Don Vandervort, Head Homeboy, has written more than 30 DIY home improvement books, been a segment host on HGTV, served as MSN.com's home improvement expert and written countless magazine articles.
Everything rots, given enough time and air. But to really kick-start the process of breaking down organic materials, you need bugs—very tiny bugs.
Bacteria make up 80% to 90% of the microorganisms that do the work of breaking down the grass clippings and orange peels in your compost bin. So while it may seem simple enough to just heap the debris on a pile and wait for it to change into soil, a very complex process needs to happen in order for the material to break down.
The best composting process is one that caters to the needs of the microorganisms, which means building and maintaining a bin or pile that encourages their growth. On the way to creating rich humus for your garden, the microorganisms devour the waste on a cellular level and create water, carbon dioxide, and the all-important ingredient—heat.
A healthy compost pile will heat up to about 140 degrees in the core as the microorganisms do their work.
