There are more than 6 billion microbial life-forms in only 1 level teaspoon of
cured compost—almost the number of people on Earth!Size and Timing
A minimum compost pile size of 3 feet by 3 feet by 3
feet (1 cubic yard of lightly moist, built compost,
weighing about 1,000 pounds) is recommended. (In
colder climates, a minimum compost pile size of 4 feet
by 4 feet by 4 feet will be needed to properly insulate
the heat of the composting process.) Smaller piles fail to
provide the insulation necessary for appropriate heating
(up to 140°F) and allow too much air to penetrate. It is
all right to build up piles slowly to this size as materials
become available, though it is best to build an entire pile
at one time. A large compost pile might be 4 feet high, 5
feet wide, and 10 feet long. A pile will cure to one-third
to one-quarter of its original size, depending on the
materials used.