In this post I shared step-by-step how we built our 2-sectioned compost bin out of free pallets, and it generated a handful of additional questions. Here are my answers! If you have any further questions please leave a comment, and I’ll add the answers to this post.
You said to alternate green and brown layers. How do you know if items are “green” or “brown”?
It ultimately comes down to: is the thing made more of nitrogen or of carbon? I loosely think of greens as sort-of-alive, like produce, grass clippings, manure, even coffee grounds — and browns as sort-of-dead, like fall leaves, cardboard and paper, straw and sawdust.
Are eggshells compostable?
Yes eggshells can be composted, though they’re not technically a “green” OR a “brown”. They’re rich in other minerals (like calcium), and when crushed and added to your bin can add some great nutrition to your soil (and therefore the plants that will eventually grow in it!).
My compost smells bad. Is that normal?
Actually a compost pile that’s working correctly shouldn’t smell like anything other than fresh dirt. If your pile has a rancid smell:
1) Give it a good stir. It might need more air flow.
2) Make sure it’s not too dry, but also too much water will pack it down and restrict air flow.
3) Did you accidentally add any of the “no” items such as meat or dairy?
4) Add more brown items. The amount of nitrogen might be overwhelming the carbon.
At some point, do you have to stop adding things to it to let it finish decomposing? If so, when? Do you start a new pile then?
If you continue to add to the pile, the old stuff will be broken down and usable long before the newest stuff you added, so yes at some point you do need to stop adding. Depending on the size and contents of the pile (and how often you turn it), it can take a couple of months to a year before it’s ready to be used.
I started my first pile in the spring (with the spring chicken-coop-cleanout) and added to it all summer. In early fall I made my second bin, so the first one is now sitting and I just keep turning it every week or so. It’s already looking great. I’m hopeful that it’ll be far enough along that once winter hits I can just let it sit, and next spring have beautiful soil ready for my spring garden, and start the process all over again!
How do you know when it’s ready to be used?
Stir it up a bit, and you’ll be able to tell by sight when it’s ready to use. It’ll look like beautiful, dark, BLACK GOLD. 🤩
Have more questions? Let me know!
For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.
Isaiah 61:11
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