What have you found is the fastest, least time consuming, easiest way to make large amounts of good compost?

Question

I will be needing plenty of excellent soil for raised vegetable beds in the spring and I'd like to compost now through the winter to produce as much possible to fill the beds prior to planting. What is your experience and your suggestion? Which method? Much Thanks!!

Answer 1

I was just searching wikihow for this very answer. I found an article on creating a compost bin - get a plastic container with a tight fitting lid. Drill 8-10 small holes in the bottom of the bin and on the lid. Keep it out of the sun in your back yard or other out of the way area. Keep it out of the sun and keep a lid on it to discourage drying out.
Items you want to compost are vegetable matter, egg shells, lawn clippings, young weeds before they go to seed, fall leaves, coffee grounds, tea bags (sans staple) etc.
Do not compost pet poo, meat and bones, oil or fat, cooked food. These things can be unhealthy. Also avoid weeds that have gone to seed, diseased plants, and if you live in a dry area - wood chippings, hedge clippings or other things that would take too long to break up.
Make sure to turn the compost every so often, at least once or twice a week. This will encourage air flow and kill non-aerobic bacteria which cause it to break down slowly and encourage the growth of aerobic bacteria which speed break up.

Answer 2

Sadly, there is no fast easy way to make compost, especially in the winter when the temp drops.
However, I have done the following with raised beds and had great results.
Build the beds now. and half fill with soil. Dig a trench down the middle of each bed and start putting all your organic kitchen waste into the furrow - covering with soil each time. Don't make the compost layer too thick, just a thing layer - maybe 1 inch deep. Most of it should be broken down by next spring. Don't forget to use those leaves from your deciduous forest too!!
Speaking of which, you can rake and black plastic bag leaves in the fall - best if they have gone through a mulcher first - and leave sitting, preferably where the sun can hit them now and then.... By spring they will have started to break down and can be used as an excellent mulch anywhere in the garden.
*** Be sure the leaves do not have aphids or other pests on them or you will be breeding them for next year.
Meanwhile you should also be looking for a good deal on compost bins or the plans to build one. As it sounds like you will need and want to have more than one. We had 5 in our garden.