Article: For a more direct composting option, start building on bare soil to allow organisms like worms to aerate the compost. Collect dry twigs from your yard or buy a bale of straw from your local garden center. Lay out twigs or straw to make a base (a few inches thick) to allow for drainage and air flow. To build your compost pile, layer moist ingredients like food scraps or vegetable peelings on top of your dry base. Be sure not to add any meat, bones, oils, or weeds. Alternate two or three layers of wet and dry compost materials. Water the compost pile as needed to keep it moist. As a general rule, the materials should be damp and not overly wet. If you live in a rainy climate, cover your compost area with a tarp or plastic sheeting to prevent it from becoming waterlogged. Covering your compost pile is necessary to retain the moisture and heat need for the composting process. Use plastic sheeting, pieces of wood, or any other suitable covering you have on hand to cover the area. If necessary, weigh down the edges of the covering with large rocks or bricks. If you are concerned about the pile being unsightly, fence in the small area that it occupies in your yard. Every two or three weeks, use a pitchfork to turn the compost. Uncover the pile and use the pitchfork to dig up materials at the bottom and bring them to the top. Turning the compost will add oxygen to the mix, speeding up the process. If you don’t have a pitchfork, use a shovel to turn the compost.

What is a summary?
Build a base for the compost pile. Add layers of wet compost materials. Water the compost pile. Cover the compost pile. Turn the compost.