{"id":9142,"date":"2026-10-03T19:45:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-03T19:45:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pgamo.com\/?page_id=9142"},"modified":"2026-10-03T19:45:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-03T19:45:12","slug":"compost","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pgamo.com\/ceb\/homestead\/compost\/","title":{"rendered":"Compost"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"pgamo-hero\" id=\"top\" style=\"min-height:26vh;background-color:#877373;\">\n<div class=\"pgamo-hero-side pgamo-hero-side--left\">\n<span class=\"pgamo-hero-side__label\">New Here?<\/span>\n<h3 class=\"pgamo-hero-side__heading\">Start Free Today<\/h3>\n<p class=\"pgamo-hero-side__text\">Enroll in the Ministerial Bible Study Series &#8212; 66 books, 251 lessons, completely free forever.<\/p>\n<a class=\"pgamo-hero-side__btn\" href=\"https:\/\/pgamo.com\/ceb\/courses\/bible-study\/\">Enroll Free &rarr;<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pgamo-hero__inner\">\n<h1 class=\"pgamo-hero__heading\">Compost<\/h1><p class=\"pgamo-hero__subheading\">Turn scraps, manure, leaves and garden waste into black gold: log each pile, what goes in, when you turn it and how hot it gets, and spread the finished compost on your beds.<\/p><div class=\"pgamo-hero__buttons\">\n<a class=\"pgamo-btn pgamo-btn--primary\" href=\"#tool\">My Piles<\/a>\n<a class=\"pgamo-btn pgamo-btn--ghost\" href=\"\/homestead\/compost\/?tab=calc\">Mix Calculator<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pgamo-hero-side pgamo-hero-side--right\">\n<span class=\"pgamo-hero-side__label\">From Our Authors<\/span>\n<h3 class=\"pgamo-hero-side__heading\">Meet Our Contributing Authors<\/h3>\n<p class=\"pgamo-hero-side__text\">Read devotionals and Bible studies shared by members of our community.<\/p>\n<a class=\"pgamo-hero-side__btn\" href=\"https:\/\/pgamo.com\/ceb\/groups\/contributing-authors\/forum\/\">Read Their Articles &rarr;<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"tool\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"pgamo-hs\"><div class=\"hs-gate\"><h3>Your free Compost Tracker<\/h3><p>Keep your records in one private place \u2014 free for every registered member. Only you can see your data, and you can download it any time.<\/p><p class=\"hs-gate-actions\"><a class=\"hs-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/pgamo.com\/ceb\/register-2\/\">Create a free account<\/a> <a class=\"hs-btn hs-btn-ghost\" href=\"https:\/\/pgamo.com\/ceb\/login\/\">Log in<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"pgamo-hs\"><h3 class=\"hs-section-title\" id=\"compost-calc\">Mix calculator<\/h3><div class=\"hs-calcs hs-calcs-wide\"><div class=\"hs-card hs-calc\" data-hs-calc=\"xcompost\" data-cfg=\"{&quot;mats&quot;:{&quot;scraps&quot;:[15,0.2,15],&quot;coffee&quot;:[20,0.4,15],&quot;grass&quot;:[20,0.2,8],&quot;weeds&quot;:[20,0.25,5],&quot;chicken&quot;:[10,0.4,12],&quot;rabbit&quot;:[12,0.4,12],&quot;cow&quot;:[20,0.3,15],&quot;horse&quot;:[30,0.35,12],&quot;hay&quot;:[25,0.85,2],&quot;leaves&quot;:[60,0.85,1.5],&quot;straw&quot;:[80,0.9,1.5],&quot;pine&quot;:[80,0.85,2],&quot;cardboard&quot;:[350,0.9,2],&quot;paper&quot;:[175,0.9,2],&quot;sawdust&quot;:[400,0.85,5],&quot;chips&quot;:[400,0.7,6]}}\"><h4>Greens and browns<\/h4><div class=\"hs-calc-in\"><div class=\"hs-compost-row\"><label>Material 1<select data-in=\"m1\"><option value=\"\">\u2014<\/option><option value=\"scraps\" selected>Fruit and vegetable scraps<\/option><option value=\"coffee\">Coffee grounds and tea leaves<\/option><option value=\"grass\">Fresh grass clippings<\/option><option value=\"weeds\">Green weeds and garden trimmings<\/option><option value=\"chicken\">Chicken manure and bedding<\/option><option value=\"rabbit\">Rabbit manure<\/option><option value=\"cow\">Cow or goat manure<\/option><option value=\"horse\">Horse manure with bedding<\/option><option value=\"hay\">Old hay<\/option><option value=\"leaves\">Dry fallen leaves<\/option><option