Produce compost
Make nutrient-rich compost by collecting kitchen scraps and garden waste, layering materials, keeping them moist, and turning the pile regularly to speed decomposition.
About this activity
Make nutrient-rich compost by collecting kitchen scraps and garden waste, layering materials, keeping them moist, and turning the pile regularly to speed decomposition.
What you need
Step by step
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Step 1
Gather all the Materials Needed and bring them to your chosen outdoor work area.
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Step 2
Put on your gloves so your hands stay clean and safe.
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Step 3
Choose a level shady spot in your yard to keep the compost cool and out of heavy sun.
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Step 4
Place your compost bin in the spot or mark the area where your compost pile will sit.
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Step 5
Make a 4 to 6 inch base layer of coarse brown material like twigs or straw at the bottom for airflow.
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Step 6
Add a thin even layer of kitchen scraps (fruit and vegetable bits only) over the base layer.
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Step 7
Add a thin layer of dry browns such as shredded newspaper or dry leaves on top of the scraps.
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Step 8
Sprinkle water over the layers until they feel like a wrung-out sponge to give microbes moisture.
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Step 9
Repeat adding a green layer then a brown layer until the bin or pile is nearly full.
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Step 10
Cover the pile with the bin lid or a board to keep out heavy rain and curious critters.
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Step 11
Turn the compost with a garden fork every 3 to 7 days to add air and speed up breaking down.
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Step 12
Keep the pile damp like a wrung-out sponge by adding water when dry or adding dry browns if it gets too wet.
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Step 13
When the material is dark crumbly and smells earthy take some to use in your garden to help plants grow.
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Step 14
Take a photo of your finished compost and share your creation on DIY.org
Fun facts
How do I make nutrient-rich compost with my child at home?
To make compost with children, collect kitchen scraps (vegetable peels, coffee grounds) and garden waste (leaves, grass). Build a pile or use a bin: layer greens and browns two to three inches each, shred big pieces, and keep the mix as damp as a wrung-out sponge. Turn the pile every one to two weeks to add oxygen and speed decomposition. After several months the compost will be dark and crumbly and ready to use.
What materials do I need to make compost with kids?
You’ll need a compost bin or a dedicated spot in the yard, a small kitchen caddy for scraps, green materials (fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, grass clippings), brown materials (dry leaves, shredded paper, straw), water to keep it moist, a pitchfork or garden fork for turning, gloves, and optional items like a compost thermometer, a tumbler, and bird-rodent-proof mesh or lid.
What ages is composting suitable for and what supervision is needed?
Suitable ages vary: toddlers (two to four) can learn by watching and dropping small peel pieces into a sealed kitchen caddy under close supervision. Preschoolers (four to six) enjoy sorting scraps and sprinkling water. Ages six to ten can help layer materials and practice turning with an adult. Older children and teens can lead the process, use tools, and monitor temperatures. Always supervise young kids around tools and lift heavy loads for them.
What are the benefits of making compost with children?
Making compost teaches kids about the life cycle, reduces household waste, and enriches garden soil with nutrients and beneficial microbes. It promotes responsibility, observation skills, and patience as they watch decomposition over time. Compost improves soil structure, water retention, and plant health. For safety, teach handwashing, use gloves, and have adults handle hot piles, sharp tools, or animal-attracting scraps.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use if we don't have a compost bin, straw, or shredded newspaper?
If you don't have a compost bin use a sturdy trash can with drainage holes or simply mark a pile area, replace the 4–6 inch straw/twig base with crumpled cardboard or small branches, and tear plain paper or junk mail instead of shredded newspaper.
The pile smells bad or isn't breaking down — what could be wrong and how do we fix it?
A bad smell or slow breakdown usually means too many kitchen scraps or not enough air and moisture balance, so add dry browns like shredded newspaper or dry leaves, turn the compost with a garden fork every 3–7 days, and adjust water until it feels like a wrung-out sponge.
How can we adapt this composting activity for younger children or older kids?
For younger kids let them help with safe steps like putting on gloves, adding kitchen scraps, and sprinkling water while an adult handles turning with the garden fork, and for older kids have them track turns every 3–7 days, monitor moisture/temperature, or try hot-compost methods.
How can we extend or personalize the project to make it more fun or useful?
Decorate the bin, add a compost thermometer to monitor heat as you turn the pile, start a worm bin to speed up decomposition, and keep a photo log of your dark, crumbly finished compost to share on DIY.org.