Organic Material Organic material contains varying amounts of carbon and nitrogen which nourish the organisms naturally present in your compost pile. Billions of bacteria inhabit the surface of every leaf and blade of grass in your yard. The critters need both carbon and nitrogen. An easy way to provide both of these is to remember that brown, woody materials, such as autumn leaves, are high in carbon while green, moist materials, such as grass clippings, are high in nitrogen. Alternating layers of brown and green materials will yield finished compost in three to eight months.
Leaves alone break down in six to fifteen months.
Grass clippings or food scraps composted alone result in unpleasant odors because they contain more nitrogen than the compost organisms can use. Layer leaves or straw with green material, or let it dry until it turns brown before composting it alone. The compost critters need oxygen, just as we do. Lack of oxygen will slow down the composting process and cause odors. Turn your pile, fluff it with a hoe or compost turning tool, or build air passages into the pile with cornstalks to provide oxygen to the organisms.