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My Compost Smells
Hey folks,
A few months ago a friend of mine who lives near me, pointed out a good solution to avoid spendig money on fertilizers, which is piling garden trash, but the thing is how long will it take for my pile to be ready for the soil? And anyway it smells! |
My Compost Smells
In article
, Tonyfrost wrote: Hey folks, A few months ago a friend of mine who lives near me, pointed out a good solution to avoid spendig money on fertilizers, which is piling garden trash, but the thing is how long will it take for my pile to be ready for the soil? And anyway it smells! It's not just your piles that stink. -- "Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." - Benito Mussolini. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100119/...ting_activists http://www.democracynow.org/2010/1/19/headlines |
My Compost Smells
Tonyfrost wrote:
Hey folks, A few months ago a friend of mine who lives near me, pointed out a good solution to avoid spendig money on fertilizers, which is piling garden trash, but the thing is how long will it take for my pile to be ready for the soil? And anyway it smells! The time it takes depends on the mix of ingredients in it, the temperature, how often you turn it and if you have the moisture right. From 6 weeks to a year. If it has been snowing those microorganisms are not working much at all. They all smell somewhat but if it is a really revolting sour smell it means that it has gone anaerobic, that is not enough air and/or too wet. David |
My Compost Smells
"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message ... Tonyfrost wrote: Hey folks, A few months ago a friend of mine who lives near me, pointed out a good solution to avoid spendig money on fertilizers, which is piling garden trash, but the thing is how long will it take for my pile to be ready for the soil? And anyway it smells! The time it takes depends on the mix of ingredients in it, the temperature, how often you turn it and if you have the moisture right. From 6 weeks to a year. If it has been snowing those microorganisms are not working much at all. They all smell somewhat but if it is a really revolting sour smell it means that it has gone anaerobic, that is not enough air and/or too wet. ....if it smells like rotting eggs or sulphur then you can solve that immediate problem by turning it several times and mixing in some dry material like leaves or shredded paper. The smell should lessen. rob |
My Compost Smells
On Feb 24, 6:30*am, "George" wrote:
"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message ... Tonyfrost wrote: Hey folks, A few months ago a friend of mine who lives near me, pointed out a good solution to avoid spendig money on fertilizers, which is piling garden trash, but the thing is how long will it take for my pile to be ready for the soil? *And anyway it smells! The time it takes depends on the mix of ingredients in it, the temperature, how often you turn it and if you have the moisture right. From 6 weeks to a year. *If it has been snowing those microorganisms are not working much at all. *They all smell somewhat but if it is a really revolting sour smell it means that it has gone anaerobic, that is not enough air and/or too wet. ...if it smells like rotting eggs or sulphur then you can solve that immediate problem by turning it several times and mixing in some dry material like leaves or shredded paper. The smell should lessen. rob Thanks Rob, I'll try to do that, but I was wondering if there was like a product that you can put on the stack to cover the smell... |
My Compost Smells
"Tonyfrost" wrote in message
... On Feb 24, 6:30 am, "George" wrote: "David Hare-Scott" wrote in message ... Tonyfrost wrote: Hey folks, A few months ago a friend of mine who lives near me, pointed out a good solution to avoid spendig money on fertilizers, which is piling garden trash, but the thing is how long will it take for my pile to be ready for the soil? And anyway it smells! The time it takes depends on the mix of ingredients in it, the temperature, how often you turn it and if you have the moisture right. From 6 weeks to a year. If it has been snowing those microorganisms are not working much at all. They all smell somewhat but if it is a really revolting sour smell it means that it has gone anaerobic, that is not enough air and/or too wet. ...if it smells like rotting eggs or sulphur then you can solve that immediate problem by turning it several times and mixing in some dry material like leaves or shredded paper. The smell should lessen. rob Thanks Rob, I'll try to do that, but I was wondering if there was like a product that you can put on the stack to cover the smell... ______________________________________ It's called 'sweat'. Get a fork, turn the compost until you are lathered in sweat and then you'll have no further problems with smelly compost. |
My Compost Smells
Tonyfrost wrote:
I was wondering if there was like a product that you can put on the stack to cover the smell... You don't need to cover the smell with yet another. See the previous posts; a healthy compost heap has very little odor, and certainly not an unpleasant one. Gary Woods AKA K2AHC- PGP key on request, or at home.earthlink.net/~garygarlic Zone 5/6 in upstate New York, 1420' elevation. NY WO G |
