More than 11 percent of our garbage is food waste that could be put to a more environmentally friendly use-creating compost! Composting is a process whereby organic wastes (grass, leaves, kitchen scraps and yard waste) are converted into a highly desirable, organic, soil-like material. Gardeners have used compost for centuries to increase organic matter in the soil, improve soil physical properties and supply some of the essential nutrients for plant growth.

A successful compost pile requires three things:

1. Air Circulation: Keep air circulating by turning the pile with a shovel regularly, or by adding bulky, oddly shaped materials to the pile to create air pockets.

2. Moisture: To test your pile, pick up a handful of the mixture-if water drips out, that's too much water, if the material falls to pieces when you pick it up, it's too dry. Your mixture should stay in a clump for a few seconds before breaking apart.

3. The Right Ingredients: Keep the ratio of ingredients you add to two parts green to one part brown. "Greens" are nitrogen-rich materials like green leaves or grass, coffee grounds, tea bags, plant trimmings, and fruit and vegetable scraps. "Browns" are carbon-rich materials, including dried grasses or leaves, straw, woodchips, twigs, sawdust or dead plants.

Other things to consider:

Location, place your compost bin in a spot in your yard that is at least partially shaded and at least two feet from your house, garage, or fences.

Size, A pile that is one cubic yard (3 ft. high, 3 ft. wide, 3 ft. long) is big enough to retain heat and moisture but small enough to be easily turned.

Your container, a simple pile in your yard will work just fine, but a bin or container will help the compost pile retain heat and moisture and will look neater than a simple pile. You can build a bin with scrap lumber, old pallets, fencing, or concrete blocks. Or, you can buy a compost bin at local garden centers and hardware stores.