Nitrogen
Kitchen scraps, coffee grounds, fresh grass. The wet, fast-rotting half that feeds the pile.
Free, rich soil from what you'd throw away — the simple recipe, and how to keep it from ever smelling.
Kitchen scraps, coffee grounds, fresh grass. The wet, fast-rotting half that feeds the pile.
Dry leaves, cardboard, straw. The dry half that keeps it airy and stops the smell.
More browns than greens is the whole trick. Too wet and green = slimy and smelly; add browns.
Turn every week or two for air. Finished, crumbly compost in a few months — faster if you turn more.
For composting plus the full food-and-independence plan, The most complete beginner's manual we've found is The Self-Sufficient Backyard — Ron & Johanna Melchiore's 40 years off-grid distilled into food, water, power and 75+ DIY projects. Our honest take:
Garden beds, rainwater sizing, pantry days-of-supply and the weekly rhythm — free spreadsheet, straight to your inbox.