Composting kitchen & garden waste to turn it into fertilizer is an ancient method of producing organic fertilizer for gardening. However, there are very modern and easy methods of composting in the 21st century. Over a period of about 25 years, I have perfected the easiest and most effective composting method imaginable. This type of composting actually makes a far superior fertilizer and it all happens without the back breaking turning and shoveling.

In the past, this type of composting was known as Cold Composting, because it does not require that the temperature of the compost pile reach high temperatures. Cold composting takes an extra year of being in a pile, but you will not have to turn the pile or relocate it and the cooler temperature of the process allows for a higher nutrient & beneficial microbe content in the final product.

I know, it seems harsh to have to wait another year for your compost to be finished. However, if you think about it, once you get the system rolling, you will still be harvesting the same amount of compost every year; it will just be sitting in the composting bin longer. Every year, you will still have a nice supply of 100% natural organic fertilizer that comes with organic matter to condition your garden’s soil.

There is no big trick to this -it’s really just a matter of NOT doing all the hard work and leaving the pile for two years instead of one. There is a bit of a difference in how you make the pile, but these differences are easy as well.

Before starting each compost pile or bin, I set up a piece of 4 inch drainage pipe ( the flexible kind with holes all over it). The pipe stands up right in the middle of the container into which you will dump your kitchen scraps & garden waste like leaves & weeds & grass clippings. This pipe will help keep your pile supplied with air in the middle where it is usually non-existent. The other way in which cold composting is different from fast or hot composting is the ingredients you use. You must layer the pile with wet and dry ingredients alternating as you go. I use dry leaves from fall raking as my dry ingredient and kitchen waste & fresh green matter as my wet. A handful of dolomite lime in every wet layer will be helpful. Worms are another huge compost helper and you will have better results if you can scrounge up a cup of them from around your property and just add them to your bin or pile right at the start. By the time the compost is complete in about 2 years, there will be thousands of worms ready to go into your garden along with the compost.

That’s it! No shoveling, no turning, no work! Once your bin is full or your pile reaches about 3-4 feet high, cover it with a lid or tarp and leave it completely alone while you start a new bin or pile. Come back in about 18 – 24 months and you will find a smaller pile of high quality organic fertilizer. There’s nothing left to do but spread about 3 inches of your homemade black gold on the top of your soil and watch your organic garden grow.