To start your own compost you will first need either something to put it into like a plastic bin with a lid or an area dedicated to a free standing heap. There are basically 2 types of composting; aerobic, which means the composting process is helped along by the addition of air and anaerobic is without air. Most gardeners have problems with the latter ending up with a sloppy mess. There are two essential types of materials to good compost: Carbon materials and nitrogen materials.

Your carbon materials (also called "browns") are your typical dry materials such as dried leaves, twigs, sawdust, shredded newspaper, straw, etc. Your nitrogen material (also called "greens") are your greener, softer more slushy materials such as fresh lawn clippings, green leaves, manures, vegetable scraps etc.

A simple rule of thumb is to use one-third green (if very green and lush. If not this ratio can be increased up to equal parts) and two-thirds brown materials and to keep your materials as fine as possible. Place twigs or straw first, a few inches deep. This will assist drainage and help aerate the pile. Add compost materials in layers, alternating moist and dry.

Be sure to turn your pile regularly to keep the air flowing, keep moist with added water (not soaked) and you can have yourself great compost in roughly 6 weeks. If done right at the end of the process compost should look uniform, dark brown, crumbly and have a nice earthy smell to it.