Setting up a compost heap

In short: In compost, microorganisms turn plant remains and kitchen scraps into nutrient-rich soil. It needs a balance of moist, nitrogen-rich green material and dry, carbon-rich brown material.

In more detail: The process takes six months to a year depending on care. Air, moisture and a good mixture speed it up.

In detail

• Location: Semi-shaded, sheltered from wind, with ground contact so earthworms move in.
• Green material: Grass clippings, vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds.
• Brown material: Leaves, straw, shredded branches, cardboard.
• Do not add: Meat, dairy, cooked leftovers, diseased plants, dog waste and weeds with seeds.
• Care: Turn occasionally, keep as moist as a wrung-out sponge. Finished compost smells like forest soil (bodenaufbau-und-humus).