A mixture of decomposed organic materials like leaves, food scraps, and grass that becomes rich soil for gardens, or the process of breaking down these materials.
From Old French 'composte,' from Latin 'compositus' (put together). The word originally meant a mixture or compound, and specialized into meaning decomposed organic matter.
Compost is basically controlled rotting—and it's surprisingly sophisticated! The microbes and fungi breaking down your kitchen scraps create temperatures hot enough to kill seeds and pathogens, which is why gardeners call a good compost pile 'cooking.'
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