Start with leaves. Leaves, like all dead, brown plant matter, are rich in carbon. A compost pile should include carbon-rich plant materials as well as nitrogen-rich ones — fresh, green things, such as weeds you’ve pulled, end-of-season annuals, and vegetable scraps from the kitchen. “If you can, stash extra leaves away in autumn so you have carbon-rich material to add all year,” Yiesla said.
