I did it.
Now, you need to understand a couple of things first. One, I’m not at all green. It is a great idea & all that stuff, but I’ve just never done the green thing. Second, I am serious procrastinator. To somewhat battle that in this, I made today day one, even though I wasn’t “prepared” and didn’t have a system in place (or quite frankly have much clue about what I was doing!). But all that said…
I did it.
I started a compost!
I am beside myself with excitement and honestly think something must be wrong me with me. I mean, who gets excited about something so gross? And after I mixed (ahem, shook a little bit) and watered, it is most certainly GROSS.
I took pictures – yes, I actually have before and after pictures for Tackle it Tuesday, woo hoo! – and I plan to blog my little composting journey, so please come back and help me if you have any clue about how to do such a thing, ‘cause I surely don’t. 
I staked out and claimed the back right corner of the fenced in portion of the back yard. Here it is:
I put newspapers down, spread out a little so not in a thick stack. Next I placed the smallish cardboard box I had been using the past couple of days to put scraps of paper in (I tore up non-glossy junk mail and envelopes) on top of the papers. After the box was in place, I dumped a couple bowls of something that used to be leftovers (from when I leaned out the fridge a couple of nights ago) into the box. After the bowls of “something”, I gathered some already decomposing leaves and straw and put in the box.
I shook the box up to sorta mix it, then I filled up the 2 bowls with water and poured the water into the box on top of the “mixture”. Water started escaping, so I scrunched up the papers around the box to help hold it in / absorb it.
And this is what we have:
Oh! I don’t want to forget to mention my “helpers”:
“B” was off with his daddy during this process. When they came home, hubs mentioned I could toss the old jar of pickles – which is awesome b/c the jar will be perfect for tossing small stuff in throughout the day. I took the jar out and invited “B” to come help. He refused. When does my kid refuse to go outside anyway? I’ll give you that it is super hot, but still.
I added the pickles and juice, then tossed on a few more decomposing leaves.
And that, folks, makes up day one of my composting adventure.
Oh! I added protein. Before the lectures begin, (a) it wasn’t much, and (b) I didn’t know ahead of time (did I mention the gross part? Yeah, not picking it out).
I haven’t really researched the systems, but I’m thinking we might go with the stall looking system.
So… I would truly adore you if you left me words of wisdom and links to fabulous information about composting. And I would also adore you if you come back now and then to check on me. 
Thank you for visiting the original Shake The Salt!!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
One up on me. My “compost” is currently whatever gets tossed out to where our garden was supposed to go.
Rachel Petersen’s last blog post: Tackle It Tuesday
Dear Eco Salt Shaker,
I commend you on your efforts, and suggest that what you have accomplished will serve to attract wild life of all sorts and not provide the soil amending compost you may well expect.
Instead, your ingredients (quantity and type)are better suited for a worm box. That is a box full of worms that will eat the small amounts of food waste you set out and provide you with worm manure (not compost). The worm box may be a little gross for you based on above comments, and it will serve you much better.
For composting organics, the non-food scraps type, your pile and concept will work (save the papers for the worm box) and make sure you have a supply of water near by (like a garden hose). Every time you add material to your pile, add a little water too. After a couple of years of this method, you will find compost under the pile (and plenty of worms too).
You can find instruction and worm box plans in the book:
worms eat my garbage
Mary Applehoff
Also, most communities have Master Gardner classes and include lessons on how to compost.
Good luck,
Uncle Duwa
Did you do some research on compost b/c there are certain things you don’t want in there.
We started one in the back and when a friend put his cows in back it was on the other side of the fence. The cows eat it.
BarbaraLee’s last blog post: All caugth up.
No, I haven’t done much research yet. I just wanted to take a step and START. I started small, so it really doesn’t affect anything one way or the other except that I didn’t procrastinate any longer.
I’ll do some research and continue to add to it little by little and the details will work themselves out.
I’d love to hear of others’ experiences with composting and would love links to great info, articles, blogs, etc that could help.
Thanks for the comments – keep them coming.