You may have heard of "compost recipes," complicated mix ratios of all sorts of stuff. The Easy Composter says "Forget it!" Just put as much "green" stuff as "brown" stuff in your bin. The stuff from your kitchen is the "green" stuff. "Brown" stuff is autumn leaves, sawdust, or even shredded newspaper.

1).    Designate a good spot.

A good spot to compost is one where you won't mind the sight of the bin and one that's not too far from the door (the farther away the bin, the more energy it takes to bring stuff out to it, and worse yet, in the winter you'll have to shovel the path!).

The spot should allow the bin to be set on the earth (we want water to drain out and earthworms to visit). Room for two or three bins is good for future planning.

2).     Decide on a bin.

A good size pile is about a cubic yard (3-feet wide, 3-feet deep, 3-feet high) or a little smaller. Commercial bins made of black recycled plastic are good for keeping raccoons and other animals out of your compost pile (although they are not bear proof). Plus a bin helps keep things neat, maintaining the aesthetics of your yard and the neighborhood.

Other successful designs include: tying four shipping pallets together upright; a circle of chicken wire; chicken wire on a wooden frame; or simply a hole or depression.

3).    Collect leaves from the yard.

Collecting leaves in a pile or chicken wire bin next to your compost bin simplifies everything. Remember to collect leaves while raking in the Fall, or raid last year's pile.

4).    Collect scraps in the kitchen.

Collect veggie scraps, discarded leftovers, moldy bread, etc. Keep bones, meats, fats, and oils to a minimum, these attract critters, cause odors, and are more difficult to decompose. In addition, reducing the amount of meat in your diet is one of the best things you can do for the environment!. Many people use a small bin on the countertop such as an old Cool Whip tub, or ceramic jar, or simply a plastic bag. Some people put their scraps in a little trash can under the sink lined with a plastic grocery bag. Take it out when you have to.

The Easy Composter takes it out once or twice a week, maximum. Once the food is in the bin, cover with an equal amount of leaves. Harvest in a year or two.

Some say "turn the pile carefully every 2.6 days, ensure 48.5% water saturation..." Forget it! The Easy Composter says leave it be for a year or two, and it will happen all by itself. Maybe have two bins and use one every other year, leaving a bin's worth just to sit and do its thing for a year.