Let's start composting
By JOAN CROTHERS

Get a jump on fall by beginning a compost pile before the leaves start falling, or at least cut out these articles and be ready for them when they do come down. And come down they will.

Recipe for compost:

Brown-dead leaves; Green -green leaves, stems, grass clippings; Water and Soil. Layer about 6" deep portions of brown and then green with a few handfuls of complete fertilizer, horse or chicken manure (cow manure has too many weed seeds) as the compost pile needs a nitrogen source to feed on. Layer small food scraps, coffee grounds, etc. (no meat or bones to attract animals) and on top throw some soil. Keep layering up to 4 to 6 feet. Heat buildup is essential to composting and too small a pile will not generate or hold enough heat. When you see steam rise, you know break downs of the organic materials is taking place.

Turn the compost pile every 2-3 weeks. Proper air circulation will discourage odor and flies and speed up

decay. Keep on adding fresh material, grass clippings etc. Keep the food scraps covered with that layer of dirt or dig out a hole in the middle for the food scraps and then add dirt. Try to keep the proportions of materials the same.