value=\"straw\">Straw<\/option><option value=\"pine\">Pine needles<\/option><option value=\"cardboard\">Plain cardboard (shredded)<\/option><option value=\"paper\">Newspaper (shredded)<\/option><option value=\"sawdust\">Sawdust (untreated wood)<\/option><option value=\"chips\">Wood chips<\/option><\/select><\/label><label>Buckets<input type=\"number\" min=\"0\" step=\"0.5\" value=\"1\" data-in=\"b1\" inputmode=\"decimal\"><\/label><\/div><div class=\"hs-compost-row\"><label>Material 2<select data-in=\"m2\"><option value=\"\">\u2014<\/option><option value=\"scraps\">Fruit and vegetable scraps<\/option><option value=\"coffee\">Coffee grounds and tea leaves<\/option><option value=\"grass\">Fresh grass clippings<\/option><option value=\"weeds\">Green weeds and garden trimmings<\/option><option value=\"chicken\">Chicken manure and bedding<\/option><option value=\"rabbit\">Rabbit manure<\/option><option value=\"cow\">Cow or goat manure<\/option><option value=\"horse\">Horse manure with bedding<\/option><option value=\"hay\">Old hay<\/option><option value=\"leaves\" selected>Dry fallen leaves<\/option><option value=\"straw\">Straw<\/option><option value=\"pine\">Pine needles<\/option><option value=\"cardboard\">Plain cardboard (shredded)<\/option><option value=\"paper\">Newspaper (shredded)<\/option><option value=\"sawdust\">Sawdust (untreated wood)<\/option><option value=\"chips\">Wood chips<\/option><\/select><\/label><label>Buckets<input type=\"number\" min=\"0\" step=\"0.5\" value=\"6\" data-in=\"b2\" inputmode=\"decimal\"><\/label><\/div><div class=\"hs-compost-row\"><label>Material 3<select data-in=\"m3\"><option value=\"\">\u2014<\/option><option value=\"scraps\">Fruit and vegetable scraps<\/option><option value=\"coffee\">Coffee grounds and tea leaves<\/option><option value=\"grass\">Fresh grass clippings<\/option><option value=\"weeds\">Green weeds and garden trimmings<\/option><option value=\"chicken\" selected>Chicken manure and bedding<\/option><option value=\"rabbit\">Rabbit manure<\/option><option value=\"cow\">Cow or goat manure<\/option><option value=\"horse\">Horse manure with bedding<\/option><option value=\"hay\">Old hay<\/option><option value=\"leaves\">Dry fallen leaves<\/option><option value=\"straw\">Straw<\/option><option value=\"pine\">Pine needles<\/option><option value=\"cardboard\">Plain cardboard (shredded)<\/option><option value=\"paper\">Newspaper (shredded)<\/option><option value=\"sawdust\">Sawdust (untreated wood)<\/option><option value=\"chips\">Wood chips<\/option><\/select><\/label><label>Buckets<input type=\"number\" min=\"0\" step=\"0.5\" value=\"0.5\" data-in=\"b3\" inputmode=\"decimal\"><\/label><\/div><div class=\"hs-compost-row\"><label>Material 4<select data-in=\"m4\"><option value=\"\">\u2014<\/option><option value=\"scraps\">Fruit and vegetable scraps<\/option><option value=\"coffee\">Coffee grounds and tea leaves<\/option><option value=\"grass\">Fresh grass clippings<\/option><option value=\"weeds\">Green weeds and garden trimmings<\/option><option value=\"chicken\">Chicken manure and bedding<\/option><option value=\"rabbit\">Rabbit manure<\/option><option value=\"cow\">Cow or goat manure<\/option><option value=\"horse\">Horse manure with bedding<\/option><option value=\"hay\">Old hay<\/option><option value=\"leaves\">Dry fallen leaves<\/option><option value=\"straw\">Straw<\/option><option value=\"pine\">Pine needles<\/option><option value=\"cardboard\">Plain cardboard (shredded)<\/option><option value=\"paper\">Newspaper (shredded)<\/option><option value=\"sawdust\">Sawdust (untreated wood)<\/option><option value=\"chips\">Wood chips<\/option><\/select><\/label><label>Buckets<input type=\"number\" min=\"0\" step=\"0.5\" value=\"0\" data-in=\"b4\" inputmode=\"decimal\"><\/label><\/div><\/div><ul class=\"hs-calc-out\" data-out aria-live=\"polite\"><\/ul><p class=\"hs-hint\">Aim for about 25\u201335 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen (around 30:1) and the dampness of a wrung-out sponge. Too much green smells of ammonia; too much brown just sits there. These are rough estimates from typical values \u2014 your nose and a thermometer are the real test.