COMPOST 101

FIX COMMON ISSUES AND TURN YOUR HOUSEHOLD SCRAPS INTO BLACK GOLD

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Making compost is not an exact science. Each batch will be a little different due to the seasonal availability of scraps, the changes in the weather and variations in your compost management. It’s inevitable that at some point you’ll make a batch that goes bad. Thankfully, composting is a forgiving process, and you can always fix a mistake. Here are the most common problems and their solutions.

1 My compost stinks

• You’ve added too many greens and have forgotten about the browns. If your C:N [carbon to nitrogen] ratio is out of whack, your compost pile will quickly start to smell. Empty out the entire contents of your compost and rebuild it with layers of carbon-rich materials (such as brown leaves, aged woodchips, torn-up newspaper or hay) between the nitrogen-heavy compost. Then give your compost a big aeration to combine the layers. Adjust moisture levels by adding dry carbon or more water if needed. Doing this will quickly bring your compost back into balance and stop the stench.