Stuff You Should Know Composting: Nature's Most Interesting Process
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Mar 20, 2026 A backyard compost pile turns into a tiny universe packed with microbes, worms, heat, and constant activity. They get into why food waste belongs here instead of landfills, what should and should not go in, how to balance greens and browns, and how a smelly heap slowly becomes rich, garden-ready humus.
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Choose A Compost Spot That Helps It Work
- Pick a compost spot that is convenient, drains well, and stays out of constant direct sun.
- Josh Clark recommends a spot under a deciduous tree because winter sun warms it and summer shade keeps it from drying out.
Pick The Bin System You Will Actually Manage
- Use either a simple single-bin setup or a more hands-on three-bin system depending on how much effort you want.
- In the single-bin version, new scraps go on top, active compost sits in the middle, and finished material collects at the bottom.
Chuck Plans A Serious Backyard Compost Setup
- Chuck says he and Emily are replacing most of their grass with mulch, beds, herbs, and paths, with composting built into the design.
- He jokes that he will build whatever compost structure Emily tells him to build.
