/r/composting

Photograph via snooOG

A place to talk about decomposing materials into compost.

Compost - organic matter that has been decomposed and recycled as a fertilizer and soil amendment.

Do you have a garden and want an easy way to make fertilizer?

Wondering what to do with all those table scraps, leaves, and grass clippings?

Make compost! It is easy to start and easy to maintain.

Share your tips, stories, ideas, pictures, or questions!

Post requirements:

Setting some minimums to maintain spam:

  1. Account must be at least 30 days old.
  2. Accounts must have a combined 100 karma points.

Posting Rules

  1. Be respectful to others - this includes no hostility, racism, sexism, bigotry, etc.

  2. Submissions and comments must be composting focused.

  3. For people posting their own content, make sure to follow Reddit's rules for self promotion and spam. If you do not, your post will be removed.


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/r/composting

196,163 Subscribers

8

Wood mulch

I am looking at buying a property. The land is wooded with several sections of granite outcroppings (2+ acres of solid rock). Current owner has cover approximately 1 acre of the rock with approximately 8 ft of wood mulch.(yes it is 8 ft deep with solid rock below the mulch. His neighbor works in the forestry business and dumped his mulch here) Will this break down in the next few years and be usable for a garden? What can I expect to happen?

5 Comments
2024/12/02
02:49 UTC

6

New to composting

I had a small enclosure I originally built for chicks that I’m no longer using, so I decided to repurpose it. I flipped it upside down, filled it with last year’s leaves, and added a generous amount of straw and wood chips from the chicken coop. I’ve also been peeing on it when outside doing chores. Is there anything else I should be doing?

4 Comments
2024/12/02
01:32 UTC

4

Got compost from a neighbor that isn’t fully done what do I do?

24 Comments
2024/12/01
21:47 UTC

0

Just working out here

You know the drill

15 Comments
2024/12/01
21:30 UTC

2

PVC Pipes For Air

Recently received a large chip drop in my driveway. Before moving it to the backyard, would it be worthwhile to add a pvc pipe system to the new pile so that I can aerate it without having to manually turn it. Plan on running some 2” pvp pipe with holes about every inch at various depths with a connect for my blower or compressor to add air to pile. Would this work or be a waste of time? Thanks in advance for any advice?

7 Comments
2024/12/01
21:13 UTC

2

What has been making my compost bin its home / pantry?

This is a plastic bin in my backyard. I put my kitchen scraps in there every other day. It has a secure lid and stones around the base (to a distance of around 20 cm) so that nothing can burrow directly into it. Usually, I give the top layer a mix every time I add to it, so these burrows are fresh.

I live just North of Lake Ontario, so it's getting cold. Rats? Rabbits? Something else? Squirrels even? Should I do something about it?

https://preview.redd.it/dmk0iy5psa4e1.jpg?width=716&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=eb68c2b58ea0e9ba9c5da9b32a19663071c73960

2 Comments
2024/12/01
20:36 UTC

22

Composting related hobbies

As I was sharpening knives before I cut fruits for worm compost bin, this question occurred to me:

What are good hobbies somewhat related to composting?

43 Comments
2024/12/01
20:21 UTC

22

Shredding Sunday

Spending my day shredding for my compost pile. Working on my 2nd barrel right now.

2 Comments
2024/12/01
20:12 UTC

159

Gourmet mushroom grower giving away spent mushroom blocks in PNW. Oyster mushrooms and lion's mane mushrooms.

34 Comments
2024/12/01
18:13 UTC

19

Leaf season is over. Year round brown in plentiful supply : kid art

3 Comments
2024/12/01
17:33 UTC

2

Adding yeast…

Yesterday I read an article about adding yeast to compost piles to speed up composting. Has anyone tried this?

Edit. I think I actually posed this question twice. My apologies. Rather new at this.

2 Comments
2024/12/01
16:47 UTC

3

Beginner Composter

I want to start composting at home and plan on using the compost for my garden and flower beds. I have been doing quite a bit of research the past few months, but am looking for help in deciding which setup/container in my backyard. I’m hesitant to use a plastic container, especially since my compost will be used for my garden. So far, I’ve seen that popular metal choices include the Behrens, Demeter, and Jora (a bit out of my price point). But the reviews for Behrens seems like they rust easily and the Demeter might not be the best structural setup. Then again, should I be concerned with using a metal container for my compost? My husband and I aren’t very handy, so I would prefer a pre-made container or an easy DIY. Would wood be the way to go? Thanks in advance besties

8 Comments
2024/12/01
16:28 UTC

7

Compost piles around trees?

