Deborah, I love the "miracle" of how composting turns leftover food and garden waste into rich organic "soil" for my garden!

Deborah, you're going to think this is nuts, but I have two bags of scraps to throw into my bin tomorrow (cabbage from St Patricks Day!LOL) and I'm happy! Spring is finally here and soon we'll be rototilling that garden.

I'll try the tip to dig it into the garden as is. Why not, it might keep the rats out of it?

My composting efforts have been slowed by Mother Nature. We got about 6-7 inches of snow yesterday.

Deborah, I'm going to have to get caught up here, I want to make sure I can do this right!

We have a huge problem with bugs here, I'm afraid composting would really attract them. (There not the good kind of bugs).

Deborah - I am so with you on that! I love the process of composting too - truly amazing how that happens - waste into garden gold - sounds like alchemy huh!

Ha Deb! Not at all - I'm with you on the composting 'crazies' list - people kind of look at me sideways too. I'd likely be pretty excited about the prospect of so much rot myself!

Bonnie - Before you know it all that lovely waste will happily be making your gardens grow with winter not even a thought!

Carole - I am sure you'll need some recuperative time to catch up with your health and rest. Thenn for compost layering, follow 'part 3'.

Hi Cindy - compost does attract bugs - that's part of the natural process. It does help though to cover waste with soil. Also the dig-in method reduces bugs.

I have started to layer my piles leaves and yard debris. Do you think it is to early?

Keep the great blogs coming I learn so much from them....

Thanks Darci

HAVE A GREAT AND PROSPEROUS DAY :)

Hi Darci - Cute graphic! It isn't too early - you'll have a head start on the process. Once it really starts warming you can turn again to mix it up, or layer more, making sure it is moist. The warm weather then helps it a lot, but only if it's moist enough and with enough soil - only needs a sprinkling.

Thanks for the lovely greeting!

Thanks for the tips! I am new to composting so I really appreciate it! Just have to get me a composting bin or two!

Any ideas on how to keep the dogs and other animals from getting into it...digging it...it has stopped me from composting food.  i have horses so, the manure is still good but the food is an issue...

You are most welcome Nancy! You can start a waste heap and even layer it until you get bins to put it all into. With your enthusiasm I'm sure you'll be a great composter! Check out the other posts as well.

Patrice - I know there is a method of composting to keep out pests, but not sure what that is. I have used chicken wire secured across the opening and over the top, to enclose the compost when I had racoons coming. You might try that. let me know what other ideas you find.

Good Luck!

Hi Deborah, Excellent series.   Composting has been a way of life for many years.  I first learned about it way back in the sixties from Mother Earth News and Rodale's Organic Gardening.  If you can find a source of organic, nonantibiotic infected chicken or horse manure (llama manure is also good) it can become a safe admixture for the brown part of the mix.  This is for hot composting.  It will heat up fast and kill any microorganisms.  If pests are coming, the mix is wrong.  For the first time ever we started a worm bin this year.  Kitchen waste goes here.  We have plenty of other organic matter for regular composte.  Thanks again for the series.  You've done a good service; and its nice to be reading you again.

I started composting again and I'm looking forward to the end result.  Hope it goes well.  Thanks for the info

Thanks David - I am certain you are master at composting for sure! I totally agree with the points you've made on hot compost, manure, and pests.

Happy Composting Stacy! Our community garden compost is doing very well here already, with a head start of autumn layering and a couple of early spring turnings.

that's it--I need to do a post on composting, too--although it can't beat this one!  Very nicely done, Deborah!  My dad helped me convert some old floating-dock barrels into a composter and rainbarrels--I am officially a gardener again this year!

This is the 4th of a series Loretta. I've composted many years and love it! Rain barrels are awesome - we have them at Kelowna Community Gardens. Floating dock barrels - sounds interesting!