Backyard Composting – An Overview from the Virginia Cooperative Extension

Ed Rishell, Master Gardener, Virginia Cooperative Extension What Is Composting? Composting, through manipulation and control, speeds up the natural decomposition of organic matter. It requires optimizing the conditions favorable to the mixed population of microorganisms (mainly bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes) responsible for the decomposition. These microbes, normally found on the surface of leaves, grass clippings,