2 methods for making soil with compost

If you need soil for your garden you can make it yourself by composting! Here are two methods to get started building your own DIY soil.

• It's pretty easy to start, but takes more maintenance over time, and you might want to check city ordinances before getting started with this one
• The compost pile is open to the air and is, as the name suggests, a pile - so neighbours might complain and you could be violating some laws
• However, there are ways to get around that: nail four heat-treated pallets together, and paint them with non-toxic paint if they're not the prettiest
• This might make it a bit more of a stretch to turn the straw, vegetable and fruit scraps, and newspaper

• This method takes a small amount of upfront work and the maintenance is minimal
• It's great for any location as it's discrete and aesthetically pleasing in suburban areas
• To get started, find a shallow container such as an old dresser drawer or a long and shallow under-the-bed storage bins
• Drill holes in the bottom for drainage, and the sides for oxygen flow, but if you're using a bin, keep the lid as is
• The lid will sit gently on top, or you could also place it underneath to catch the nutrient-rich worm castings, which you can dilute and add to your soil as they drain out. For both examples, cover (but don't enclose) the worm bin with something that sits loosely. Then, soak about six inches worth of shredded newspapers until fully saturated, wring them out, and lay them in as bedding
• Add in about half a kilo of red worms for every quarter of a kilo of garbage you'll be composting
• They'll wriggle in to get away from the light and you can begin slowly adding chopped vegetable and fruit scraps, crushed egg shells, and coffee grounds. Avoid adding onion peels or too many coffee grounds

Whichever method you use, if the compost has begun to smell, check the moisture content. If there's excess water, add straw or newspaper. If it's pretty dry, use a spray bottle to add some moisture.