Step 5 - GATHER YOUR COMPOST MATERIALS in a small bucket with a lid. Greens are typically moist, fresh items like coffee grounds, flowers, fruits/vegetables and peelings.
Browns are often dry items such as dry leaves and grass, coffee filters, newspapers, pine needles, tea bags, woodchips, and straw.
**Remember to collect cafeteria waste, and never put meat, fish, eggs, milk products, fatty food, animal waste or diseased plants in your compost bin.
Step 6 - EMPTY THE MATERIALS INTO YOUR COMPOST BIN. Start with about 6 inches of browns, then layer greens then browns, keeping each layer no larger than about 6 inches deep. A little soil between layers helps the materials breakdown and decompose.
Step 7 - ADD WATER. Keep the contents of the compost bin moist, never wet.
Step 8 - TURN THE CONTENTS OF THE COMPOST BIN. Once a week, use a shovel to turn materials in the bin. This will allow air (oxygen) to circulate and aid in the breakdown of materials.
Step 9 - BE PATIENT. With the proper ingredients, the compost materials will heat up (60-70 °C) and begin to decompose. Regular turning of the compost allows the ingredients to interact and heat again. Once the compost materials stop heating up as much, your compost should be ready. This may take a few months.