A Leaf and Greens Pile

No need to build a structure if you are only putting mulched leaves and greens in your compost pile. This is a pile of leaves from last year. I mix in my pruning and clippings, as well as any healthy plants that I remove from my garden. This spot doesn't get full sun, but still receives enough heat to break things down during the spring and summer. You may have to mix or turn this pile occasionally to get uicker results. !owever, if you aren't in a hurry, let nature take its course. "ive it a uick water every time you are out watering your garden, and voila# Instant compost with no smells# $%emember the &'( browns'greens ratio. )o, & parts leaves to ( part plant waste.*

A Tumbling Composter
You can buy these from a variety of places. I ordered this one online, but have seen a few in home improvement stores. You can also make one yourself, if you are handy. $)earch +make your own tumbling composter.+* This method is great because it re uires little space and effort. )imply put food scraps, leaves, grass clippings, and other compostable materials into the tumbler. "ive it a uick spin when you are out in the yard. ,gain, easy composting with little effort from you#

Vermi composting
-y far the easiest, and my favorite way to turn fruit and vegetable scraps into li uid gold fertili.er is composting with worms. This worm bin was ordered, but I have also seen many ways to make your own worm bin online. You can order worms by mail, which is admittedly, a little weird. !owever, they arrive right alongside your bills and other mail. )imply put your food scraps into the bin and cover with moistened paper. The worms will break down your scraps with a little time and no effort from you# You never need to turn it, and the worms are fine when left alone for a few months. /ne reason this is my favorite method is because I live in a cold climate. -y putting the red wigglers down in the basement, I have compost and compost tea to give to my plants year round. There is a slightly earthy smell when you open the bin, but otherwise, you would never notice the worms were there# If you would like more information about composting with worms, you can visit my blog post. There are also a variety of other resources online that you can check out.

REFERENCE: http'00www.motherearthnews.com0organic1gardening0&1ways1to1compost.aspx Angela Blackerby, Kansas Gardener(d)

Occupation: Teacher and part-time Gardener Hobbies: Reading, gardening, cooking, eating and camping. Place of Residence: Wichita, Kan. Gardening Philosophy: If you arent having fun whi e you are gardening, what! the point" I en#oy aughing at my mi!take! and gardening fai ure!. I think it make! the !ma !ucce!!e! !weeter. Personal History: I wa! $orn and rai!ed in Te%a!, $ut have a !o ived in &e$ra!ka, 'a ifornia and Kan!a!. &ow that I am a gardener, I ook $ack and try to imagine what I cou d have grown in a of tho!e different c imate!. Current Projects: I am current y working on documenting my fir!t year of vegeta$ e gardening. Other Fun Facts: I $e ieve !trong y in organic gardening and reducing your impact on the p anet through !ma !tep!( )very itt e $it make! a difference.

Sheet Composting
Sheet composting offers several of the benefits of composting, while stripping away the labor of having to constantly turn your piles. Although this technique is most often used on large scale gardens and farms, if you have the right equipment (i.e. a rototiller), you can do it on a small scale as well.

Increase Soil Fertility on a Large Scale

As with all composting techniques, sheet composting offers growers a great way to lower their fertilizer costs while also recycling waste organic matter! " am always hesitant to use that term waste for food scraps and crop residues! "n reality these products are #ust as important as the crops themsel$es!!!after all, this year%s composted waste could $ery well turn into ne&t years crop!
Lloyd's wheat field. is comments spea! volumes about the benefits of this technique " #there was around a 100% increase in the volume of grain, as well as double the straw, from years where no sheet composting was done.#

$he $echnique
$here are several different methods of sheet composting, however, they all hinge on a couple !ey factors. %irst, they all involve adding organic matter (i.e. leaves, grass clippings, weeds, etc.) to your soil. Second, they all require some period of #rest# or fallowing before the ne&t planting. 'elow are the three different methods of sheet composting( The Traditional Method )ore often than not, when someone refers to sheet composting, they are referring to this technique. $he steps involve adding organic matter in layers on top of your soil, and then passing over these materials with a rototiller. $he !ey is to ma!e several passes so the organic matter is thoroughly shredded and readily available to soil microbes. As *'ve said before, * am not a big fan of tillage, however, when tending to large areas, the benefits often outweigh the disadvantages. $his technique is best done in the fall as it allows the soil microbes to feast over the winter and replanting to occur in the spring. +epending on the level of microbial activity in your soils, you may have to allow these sheet composted areas to rest for an entire season. Green Manure ,reen manuring refers to the technique of growing an annual crop with the specific intention of turning it bac! under into the soil. %or instance, farmers and well"versed gardeners (li!e ,ardener -d in our $ribe) will often grow nitrogen"fi&ing crops such as legumes (clover, soy beans, vetch) and then till them bac! into the soil once they reach a desired si.e. /lease note that green manuring deserves a lot more attention than what * am giving it here0 entire boo!s have been written on the sub1ect. So please do yourself, and your soils, a favor and investigate it further. ere is a great little guide to start you on your way. Sheet Mulching As the name implies, this final technique is better described as a means of mulching rather than composting. ow do you do it2 3ou can start by covering your soil with a layer of cardboard, then add a layer of well"rotted manure or compost, and top that with a thic! layer of organic material such as leaves, straw, or spent hay. /lease note, you do not incorporate this material into your garden soil.

REFERENCE: http://www.compostjunkie.com/sheet composting.html.