Compostable materials are spread in layers over the ground. Every four or five days, the area is tilled to mix the materials, incorporating soil from underneath. In trench composting, trenches are dug about 12 inches deep by 18 inches wide and are filled with compostable materials, then compacted and covered with several inches of soil. The most popular method of composting is to pile layers of material above the ground. By regular turning and adding water when needed, rapid microbial activity is achieved and heat is produced in the pile.
Many people find that simply mounding compostable materials into a heap is unsatisfactory.
Containers such as bins and boxes can protect the compost from wind, heavy rains and the hot, baking sun. Bins and boxes can make composting easier and improve its appearance and quality. Each person needs to decide which method will work best for them. The composter should keep in mind the types of materials to be composted, the amount of labor required to establish and maintain the system, the cost of materials, the time required for composting, the available space, and the appearance of the compost pile. Depending on the method, compost can be made in as little as two weeks, or a pile can be built and left alone where compost will be produced without much attention in a year or so.