Whether you compost kitchen waste or yard and garden waste, there are a few basic steps to follow.  Choose a “pot” for baking your compost. Any type of composting bin will do. Place the waste in the composting bin. If you want it to compost quickly, shred or chop it up. A few suggestions for materials to avoid: meat, bones, fish, dairy products, grease and oil, Pet droppings and shavings or sawdust (from treated lumber). Spread soil or “already done” compost over the compost pile. This layer contains microorganisms and soil animals that do the work of making the compost. You want to adjust the moisture to the right consistency. Add straw or sawdust to soggy materials, or add water to a pile that’s too dry. The material should be damp to the touch, but not so wet that drops come out when you squeeze it. Allow the pile to “bake”. It should heat quickly and reach the desired temperature in 4-5 days (Desired temp 90-140 degrees Fahrenheit). Stir your compost as it bakes if you want to speed the baking time. The pile will settle down from its original height. This is a good sign the compost is baking properly. If you turn your compost every week, it should be ready in 1-2 months. If you don’t, it should be ready in 6-12 months. The compost should look like dark crumbly soil mixed with small pieces of organic material. It should have a sweet, earth smell.