Compost is a premium natural fertilizer obtained through the breaking-down of waste products by bacteria, fungi, worms and insects. Composting replicates nature's systematic breakdown of materials on the forest floor. The humus or the dark, rich compost that is obtained through this process is a gardener's delight for it nutritive value. Compost is a highly-balanced food material from household and garden waste that obviates the need for commercial fertilizer.

An Easy Guide to Making Compost:
The rule of thumb for making Compost is that what rots will compost. You need organic material for composting; thus any household or garden refuse will suffice. Ideally, this organic material should be in proper ratio of carbon-rich materials or "browns" and nitrogen-rich materials or "greens"; the mathematical ratio is 25 parts brown to 1 part green. The carbon provides energy for the microbes and the nitrogen provides protein. An imbalance will create problems; too much carbon will slow down the decomposition process, an excess of nitrogen will emit an offensive odor.
Another significant rule is that anything that is shredded, chopped, cut or clipped will decompose faster.

What to Compost: Here you have to use your imagination. For the list is endless. All household and garden waste can be allotted for decomposing. They are roughly classified into "Hot Rotters" and "Cold Rotters".
Hot Rotters or activators speed up the composting process. These include:
1. Leaves
2. Weeds
3. Grass Cuttings
4. Manure.

Cold Rotters are the slowest to decompose and include:
1 Wood shaving
2. Hedge clippings

Many everyday household and garden items can be composted. These include:
1. Cardboard
2. Paper towels and bags
3. Egg boxes
4. Fruit and vegetable refuse
5. Tea bags and Coffee grounds
6. Old flowers
7. Old straw and hay
8. Old bedding plants

All you need to do is add all these items to the compost heap. It is important to strike the right balance: 25 parts brown or carbon to 1 part green.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Making Compost:

1. Initially, gather composting material approximately 30 cm thick; it should be the right mix of tough and soft items.
2. Spread out the ingredients and water well every 30 to 60 cm. Make certain there is household waste aplenty.
3. When the bin or container or pile is full, just leave it to mature. The decomposing process starts automatically.
4. When the lower layers have turned to compost, remove and use in garden.

Generally the time period required for making compost ranges from 6-8 weeks to a year. When a rich, dark, earth-smelling manure-like humus is complete, it is mature compost which can be instantly used in your garden.
Composting is child's play and aids plant health. Besides Composting is an ecologically sound option because waste generation is at an all-time high and landfill spaces are shrinking rapidly.

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