Compost is great for your soil because it has lots of minerals that plants use as they grow. What's more, natural compost is much better for your soil than chemical fertilisers.

12 planks, each 1m long* a hammer and nails * 4 posts, each 1m long * soil * water * kitchen waste (like tea leaves, fruit and vegetable peelings and egg shells, left over uncooked food, but no meat) * garden waste (like weeds, twigs, cut grass) *manure (this makes the waste rot and decay more quickly. If you can't find any manure, ask an adult to help you find another 'activator' for your compost heap, nettle juice is very good) * a piece of carpet or plastic sheeting * a spade

Watch your fingers!

2 Find a nice flat spot for your bin and push it firmly into the ground.

3 Place a layer of twigs and sticks at the bottom.

4 Add layers of garden waste, kitchen waste, manure and soil.

5 Add water to the layers to keep them moist, and pack them down firmly.

6 Put the piece of carpet or plastic sheeting over the top, to keep in the heat. 

You may not have enough waste to fill your bin all at once. It's fine to keep adding to it over time, but remember to leave the bin for a few months when it's full, so that all the waste turns into compost

Leave your bin for five or six months, watering it regularly to keep it damp. When your compost is ready, add it to your flower beds and vegetable patch to help your plants grow.