Though the theories behind composting have been in use for centuries, there is still a certain stigma attached to it in North America. The very civilized gardener, it seems, would rather pay dearly for mulches and fertilizers than handle any refuse for longer than it takes to dump in the garbage can. What they are missing, of course, is perhaps the best plant food that could be developed, and one that is decidedly eco-friendly. Rotting plant matter is broken down by microbes, fungi, worms and other recyclers, returning rich nutrients back to the soil.
Many people confuse a compost pile with a garbage pile, but there are certainly deep distinctions.
In a compost pile, only certain types of organic matter are thrown in, not everything that constitutes trash. The two main ingredients in a healthy compost pile are brown matter, like dead leaves, sawdust, newspaper and dry brown plants, and green matter, like vegetable scraps, eggshells, grass clippings and coffee grounds. The faster-decomposing compost piles have a mixture of at least three times as much brown matter as green. Like all life, the tiny recyclers in a compost pile need air and water. A healthy compost heap should be damp all the way through, especially when being started.