- Mum, there's lots of rubbish in the garden. Should put it in the bin?
- Don't, Mark. I'm making a compost pile from rubbish.
- Yes.
- The best way to build a compost pile is by sing things we often throw away after cooking or things we burn in the garden.
- Really? I didn’t know that.
- Here I’ve cleared a space in the garden and built the base layer of straw and twigs. Let’s make the compost pile together. We can start by spreading brown materials on the ground. I’ve collected some old newspapers and dry leaves for this layer.
- Like this?
- Yes. Then add another layer. But this time we’ll use green materials.
- Do you mean the grass clippings?
- Yes. Please also add this bag of household waste including vegetable scraps, fruit peels and used tea. They are also part of the green materials. And then add a thin layer of soil.
- Like this?
- Yes. Now water. Everything done.
- What's next, mum?
- Repeat these steps and add more layers, brown and green. Then more soil and water.
- Is that all?
- No. Once a week you'll need to turn the compost pile and water it. We'll continue until it turns soft and dark brown.
- That sounds like a lot of work.