Making Compost in 18 Days Using the Hot Method: This method creates rich, nutrient-dense compost in a short time by using layers of brown materials, green materials, and manure to generate heat through aerobic decomposition. The pile is built on sticks and each layer is moistened before adding the next. It is turned every other day for three weeks to maintain heat levels, which breaks down organic matter and kills pathogens. The finished compost is dark brown and smells pleasant.

1. Making Compost:
18 Day Hot Method
• This method is an aerobic (oxygenated), hot compost
and is one of the best to create a rich soil amendment,
teaming with beneficial microbes and low on
pathogenic ones.
• It requires the stacking of three different layers of
organic matter:
• Brown material (dry grass, straw, leaves, small wood
chips – any dry plant material)
• Green material (kitchen scraps, freshly chopped weeds,
freshly cut grass – any fresh plant material)
• Manure (animal manure, excluding dog or cat, or
fermented and chopped comfrey)

2. A bed of sticks is made on the ground – about 1m by
1m – and the compost pile layered on top of that
(brown, green, manure) using as much material as is
available, and moistening each layer with water as
one builds. The pile will shrink as it decomposes, so
at least two layers of each material is preferable. A
final brown layer is always added to the top of the
pile.
It is best to build the compost pile in a shady spot
and to cover it with breathable fabric, like shade
cloth.

3. Wait three days before turning the heap for the first
time and then turn every second day thereafter. The
heap should be turned thoroughly, with material
from the middle moved to the outside of the new pile
and vice versa on each turn. This compost pile will
get hot by the first turn and should steam. This heat
quickly breaks down organic matter while killing
pathogenic microbes and weed seeds.
The pile should be kept moist, but never too wet and
the end result should be dark brown composted
material that smells pleasant.