My Compost Smells
In article ,
Gary Woods wrote: Tonyfrost wrote: I was wondering if there was like a product that you can put on the stack to cover the smell... You don't need to cover the smell with yet another. See the previous posts; a healthy compost heap has very little odor, and certainly not an unpleasant one. Gary Woods AKA K2AHC- PGP key on request, or at home.earthlink.net/~garygarlic Zone 5/6 in upstate New York, 1420' elevation. NY WO G Many folks are unaware of the fact of life that death and decay aka rot enable growth and rebirth. A sterile world is devoid of life. Bill -- Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA http://www.sheep.com/sounds/baasheep1.wav |
My Compost Smells
In article d48460cb-92b4-4144-a519-f20833629a63
@m37g2000yqf.googlegroups.com, says... Thanks Rob, I'll try to do that, but I was wondering if there was like a product that you can put on the stack to cover the smell... Everyone's joking right now but let me inject a serious note. THere are no useful shortcuts. You want compost, you are going to have to learn about it and put the work in. http://www.compost.org/backyard.html |
My Compost Smells
"phorbin" wrote in message
. .. In article d48460cb-92b4-4144-a519-f20833629a63 @m37g2000yqf.googlegroups.com, says... Thanks Rob, I'll try to do that, but I was wondering if there was like a product that you can put on the stack to cover the smell... Everyone's joking right now but let me inject a serious note. THere are no useful shortcuts. You want compost, you are going to have to learn about it and put the work in. http://www.compost.org/backyard.html I certainly wasn't joking when I told him he used to use sweat as an ingredient. Unless or until he learns to add that, he won't have compost - he'll simply have rotted vegetation. I see no problems with the rotted vegetation approach either, but if he wants to go that way, he will need to understand that he doesn't pile it, he spreads it and them has to a potential weed problem unless he also learns how to use the rotted vegetation. |
My Compost Smells
Tonyfrost wrote:
On Feb 24, 6:30 am, "George" wrote: "David Hare-Scott" wrote in message ... Tonyfrost wrote: Hey folks, A few months ago a friend of mine who lives near me, pointed out a good solution to avoid spendig money on fertilizers, which is piling garden trash, but the thing is how long will it take for my pile to be ready for the soil? And anyway it smells! The time it takes depends on the mix of ingredients in it, the temperature, how often you turn it and if you have the moisture right. From 6 weeks to a year. If it has been snowing those microorganisms are not working much at all. They all smell somewhat but if it is a really revolting sour smell it means that it has gone anaerobic, that is not enough air and/or too wet. ...if it smells like rotting eggs or sulphur then you can solve that immediate problem by turning it several times and mixing in some dry material like leaves or shredded paper. The smell should lessen. rob Thanks Rob, I'll try to do that, but I was wondering if there was like a product that you can put on the stack to cover the smell... There are many kinds of plastic sheet etc but you may be making it worse by excluding the air. David |
My Compost Smells
Bill who putters wrote:
In article , Gary Woods wrote: Tonyfrost wrote: I was wondering if there was like a product that you can put on the stack to cover the smell... You don't need to cover the smell with yet another. See the previous posts; a healthy compost heap has very little odor, and certainly not an unpleasant one. Gary Woods AKA K2AHC- PGP key on request, or at home.earthlink.net/~garygarlic Zone 5/6 in upstate New York, 1420' elevation. NY WO G Many folks are unaware of the fact of life that death and decay aka rot enable growth and rebirth. A sterile world is devoid of life. Bill Ommmmmmmmmmmmmmm David |
My Compost Smells
In article ,
"FarmI" ask@itshall be given wrote: "phorbin" wrote in message . .. In article d48460cb-92b4-4144-a519-f20833629a63 @m37g2000yqf.googlegroups.com, says... Thanks Rob, I'll try to do that, but I was wondering if there was like a product that you can put on the stack to cover the smell... Everyone's joking right now but let me inject a serious note. THere are no useful shortcuts. You want compost, you are going to have to learn about it and put the work in. http://www.compost.org/backyard.html I certainly wasn't joking when I told him he used to use sweat as an ingredient. Unless or until he learns to add that, he won't have compost - he'll simply have rotted vegetation. I see no problems with the rotted vegetation approach either, but if he wants to go that way, he will need to understand that he doesn't pile it, he spreads it and them has to a potential weed problem unless he also learns how to use the rotted vegetation. Then their is the issue of heat to help break down. http://compost.css.cornell.edu/physics.html Bill Tao Follows The Earth 2:36 David Darling The Tao Of Cello New Age 1 1/24/10 3:17 PM 1993 AAC audio file -- Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA http://www.sheep.com/sounds/baasheep1.wav |
My Compost Smells
On Thu, 25 Feb 2010 09:26:23 +1100, "FarmI" wrote:
