Some regard as essential -- layering brush on the bottom, alternating layers of different materials, shredding everything, mixing in some earth, using a bacterial starter, adding chicken manure, counteracting acidity with lime or wood ashes. But not one of these things is essential to the process.

Over a three year process a Mr. Victor Dalpadado, working in his native Sri Lanka, boiled composting down to its basics. There are five things to concentrate on when making fast acting compost.

1. Vary the materials to make a balanced food supply for the microorganisms.

2. Mix all materials thoroughly instead of making layers.

3. Make many scratches and cuts in the stems and leaves to provide entry for microorganisms.

4. Turn frequently for aeration.

5. Maintain ample moisture.

No single material is right by itself. But when the materials in a heap together present a certain proportion of nutrients, the bacteria and fungi work rapidly. Nitrogen, a building block of protean for bacterial reproduction, and carbohydrate for an energy source, are all that matter. The major reason that compost piles don't maintain high heat and rapid decay is a shortage of nitrogen-rich materials. Manures are very high in nitrogen, which is why some people regard manure as the essential ingredient in a successful compost.

Ideally the ratio of carbon to nitrogen in a well-made compost pile should be 30 to 1. The proportions should be roughly two-thirds of high carbohydrate sources, which tend to be drier, somewhat tough and woody (dry leaves, stems, straw, paper) to one-third of green succulent materials high in nitrogen. Any sort, fresh green matter like young weeds or grass clippings is high in nitrogen.

It is always better to put too much of a rich nitrogen-rich material. Without enough, the pile won't heat properly. And the only negative effect of having a little too much nitrogen is that the excess will be lost as a gas when the pile is turned.

After gathering together materials in the right proportions to feed microorganisms, the second step toward fast composting is to mix the materials uniformly. Stacking them in layers as in the traditional method is an excellent way to keep track of the balance that you are trying to create. But the layers themselves get in the way of a true nutrient mix. It is best to thoroughly mix all the materials and then make the final stack.

The third requirement for fast composting is to break and bruise the skin of the plant materials as much as possible. Dalpadado points out that a primary function of all plants and animals is to resist the attacks of bacteria and fungi. Everyplace the, skin on stems and leaves is opened -- even if only a bruise or scratch -- provides an entry point for decay organisms. This is the most important thing that a shredder does to speed composting. But the skin of plant materials can be broken very effectively by hand methods.

Complete and frequent aeration is the fourth major element in rapid composting. Active decomposition is a process akin to burning, and air is used up rapidly especially at the start. Dalpadado recommends that the first turning be made on the second day after the heap is built! Turn it again on the fourth day, then again on the seventh day, and on the tenth. After the last turning, the temperature of the pile should begin its drop from the 140- to 160-degree F. range down to 110 degrees F., at which point it is finished and ready to use.

The fifth thing a compost pile needs is ample moisture. Under the surface, the material should glisten with moisture without being soggy. Many times fresh green materials can provide most of the moisture the pile needs. A lot of water goes off in steam at turning.

Finally, it is good to protect the pile from drenching rains with black plastic, since excess water can drive oxygen out of the pile, leach nutrients, and drastically lower the temperature.

Reference: Make compost in 14 Days, Rodale Press, Inc