Basically, composting is just collecting kitchen scraps and leaves and putting them in a pile or bin. Then Mother Nature does the work of turning it back into soil. Even though it doesn’t actually require that much effort, these tips are sure to appeal to even the laziest people (who likely “compost” on their living room floor).

1. Designate a good spot.
A good spot to compost is one where you won't mind the sight of the bin and one that's not too far from the door. The spot should allow the bin to be set on the earth (we want water to drain out and earthworms to visit). It would also be good if the spot had room for two or three bins.

2. Decide on a bin.
A good size pile is about a cubic yard (3-feet wide, 3-feet deep, 3-feet high) or a little smaller. Commercial bins made of black recycled plastic are good at keeping raccoons at bay and keeping things neat, and thus are usually neighbor-approved. Other successful designs include: tying four shipping pallets together upright; a circle of chicken wire; chicken wire on a wooden frame; or simply a hole or depression.

3. Collect leaves from the yard.
You may have heard of "compost recipes," complicated mix ratios of all sorts of stuff. The Lazy Composter says "Forget it!" Just put as much "green" stuff as "brown" stuff in your bin. The stuff from your kitchen is the "green" stuff. "Brown" stuff is autumn leaves, sawdust, or even shredded newspaper.

4. Collect scraps in the kitchen.
Collect veggie scraps, discarded leftovers, moldy bread, etc. Keep bones, meats, fats, and oils to a minimum, these attract critters. Some people put their scraps in a little trash can under the sink lined with a plastic grocery bag. Take it out when you have to. The Lazy Composter takes it out once or twice a week, maximum.

5. Cover with leaves.
Like mentioned above, just dump about an equal amount of leaves on top of the scraps you just dumped in the bin. Harvest in a year or two. Some say "turn the pile carefully every 2.6 days, ensure 48.5% water saturation..." Forget it! Compost was happening long before the dinosaurs. The Lazy Composter says leave it be for a year or two, and it will happen all by itself.