Compost attracts and feeds earthworms. Compost reduces water demands of plants and trees. Compost helps control soil erosion. Compost reduces plant stress from drought and freezes. Compost can extend the growing season.
Compost improves vitamin and mineral content in food grown in compost-rich soils.
Compost generously applied replaces reliance upon petrochemical fertilizers. There are many environmental side effects from the use of petrochemical fertilizers. Their production generates and releases hazardous waste and pollution into the Earth s atmosphere, contaminates our water supplies with poisonous nitrates and perpetuates resource depletion. Your compost is ready when the materials you placed in your pile have been transformed and blended into a crumbly, humus-rich soil. Another idea is to start a new pile in late fall and cover your first pile with a sheet of plastic, straw or other material.