Here's our guide on how to make good quality home compost

Shropshire Master Composter volunteers have been specially trained by Garden Organic in how to make good compost, and we want to spread the word widely to get others to do the same. The good news is, its really simple you just need to remember, its all in the mix! You need to get the right mix of:

'brown' organic materials
'green' organic materials

By mixing them together with air compost is produced. Composting will happen naturally so don't be too concerned about the technical aspects. Ultimately nature will do the work for you but you should try to get a good 50:50 mix of carbon-based (browns) material and Nitrogen-rich (greens) material.

‘Green’ items

raw vegetable peelings and fruit
grass cuttings
plant trimmings and flowers
tea bags / coffee grinds
small amounts of leaves
dead flowers

‘Brown’ items

shredded paper
cardboard boxes
toilet roll tubes
straw or hay
natural textiles e.g. wool
woody hedge clippings
animal bedding (from herbivorous (vegetarian) pets only)

Although it will rot down technically, we strongly urge that you do not add cooked food, meat or bread to you compost bin because this may attract vermin.

Top tips

Place your compost bin in the sun this will increase the temperature inside the unit, and will help speed up the composting process.
Ensure a good circulation of air in the compost bin, by layering twigs, cut flowers or remains of house plants at the bottom of the unit.

As the material composts in the bin it will become increasingly moist, and will begin to condense, this reduces the amount of air inside the bin. Ensure a good circulation of air by poking the compost with a stick or turning it with a garden fork occasionally. For more information on the technical aspects of home composting visit www.homecomposting.org.uk or contact your local Master Composter volunteer for a one to one master class.