How to Backyard Compost: A Beginner’s Guide to Turning Food Scraps into Nutrient-Rich Soil

As has been mentioned in the previous article on Sustainability, a simple and effective way to take action is to make and use your own compost. Not only does it give you a direct place to dispose of scraps of food, but it then helps give you nutrient rich soil to grow your own garden (and don’t forget about saving some money)! Outside of the green bin pickup done here in Ontario, composting can be taken in one of two major directions, a regular compost or a vermicompost. Today, let’s talk about the former!

What type of compost bin is best?

Having an area that is relatively out of the way is the first thing you will need. Driveways, backyard corners, somewhere outside and preferable not directly in the sun or in a garage. Once an area is picked, you will need to purchase a bin that is breathable but also animal (or maybe more specifically, racoon) proof. Looking online, there are a variety of different compost options, such as tumblers, stationeries, or even wood bins. Each bin is really dependent upon your situation and preference, but lets through them to see what may be better for you.

1. Tumbler – These are quite in vogue, and for good reason. They offer an easy way to mix the materials and lower the risk of intrusion of animals. They produce compost effectively, but they come at the cost of a smaller size. If you will have less compost, less space, smaller gardens, or would prefer less work, then a tumbler could be right for you.
2. Stationary – These are the most common and both my parents and I have one. They are large, and can produce a lot of compost. I have not had issues with animals breaking in, as they have locks on them that are pretty effective. I would suggest the main challenge would be mixing the compost, and then later taking out the rich soil, and also needing to find a spot that can host it.. Overall, this is probably the most common choice for people wanting to compost with the available space.
3. Wood Bins – These are the all natural ways to go about composting, and could be purchased or made. You don’t really need bins for compost, they are largely designed to protect against animals. But if you have a big open space, large backyard, a farm, or are less concerned about the looks of it, having a wood like fence for your compost would allow for more worms and the elements to do nature’s work in turning your waste to soil. While it isn’t for everyone, those who have the space should choose this option.

What goes in a compost bin?

Mixing in layers of Nitrogen rich “Greens” (Fruit and veggies, grass, tea bags, eggshells) and Carbon rich “Browns”, (dry leaves, twigs, shredded paper, cardboard, wood chips) will help create the perfect environment needed for your materials to decompose into usable soil.

• Things to add:
  • “Greens” (Nitrogen rich materials)
    • Fruits and veggies
    • Grass clippings
    • Tea bags
    • Egg shells
  • “Browns”  (Carbon rich materials)
    • Dry leaves
    • Twigs
    • Shredded paper
    • Cardboard
    • Wood chips

Hold on though, we cannot just throw anything into the compost. Things like meat and cheese will not only stink up the area, but attract animals that could break in and destroy your compost. Chemical laced or treated products will also put those same chemicals into the potential soil. Things you should avoid for a backyard compost include:

• Things to avoid:
  • Meat Scraps 
  • Cheese/Dairy 
  • Fats or oils
  • Anything treated, having chemicals, or is diseased
  • Pet waste

How do I compost?

Layering and mixing are the key steps to a general compost. Every day after dinner I take our appropriate scraps to the compost and throw them in. If I notice too many greens, I pick up some leaves or sticks and throw them in. I have a mixing tool beside it (pitchfork, but I figure not everyone has one of those laying around – a shovel would do). When I notice that most of the mixture is soil-like and it’s hard to recognize any features in the compost, I know it’s time to use it. Depending on where you live, you could take out the soil once or twice a year (maybe even more if you are in the tropics).

1. Find a spot for your compost
2. Build or buy your compost bin and put it in the chosen location
3. Add a base or soil, peat, leaves, and appropriate food scraps to get it started. Mix it together.
4. Regularly add food waste to your compost and make sure to add a balance of greens and browns. 
5. If you notice it is too moist or wet inside, add more dry leaves or soil.
6. Mix it regularly.
7. When you notice there is more soil than not, it’s time to use it!

Other ways to compost?

While I enjoy our backyard compost, my main compost is actually my worm farm in the basement, also known as a vermicompost. We will chat about that further in the next article, so wait for the com-post about it!

Works Cited

EPA. “Composting at Home.” US EPA, 16 Oct. 2018, www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home. Accessed 24 May 2026.

Kaz, Sheri. “The 10 Best Composters of 2022.” The Spruce, 20 Jan. 2026, www.thespruce.com/composters-for-good-garden-soil-4099017. Accessed 24 May 2026.