Most horticulturists recommend that open compost piles be at least 3ft x 3ft x 3ft. For the backyard gardener, securing enough carbon- and nitrogen-rich material to create a healthy compost pile can be challenging. This spring, why not cultivate community while building compost? Invite your neighbors to contribute whatever raw material and hard work they can to the compost pile in your backyard. When the compost is ready to use, consider hosting a neighborhood potluck to celebrate the fruits of garden labor. At the end of the meal, encourage guests to take some finished compost home to use in their gardens; they might just take home a sense of community too.
--Melissa Weiss
