitchen scraps or manure, and fluff the pile to let in air.

Composting FAQ: Common Questions and Easy Fixes

Here are some of the most common questions I see from new composters and the simple answers that can keep your pile on track:

How long does it take to make compost? Depending on your method, climate, and how often you turn it, compost can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months to complete. Tumblers and hot piles break down faster, while passive piles take longer.

Can I compost in cold weather? Yes! Decomposition slows in winter, but your pile will pick up again once things warm up. Covering the pile with a tarp can help retain heat.

Can I compost in an apartment? Absolutely. Worm composting (vermicomposting) is a great indoor method, and some areas offer compost drop-off bins or community garden programs.

Why does my compost smell bad? A bad smell usually means too much nitrogen (greens) or poor air flow. Add dry browns like leaves or cardboard and give it a good mix.

How do I know when compost is ready to use? Finished compost is dark, crumbly, and smells like earthy soil. You shouldn’t be able to recognize most of the original materials.

Start Composting Today

If you’ve been wondering how to start composting at home, don’t overthink it. Just start collecting food scraps in a countertop composting container and toss your yard waste into a corner of your yard instead of bagging it up for trash day.

Composting is simple, satisfying, and incredibly rewarding. You’ll reduce household waste and create a free, nutrient-rich soil amendment your garden will love.

Note: This article was originally published on February 17, 2013, and updated on July 28, 2025 with fresh information and tips to help you start composting today.

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