Kitchen scraps and garden waste do not have to leave the property. Compost is the dark, crumbly material that results when bacteria, fungi, and other organisms break down organic matter under the right balance of air, moisture, and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio. Finished compost feeds soil life, improves structure, and supplies a slow release of nutrients.

A simple pile or enclosed bin works. Layer green materials such as grass clippings and vegetable peelings with brown materials such as dry leaves and cardboard. Turn the heap occasionally to introduce oxygen. Within months to a year the mixture transforms into a soil-like substance that smells earthy rather than rotten.

Apply compost as a mulch, dig it into planting holes, or brew it into compost tea. It reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers and helps soil hold moisture. Almost any plant benefits from a regular top-dressing of well-made compost.

• Decayed organic matter rich in nutrients
• Improves soil structure and fertility
• Made from kitchen and garden waste
• Ready when dark, crumbly, and earthy-smelling