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"hs-card\"><h4>The basics<\/h4><ul><li><strong>Greens<\/strong> are fresh, wet and rich in nitrogen: kitchen scraps, coffee grounds, grass, manure. <strong>Browns<\/strong> are dry and rich in carbon: leaves, straw, cardboard, sawdust.<\/li><li>A good rule of thumb is about <strong>2 to 3 buckets of browns for every bucket of greens<\/strong>.<\/li><li>Keep it <strong>as damp as a wrung-out sponge<\/strong> and let air in \u2014 turning, or building it over sticks or a pallet.<\/li><li>A <strong>hot pile<\/strong> needs to be at least 3 feet each way. To kill most weed seeds and germs, the middle should stay at 131\u2013150\u00b0F for several days, and turning brings the outside into the hot middle. Over 160\u00b0F, turn it to let it cool.<\/li><li>Compost is <strong>ready<\/strong> when it is dark, crumbly and smells like the woods, and does not heat up again after turning. Use it as 1\u20132 inches on beds or mixed into potting soil.<\/li><li>Raw manure should go on food gardens at least 90\u2013120 days before harvest (the USDA organic rule); well-finished compost can go on at any time.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><h3 class=\"hs-section-title\">What can go in<\/h3><div class=\"hs-table-wrap\"><table class=\"hs-table\"><thead><tr><th>Material<\/th><th>Kind<\/th><th class=\"hs-r\">About C:N<\/th><th>Tips<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Fruit and vegetable scraps<\/strong><\/td><td>Green<\/td><td class=\"hs-r\">15:1<\/td><td>Bury them in the middle to keep flies and animals away.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Coffee grounds and tea leaves<\/strong><\/td><td>Green<\/td><td class=\"hs-r\">20:1<\/td><td>Paper filters can go in too.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Fresh grass clippings<\/strong><\/td><td>Green<\/td><td class=\"hs-r\">20:1<\/td><td>Mix in thin layers \u2014 a thick mat goes slimy. Not from lawns sprayed with weed killer.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Green weeds and garden trimmings<\/strong><\/td><td>Green<\/td><td class=\"hs-r\">20:1<\/td><td>Weeds with seeds only in a hot pile; leave out bindweed and other spreading roots.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Chicken manure and bedding<\/strong><\/td><td>Green<\/td><td class=\"hs-r\">10:1<\/td><td>Very rich \u2014 compost it before using it on the garden.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Rabbit manure<\/strong><\/td><td>Green<\/td><td class=\"hs-r\">12:1<\/td><td>One of the mildest manures.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Cow or goat manure<\/strong><\/td><td>Green<\/td><td class=\"hs-r\">20:1<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Horse manure with bedding<\/strong><\/td><td>Green<\/td><td class=\"hs-r\">30:1<\/td><td>Ask whether the horses were wormed recently or fed hay sprayed with long-lasting herbicide.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Old hay<\/strong><\/td><td>Brown<\/td><td class=\"hs-r\">25:1<\/td><td>Can carry weed seeds; best in a hot pile.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Dry fallen leaves<\/strong><\/td><td>Brown<\/td><td class=\"hs-r\">60:1<\/td><td>Shred them with the mower and they break down twice as fast.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Straw<\/strong><\/td><td>Brown<\/td><td class=\"hs-r\">80:1<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Pine needles<\/strong><\/td><td>Brown<\/td><td class=\"hs-r\">80:1<\/td><td>Slow to break down; use in moderation.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Plain cardboard (shredded)<\/strong><\/td><td>Brown<\/td><td class=\"hs-r\">350:1<\/td><td>Remove tape and glossy coatings. Soak it first.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Newspaper (shredded)<\/strong><\/td><td>Brown<\/td><td class=\"hs-r\">175:1<\/td><td>Black-and-white pages only.