Make compost from garden waste! About 75 percent of household waste can be made into excellent fertilizer for flower and vegetable gardens provided that beneficial organic waste is used and it is processed correctly. Composting, the process of turning organic waste into fertilizer, is becoming more and more popular among household gardeners not only because of environmental considerations, but also because it’s economical and chemical free.
Collect food waste from your kitchen: banana peels, spoiled fruit, eggshells, vegetable peelings, peanut shells, etc. Things not to include are oils, grease, milk products, and animal fats/meat.
Include newspapers in your compost pile. If you have a paper shredder, shred them first. This will allow them to break down faster. If you don't have a shredder, tear the paper into the smallest scraps as possible. Do not use colored or glossy paper.
By far, the easiest and most convenient composter is a barrel-type that is mounted on a stand with a crank. You can throw in all your materials and give it a spin a couple times around every day. This yields remarkable results very quickly (sometimes as quickly as two weeks, depending on the temperature). Make sure the composter barrel or drum you get has vents for aeration and screened drainage holes. (Put a bucket under the drainage hole to collect the "tea" that drains from the compost; add one part "compost tea" to 10 parts water for a liquid fertilizer).