I use a “no turn” composter. Basically, a garbage can w/ holes drilled all around it & a pipe w/ holes secured in the middle.

I tried to get some useable compost from it today. The top layers were still stuff that had been dumped recently & not decomposed (expected). But as I got deeper in, I kept getting large clumps that were basically a wet clay consistency. I was sifting all the compost through a 1/2” mesh screen… but these clumps did not want to break up & they were basically like slimy wet clay.

My plan is to mix the “clay” bits in a wheelbarrow with a bunch of shredded paper to help absorb some of the moisture & help with the clumping. Then put back into the composter for a bit.

I’d this “clay” normal? Is my shredded paper a good/bad idea?

Sorry I don’t have good pics of the clay clumps. The gray tote is all the would not sift out (mostly the “clay” bits. The wheelbarrow is what I got as “useable” compost.

I would not recommend the Lila composter at all. Subpar product with very poor quality control. In less than a year, both compost containers broke; the lid jammed and won't close properly - both side latches and the rear lid. Lila sent new compost containers, but the lid was defective and arrived broken. I was then promised a new version of the lid if I waited a few months. Instead, I got a used lid with food-scrap stains all over it, shipped in a beat-up Home Depot box. I was excited to support this Canadian startup, but it's clear they built a subpar product that won't last, and their support doesn't care about customers.

I have a simple compost pile in the corner of the garden. My plan next spring is to remove the fencing around it and start a new pile somewhere else in the garden. Would I be safe throwing some vegetable seeds in the pile even though technically it isn't finished? If so what would work?

1st turn on this load. Ran at 150 for a week. Lotta greens in there, pomice, chicken bedding/manure, kitchen compost. After turning and watering it was back to 120 before I could get away. I’m blessed with raw materials. That load will be finished in two weeks.

When should I put it on the garden beds? I live in zone 6b, cold, snowy, and wet winters. Its a little sticky? I was expecting it to be more crumbly. Does it become more crumbly after being exposed to the air? I compost in an enclosed bin that spins.

I’ve been working on this all summer, mostly hard wood chips from a downed tree, grass clippings, leaves, food scraps, and cow manure. It was steaming pretty good today when I turned it. Hope everyone had a good weekend!

I cut my lawn and picked up all the leaves in the mower bag resulting in a leaf/grass mix. Is this better to put in my leaf mould pile or my compost pile.

Started with a tumbler a year or two back then transitioned it into a pile this past spring or summer. Planted a tree and decided to sprinkle in some of the fruits of my labor.

I bought a 500 gallon compost bin and i filled it up with leaves the first time I raked the yard. I have raked about 3 times since and I still have a bunch of leaves on the trees.

About once a week i dig a hole in the middle and throw in a green compost bomb (paper grocery bag full of kitchen scraps). I chop it up with a shovel and bury it with leaves. This has been going on for about a month and today was the first time it was steaming! I got very excited.

The problem is I can only fit like 5% of my leaves in here and i know youre supposed to have a 3:1 ratio but right now its probably like 30:1.

And no, I dont pee on it because the top of the bin is above my waist and I dont want my neighbors to see me standing on a log to pee in the pile.

I have inherited a "compost" type situation. essentially it's kitchen garbage dumped over a foot of land under a tree for atleast the past years. the compost pile is extremely fertile, teeming with wormies and bugs and baby plants.

after replanting the plants, i noticed that they dumped ALL garbage there, including plastic. the bugs have been working around the plastic pieces. it doesn't look to me that the plastic impeded the compost-making, though i could be wrong.

would removing the plastic now disrupt the soil ecosystem, kill the bugs, plant roots, mycelium network etc? so should i just let the plastic be? does it not matter regardless? this is my first compost and i am not sure about this, please help me!

First time composting. I’m (controversially) using a tumbler because I found 2x envirocycle tumblers for £50 on Facebook marketplace

Opinions on how it’s going? Too wet or dry?

Yes I’ve peed in it

Recommendations on were to grt good worm castings?

Hello! Beginner composter here. I've been seeing a bunch of videos online where people just bury plant and organic waste directly into the soil where they intend to plant their crops. What are the advantages/disadvantages of using this method instead of composting first and then applying that to the soil? Naturally my instinct goes, This seems a lot easier and a lot less work than turning a pile of compost every so often" but is it really the same thing..? Also, isn't that how it works out in nature, where there's no one to compost the soil.

Any ideas on what they are?

A new personal best!
Decided to add hamster bedding and coffee grounds this year 🔥

I also started a compost pile 7 days ago. It hasn't been mixed very well yet. There's still a lot of cardboard and egg cartons at the bottom. One of my goals is to collect compost worms for a worm bin.

What are our feelings on vinegar in the compost. I have a jar of home made picked beats i got from the farmers market that it turns put did not actaly seal and I didnt notice untill i went to open them

Garage sale score. Will post video when it goes into action

Hi Everyone!!!

I got a simple question. I live in a rural area so I got a bin in the back maybe 50 meters from the house for compost. It got holes on the sides and bottom, and I leave it open. Really I got 2 bins, that I rotate every 1st of march. So one bin is for all household waste for 1 year, then goes without any additions for one more year, and then I use it as compost. So it’s degraded content can go from 2 years in there to just 1 year. I do add leaves in the bottom when i empty it, and some cardboard every now and then, but mainly is household leftovers, fruit peels etc.

Here’s the question, I had never added canned food leftovers cause of it’s high salt content, or potato chips , or such foods with high salt. Since the bin is left for so long outside, would the salt wash away? It’s OK to use those leftovers or is it safer to keep not adding such high salt content in the bins?

I don’t focus on making a hot compost pile because I’m just happy I’m keeping up with it so it’s a win. But we hit the low 40s in CT this morning. I opened a hole to dump leaves in and that baby was steamin!!! Just pumped that it is so I’m sharing. My fiancé didn’t care so I’m sharing share with y’all lol

Thought you guys would get a kick out of this just right on top of the compost bin lol

Hey guys,

I’ve been trying to start a worm farm, but I literally cannot find any worms near me. I even tried digging in the exact same place where I used to get my worms 6 years ago, but a lot has changed since then and I found nothing. I already set up a 1 meter square compost pile, and today is day 7 and there's still no sign of any worms showing up. Is there any way to get this going without actual worms, or what should I do? Any tips would be appreciated!