Compost is the foundation of Amish farming. Kitchen scraps, manure, leaves become perfect fertilizer.
What to Add
'Green' (nitrogen): kitchen scraps, fresh grass, manure, coffee grounds. 'Brown' (carbon): dry leaves, straw, sawdust, cardboard. Ratio: 3 parts brown to 1 part green.
What Not to Add
Meat and bones (attract rats). Diseased plants (spores survive). Cat/dog feces (parasites). Coal ash (toxic to plants).
Hot Method
Pile at least 1×1×1 meter. Turn every week. Center heats to 55–65°C — kills weed seeds and pathogens. Ready in 3–8 weeks.
Cold Method
Pile everything up, leave it alone. Ready in 6–12 months. Simpler, but weed seeds survive.
Readiness
Dark, crumbly, smells like forest floor. No rot smell. Original materials invisible. If you see pieces — not ready yet.