I'm often asked why anyone would want to use compost in their garden. There are so many good reasons. However we will touch on the obvious 
ones at first. Plus I will give you some of my grandpa's favorite tips for making compost properly. First of all, let's define compost. It is not those colored bags of mulch or wood chips! That you can often find in the lawn and garden section of your favorite store.
Now first what is compost? It's merely a mixture of various types of partially decomposed organic waste material, which is used to fertilize plants and improve garden productivity and is the key to good rich soil. Good garden soil has a loose texture and good drainage capability. Adding the right amount of compost to the soil helps to achieve both of these benefits. Your garden could have clay soil, or it could have sandy soil. Regardless, compost will improve its health and performance.
Compost also contains stored up vital nutrients that benefit plants, and it will release those nutrients over an extended period of time, and it will not burn plants no matter how much you apply.
In today's world it's becoming more important for people to make their own compost. Whenever possible making compost allows all the materials that were used to be kept out of landfills were they would go to waste. So there is less need for chemical fertilizers to be applied to your own gardens. Which is very good for your own family's health and your local communities drinking water, in other words your protecting your local environment.
Now let's talk a little about what materials can be used to make compost? On my grandparents little farmstead we used Vegetable peelings, coffee grounds, eggshells, tea bags, egg cartons and some other kinds of cardboard, straw, leaves, grass clippings, dead flowers, chicken and pigeon droppings, and more.
However, it's more important to note that there are some types of organic matter that should never be added to the compost pile. They are dog, cat and human manure, dairy products, eggs, grease, meat and bones. These either could create a human pathogen hazards in the compost, or will attract pests like rats, cockroaches and wild animals to the compost pile not to mention a really nasty smell.
If you have the space, and you don't want to spend any money you can just start the compost pile right on the ground. Just remember don't put it in a shady, damp place. You can add bit's of kitchen and garden waste when you have it and let nature take care of the process. For me this takes a bit longer than I like. I prefer taking a more 'active' role in my composting efforts, the first method mention results in the bottom of the pile having the finished compost while the newer materials sit on top.
To make an active compost pile, you will be turning the contents with a shovel or pitchfork on a regular basis. This will speed up the decomposition process and make the contents more uniform and attractive to the eye.
I have found it's easier, and certainly neater, to enclose the compost in some sort of structure it could be something as simple as a crate, can or 
cinder block enclosure.
I have seen people who just use and old garbage can with holes drilled in the bottom and sides, even a couple of discarded old wooden shipping pallets can also make a cheap and functional compost bin. If you wish to have an active and even more appealing composting method, then you might consider some sort of a tumbler or rotating bin design.
In these, the materials are added through a door in the bin, which is then shut so the tumbler can be rotated a few times, making the turning 
process much easier and controls the moisture content even better. The drum can be turned on a regular basis, not just when new ingredients are added usually everyday are so.
There's a lot more to learn about composting. Unfortunately, we don't have space in this short article to cover all the ins and outs. If it sounds like a win-win situation, then pick up one of the many books that are available on the subject, or do some internet research, and you'll soon be adding some of that dark brown earthy smelling stuff to your garden. Your plants and the planet will reward you for your efforts!
