Can I make compost in just a few months?Updated 2 months ago

Yes, if ‘Greens’ (e.g. grass clippings and vegetable scraps) and fine ‘Browns’ (e.g. shredded leaves and dry herbaceous plants) are composted in a tumbler that is kept moist, turned regularly and kept in a sunny position.

To make compost quickly in a stand alone bin you will need to fill it completely in one go using a good mixture of green and brown materials (chopped up or shredded if chunky). You will notice that the contents of the bin will begin to get hot in a few days (this is a good thing!). Once they have cooled down, mix the heap well with a pitch fork or compost aerator. This keeps the pile uniform in consistency and helps introduce oxygen to the microbes. Keep on mixing every few days until the heap has turned into usable compost.

It is also important to note that external temperatures play an important part in the rate at which organic waste can decompose into compost. This is the reason why composting is faster in summer than in winter.