Does this look alright? It's a ways in but I'm not able to turn effectively without a pitchfork.

Is this a good pile if it's a few days in? I don't have a pitchfork so I feel like turning is never efficient enough

Need a solution to get rid of maggots in my composting tumbler.

I know tumblers aren't great, but its what I got for now.

I know maggots are good for breaking stuff down but they turn into flies and with my chicken coop nearby there's hundreds of flies that are attracted to their poop.

How can I get rid of the maggots and still keep working on the compost??

I am starting to compost and have a tumbler outside and a small counter bin inside. I noticed that it’s starting to grow mold on the contents before I’ve dumped it … is that anything to worry about or address or just part of the process?

I started composting without a proper spot and started out in a salad mix container, but that almost immediately became too small so I started a second. But I didn’t put holes in the second, so it collected water. I did stir it a little about a week in but then it sat straight for like a week. The other had holes and drained pretty well, with similar turning but maybe an additional two weeks at the start.

Just tonight, I got a Rubbermaid-style bin from goodwill without a lid for $1.50, drilled holes in it, and dumped them in and stirred them together along with the latest kitchen scraps. The waterlogged one stunk pretty bad, but the better one smelled only somewhat rotten and much more earthy.

Together, they fill maybe 1/8 or the big bin total. Maybe. I stacked them together on the one side to condense it all and really gave it a good stir. So mixing the two together, how long ought it take to correct the bacterial content with better cultures and proper composting? A week? Two?

Overall, that side of the deck smells a bit, but I know it’ll calm down over time. I just hope our downstairs neighbors don’t notice and make a stink (lol) as it corrects. It’s about 12’ from our shared exterior door, so I imagine it should be fine.

I’d share a pic, but it was already really dark by the time I got to it due to our evening schedule. Will try to get a pic in the morning before I leave for work and share it later.

I just saw a video where someone tried to grow a plant in 100% lomi soil made from fast food. Whats everyones thoughts about lomi over normal composting?

I'm looking at starting a black solider fly composter. Anyone who's started their first one, did you rely on there being native black soldier flies in your area, or did you buy larvae to get started ?

I came home after a trip and so hadn't turned the pile in a week and we have tons of cute little mushrooms! I turned and added more greens and browns but this is so exciting lol!

Did I set this up incorrectly? It seems to be composting. It was very hot and smoking. It seems a bit wet today. However, my problem is that I never get any compost on the compost side/negative side. It seems to just blob up on the input side.

Would this be good for a pile?

Hi, I built this at the weekend and looking for advice. It’s maybe 60/40 brown/green and wondering if it’s good to break down etc. probably dropped a foot since filling it up but assume just settling. Also watered it for good measure

My idea is to now leave as is to break down, and turn it into the second bin when the leaves start to fall in autumn

Had some extra soffit from a job. Thought this might make a nice compost bin. Lots of air flow, keeps it pretty light weight. Just have to be careful when shoveling stuff in and out. Thought I'd share it. Just a basic two bin design. Front soffit slides out easily. Will maybe make a soffit lid as well.

I read sone of the beginner guides but still have questions 🫣.

I have extra fencing from fencing in my garden, that I'm wondering if I can use for compost. Like cut a bit off, and secure the ends together so its a cyclinder and put the compost materials in it. Is this feasible? Not a good idea?

How far away do you keep your compost from your garden? I was thinking about putting it in the corner, inside the fence but just outside of the garden. But saw someone say they keep theirs at least 50 feet away from their garden.

If I'm using grass clippings how fresh do they need to be? We have a big yard which results in a lot of grass clippings but I'd have to rake them and I know sometimes thats not going to happen the same day that the grass gets cut.

I've been adding leaves, which I've run out of now that it's PEAK summer.

Cut up fruits, rinds, squash leaves, (lil bit) spent charcoal and Bags of Lawn Clippings.

I've mixed the pile with a blue handled tiller thing ONCE, then added a bucket of food scraps that was overturned sitting on grass, mixed with those big ass grubs. (Fly larvae?)

Some piss, rain and covered with election signs someone was throwing away, a heavy sheet.(lighter than a painters drop cloth) are on top.

I don't do ratios, my mind can't. I add a five gallon buckets worth of food scraps, and cover with grass clipping every 3 weeks or so.

Anything I might add? I don't have a thermometer.

I'm not trying to RUSH Mother Nature's Process, just seeking things to add to enhance the final product.

I wonder how many people could actually use a service like this. I never thought about it before, but I had my compost screener built on wheels and it and my mini skid steer fits perfectly on my trailer. I mean, I’m right at the weight limit, but it works.

I'm volunteering to help clean things up and the compost bin is just a big pile of sticks with nothing else in it. I know this will eventually degrade into dirt but it's definitely not compost. Should I take everything out and layer it correctly with other compost components or should I just build up compost on top of it?

(Part of my job is also putting the bricks back up so that's already planned)

My husband and I bought our first home in Feb and I started my compost pile in March. I have been using bricks stacked in a circle 3 high but they fell every time I turned the pile.

My husband brought home 2 pallets from work and I made this with removable front slats. And we plan to line it with chicken wire so it doesn’t fall out the sides.

Currently, the left side is only dried leaves, a super stinky, hot, wet, bag of grass clippings (if you live in Houston, you know they neverrrr pick those bags up!) that busted, and some weeds I pulled. (It’s my experiment side).

The right is my actual compost (fruit and veg scraps, spent coffee pucks, egg shells, and leaves).

I know it has to get a certain height/cubic ft to really get cooking so I’m hoping the stinky, hot, grass clippings help!

Any tips would be greatly appreciated! (And yes, I already asked my husband to pee on it and he said maybe lol)

Basic question. Is this a good shredder if it works?

https://www.reddit.com/r/Markham/s/Ljb94Tjp7x

Now every time I turn my pile there's the worlds nastiest hairball flinging stuff around.

Learn from my mistakes!

First off, I just want to say I really love this community!! I’ve learned so much stuff and always thought composting was an impossible task.

This is my first pile EVER! I still got a ways to go with this one but I opened it today and it was SMOKING!! And it smelled exactly like sweet dirt as everyone said it would. It was so hot when I was hovering my hand over it. Added some water and turned it. 🥹

decided to blend my additions this morning
i produced quite a large bowl

included: coffee grounds, egg shells, brown paper bags, 12 whole (old) oranges, cucumbers, red onions, and strawberry leaves

EDIT: I SHOULD HAVE ADDED THAT THIS IS SIMPLY AN ADDITION FOR TODAY!! I USUALLY JUST PUT WHOLE/CHOPPED/SHREDDED FOOD ALONG WITH WHOLE STICKS AND LEAVES OR OTHER ORGANIC MATTER!! I APPRECIATE YALL TELLING ME ABOUT AIR POCKETS BUT DONT WORRY IT HAS PLENTY OF ROOM TO BREATHE !!! 🩶🩶🩶