How to Compost at Home

6. Making a Compost Pile

Form the bottom layer of the compost pike with 4-inches of twigs, hay or straw. Place a 4-inch layer of brown materials on top of the first layer, and cover the second layer with a thin coat of garden soil. The garden soil introduces the necessary bacteria to start decomposition. Add a 4-inch layer of green materials on top of the soil, and sprinkle activators over the green layer. Activators provide protein and nitrogen for bacteria. The activator layer can be alfalfa meal, fresh manure, high-protein dry dog food, or bone, blood, or cottonseed meal. Add more layers in the same pattern until the compost bin is full.