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Sawdust (untreated wood)<\/strong><\/td><td>Brown<\/td><td class=\"hs-r\">400:1<\/td><td>Very high in carbon \u2014 a little goes a long way. Never from treated or painted wood.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Wood chips<\/strong><\/td><td>Brown<\/td><td class=\"hs-r\">400:1<\/td><td>Slow; better as path mulch than in the pile.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><h3 class=\"hs-section-title\">Leave these out<\/h3><div class=\"hs-table-wrap\"><table class=\"hs-table\"><thead><tr><th>Item<\/th><th>Why<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Meat, bones, fish and fat<\/strong><\/td><td>Draw dogs, raccoons and rats and smell as they rot.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Dairy and greasy foods<\/strong><\/td><td>Smell and attract pests.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Dog and cat droppings<\/strong><\/td><td>Can carry parasites that infect people.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Diseased or pest-ridden plants<\/strong><\/td><td>A home pile rarely gets hot enough everywhere to kill them.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Weeds gone to seed or spreading roots<\/strong><\/td><td>Unless the pile stays hot, they come back in the garden.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Treated or painted wood, coal ash<\/strong><\/td><td>Can contain chemicals and metals.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Plants or clippings sprayed with herbicide<\/strong><\/td><td>Some weed killers survive composting and damage tomatoes, beans and peppers.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Glossy or coloured paper, plastic \u201ccompostable\u201d cups<\/strong><\/td><td>Most don\u2019t break down in a home pile.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><div class=\"hs-card\"><h4>When something\u2019s wrong<\/h4><ul><li><strong>Smells like ammonia or rot:<\/strong> too wet or too green \u2014 mix in dry leaves or straw and turn it.<\/li><li><strong>Won\u2019t heat up:<\/strong> too dry, too small or too brown \u2014 add water and fresh greens, and build it bigger.<\/li><li><strong>Flies or animals:<\/strong> bury scraps in the middle and cover with browns; keep meat and dairy out.<\/li><li><strong>Worm bin smells:<\/strong> too much food \u2014 feed less and add shredded paper.<\/li><\/ul><p class=\"hs-hint\">\u201cWhile the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest\u2026 shall not cease.\u201d \u2014 Genesis 8:22<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"xs_social_share_widget xs_share_url after_content \t\tmain_content  wslu-style-1 wslu-share-box-shaped wslu-fill-colored wslu-none wslu-share-horizontal wslu-theme-font-no wslu-main_content\">\n\n\t\t\n        <ul>\n\t\t\t        <\/ul>\n    <\/div> \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":8816,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-9142","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pgamo.com\/ceb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9142","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pgamo.com\/ceb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pgamo.com\/ceb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pgamo.com\/ceb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pgamo.com\/ceb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9142"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/pgamo.com\/ceb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9142\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9145,"href":"https:\/\/pgamo.com\/ceb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9142\/revisions\/9145"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pgamo.com\/ceb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8816"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pgamo.com\/ceb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9142"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}