Hello,

I‘ve moved to a little farm this year, so I’m quite new to the whole thing and just experimenting around.

One thing I am doing is, that I collect my food waste (no cooked meat of course) in a small container, and when that‘s full, I spread it around one of the many trees on our land (mainly oaks and chestnuts). Then I grab a rake and cover the compost with some old leaves and loose grass from around the tree.

My thought is, that the tree roots, the mycelium around them and whatever little bugs live in the soil will take care of the organic matter that I put around the trees. I don’t need composted soil, as we got an abundance of very fertile, slightly acidic soil on our land. So I „feed“ the trees with my food waste.

So my question is, if anyone here has done something similar? Could it work? I mean in a way that benefits the trees?

(I bet someone will comment that I need to pee on it 🤣)

14 Comments
2024/12/01
09:55 UTC

0

How many piles do I need so I never have to use the toilet for pissing again

The piles should not get too much piss so that they start stinking

2 Comments
2024/12/01
09:51 UTC

51

Our little composters.

🤎

11 Comments
2024/12/01
09:18 UTC

4

Integrating the chook run and compost making. The journey begins.

Bkark!

2 Comments
2024/12/01
04:45 UTC

3

E. coli

We have some carrots that were recalled for E. coli. Can I compost them?

7 Comments
2024/12/01
04:34 UTC

16

Today’s creation

My third open air pile, c’mon high temps!

4 Comments
2024/12/01
03:51 UTC

2

Can I use manure-smelling compost for my indoor plants?

Hey all

I recently bought some compost from a store I trust and it smells of manure. I think that means it hasn't fully developed? Is it dangerous to use for my inside pot plants?

The smell isn't too strong if I'm not close so hopefully won't bother me... I just worry about the plants.

I'm reading online about how to fix the compost by adding more browns but does anyone have any hacks that are actually accessible to me as someone who lives in an apartment and has just a balcony?!

Or will it resolve by itself in time? In its plastic bag or in pots indoors?

Thanks 🙏🏻

6 Comments
2024/12/01
02:10 UTC

91

Best $2.50 purchase

Half price day at the thrift!

18 Comments
2024/11/30
23:54 UTC

3

Advice Needed: Community Compost

Hi! I am in Zone 9A and setting up a community compost for our community garden. I've done some very basic home tumbler composting, so I could really use some advice to make sure we set this up right.

So far, the plan is:

  • 5gal bucket pick-up system
  • laminated instructions on buckets + community compost zone
  • ready-source of browns for balancing added greens
  • turn once a week
  • test compost before using for garden

For the compost bins:

  • construct out of wood + hardware cloth
  • at least 2ft buffer from walls, shrubs, etc
  • gravel pad: 6" deep + 1” diameter (or larger) stones
  • base of 6” of course browns (wood chips)

What am I missing or overlooking? Any extra advice regarding rodent prevention?

Anything helps. Thank you 🤎

2 Comments
2024/11/30
23:44 UTC

282

My version of black friday

Sifted a cubic metre of compost. 1/4” screen. Made from food scraps, sawdust, wood chip, and firepit ash. Sawdust seemed to finish at a lighter color than otherwise, interestingly. All ready for top dressing winter plantings.

18 Comments
2024/11/30
22:28 UTC

13

Turning Pile Too Much?

I’ve seen recommendations to turn your compost pile every 7 to 10 days. I tend to turn it every time I take a batch of kitchen scraps to the pile, like every three days or so. Is that too much?

And what if you have worms in your bin? Should you hold off on turning altogether while the population is high?

25 Comments
2024/11/30
21:58 UTC

1

Prop 65 Warning on Compost Bucket

My wife picked up a cute little bucket to sit by the sink and contain our kitchen scraps. But upon closer examination, it comes with a Prop 65 warning. I know the path between kitchen to compost pile to garden back to kitchen is a long one, but should I be concerned?

3 Comments
2024/11/30
21:44 UTC

43

New here and to composting and I need you guys to be straight with me: should I really be peeing on my pile?

Not a joke - I think? But you’ve all got me so turned around I don’t know where to pee anymore.

Anyways, here’s my new bin in Houston. Any warm weather tips? I started it off with about 50/50 mix of brown and green. Four big dead mums that I chopped up went a long way.

61 Comments
2024/11/30
21:26 UTC

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