Building Composts on Your Homestead

Building Healthy Soil Using Nature's Design

Composting is one of the simplest and most effective ways to recycle organic materials while improving soil health. By turning food scraps, plant residues, and natural materials into compost, homesteaders can reduce waste, build fertile soil, and create a more self-sufficient closed loop system.

This guide offers the only two composting methods you'll need on your homestead: Black Soldier Fly for rapid food waste processing and wood chip & organic matter for long-term soil building.

System 1: Black Soldier Fly Composting

Purpose

The Black Soldier Fly (BSF) compost system rapidly processes food scraps and other organic materials while producing nutrient-rich compost, beneficial insect larvae, and liquid leachate, often referred to as compost tea.

Design Structure

• Rectangular compost chamber approximately 6 ft x 2 ft

• Cement block walls

• Ventilation gaps between blocks to improve airflow and allow larvae migration

• Open-top design for adding food waste and collecting frass

• Removable covers for weather and wildlife protection

• Slanted tile or clay floor for leachate collection

Drainage

The floor should be constructed with a slight slope toward a drainage channel leading to a collection bucket.

Proper drainage helps:

• Prevent odors

• Prevent anaerobic conditions

• Improve composting efficiency

• Collect leachate for garden use (aerate before application)

Feeding the System

Organic Materials

• Fruit scraps

• Vegetable scraps (raw or cooked)

• Coffee grounds

• Egg shells

Notes

Meat and dairy can be added, but they often increase odors and may attract wildlife. For most homesteads, avoiding these materials results in a cleaner and easier-to-manage system.

Avoid

• Plastics

• paper & cardboard (these are always processed with chemicals)

• Treated woods

• Compostable materials (too many unknowns)

• Wood chips (BSF larvae cannot digest lignin)

System 2: Wood Chip Composting

Wood chip composting provides a long-term, slower, method for building fungal-rich soil and recycling plant materials generated on-site.

Building a Compost Heap

Create a pile of wood chips at least 3 feet wide by 3 feet tall. Larger piles generally compost faster because they retain moisture and biological activity more effectively, note: the larger the pile the more heat it generates. Commercial compost facilities recommend 6x6 ft for best results.

As plant materials become available, layer them into the pile:

• Weeds

• Garden residues

• Grass clippings

• Spent crops

• Leaves

• Manure

Continue adding materials over time.

Turning is optional but can accelerate decomposition. Another option is a static aerated compost system using large perforated PVC pipes beneath the pile to improve airflow, commercial compost farms add solar fans to speed up aeration.

Natural Fungal Inoculation

To accelerate decomposition and encourage fungal growth, add small amounts of:

• Decaying logs

• Naturally decomposing woody materials

• Forest leaves and soil

• Spent mushroom substrate

These materials introduce beneficial fungi and microorganisms that help break down carbon-rich materials while improving long-term soil-building processes.

Rainwater Harvesting or other Water Source

Healthy compost requires adequate moisture.

Whenever possible, install rainwater harvesting systems near composting areas.

Examples include:

• Roof runoff collection systems

• Small storage tanks

Collected rainwater can be used to:

• Maintain compost moisture

• Support compost biology

• Reduce dependence on municipal water

The goal is to keep compost piles consistently moist but not saturated. A properly hydrated compost pile should feel similar to a wrung-out sponge.

Earth Care Principles

Nature does not send useful organic matter to a landfill, so why should we...leaves fall ~ Branches decay ~ Animals contribute nutrients ~ Fungi recycle carbon.

The Grow Earth Care composting system mimics these natural processes—turning waste into resources and restoring life to the soil.

Healthy soil leads to healthy plants ~ Healthy plants support healthy ecosystems ~ Healthy ecosystems support healthy communities.

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