I certainly wasn't joking when I told him he used to use sweat as an ingredient. Unless or until he learns to add that, he won't have compost - he'll simply have rotted vegetation. I see no problems with the rotted vegetation approach either, but if he wants to go that way, he will need to understand that he doesn't pile it, he spreads it and them has to a potential weed problem unless he also learns how to use the rotted vegetation. That's not strictly true. What the "sweat" (turning) adds is oxygen, but there are other ways of providing that, easiest of which is to alternate the layers of vege scraps with layers of straw that trap air in the pile. The Humanure Handbook actually recommends that over turning, as turning tends to break the mycelia of all the fungi in the pile. I'm not saying that turning is bad (it's good!), just that it isn't the only answer. -- Ross McKay, Toronto, NSW Australia "And when your back stops aching and your hands begin to harden, You will find yourself a partner in the Glory of the Garden." -- Rudyard Kipling |
My Compost Smells
"Ross McKay" wrote in message
... On Thu, 25 Feb 2010 09:26:23 +1100, "FarmI" wrote: I certainly wasn't joking when I told him he used to use sweat as an ingredient. Unless or until he learns to add that, he won't have compost - he'll simply have rotted vegetation. I see no problems with the rotted vegetation approach either, but if he wants to go that way, he will need to understand that he doesn't pile it, he spreads it and them has to a potential weed problem unless he also learns how to use the rotted vegetation. That's not strictly true. What the "sweat" (turning) adds is oxygen, but there are other ways of providing that, easiest of which is to alternate the layers of vege scraps with layers of straw that trap air in the pile. It IS strictly true as it applies to him. He has smelly 'compost' right now (or says he does). The only way to cure his current 'compost' problem is to turn it. Any future compost pile is not what he asked about. |
My Compost Smells
In article , ask@itshall
says... I certainly wasn't joking when I told him he used to use sweat as an ingredient. Unless or until he learns to add that, he won't have compost - he'll simply have rotted vegetation. I see no problems with the rotted vegetation approach either, but if he wants to go that way, he will need to understand that he doesn't pile it, he spreads it and them has to a potential weed problem unless he also learns how to use the rotted vegetation. Well, as serious as you may have been, it looked like you were using humour. I wondered why you didn't indicate that after sweating and digging through anaerobic compost that one tends to smell a little ...rotten. I don't know why I keep thinking this newsgroup should be fertile ground for humour. |
My Compost Smells
On Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:53:12 +1100, "FarmI" ask@itshall be given
wrote: "Ross McKay" wrote in message .. . On Thu, 25 Feb 2010 09:26:23 +1100, "FarmI" wrote: I certainly wasn't joking when I told him he used to use sweat as an ingredient. Unless or until he learns to add that, he won't have compost - he'll simply have rotted vegetation. I see no problems with the rotted vegetation approach either, but if he wants to go that way, he will need to understand that he doesn't pile it, he spreads it and them has to a potential weed problem unless he also learns how to use the rotted vegetation. That's not strictly true. What the "sweat" (turning) adds is oxygen, but there are other ways of providing that, easiest of which is to alternate the layers of vege scraps with layers of straw that trap air in the pile. It IS strictly true as it applies to him. He has smelly 'compost' right now (or says he does). The only way to cure his current 'compost' problem is to turn it. Any future compost pile is not what he asked about. Well, he could add leaves or straw on the top which would contain the smell. |
My Compost Smells
On Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:53:12 +1100, "FarmI" wrote:
It IS strictly true as it applies to him. He has smelly 'compost' right now (or says he does). The only way to cure his current 'compost' problem is to turn it. Any future compost pile is not what he asked about. Indeed, we don't want him to learn from his mistakes, we only want him to sweat! :) -- Ross McKay, Toronto, NSW Australia "Let the laddie play wi the knife - he'll learn" - The Wee Book of Calvin |
My Compost Smells
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My Compost Smells
On Feb 25, 12:37*pm, phorbin wrote:
In article , says... Well, he could add leaves or straw on the top which would contain the smell. Trying to seal it up would make the pile more anaerobic. Eventually it all breaks down and the smell goes away but depending on the size of the bin/pile, it can take awhile. I can't give accurate facts and figures but I've instigated a couple of compost heap meltdowns with too many grass clippings and I think it took about two weeks for the stench to drop to barely noticeable. At the time the neighbours were all on vacation or the houses were vacant and up for sale, my wife was away and the compost bins are far away from the house so I let it go and then incorporated the result in the next compost heap. Well, I think the problem is that I've not only put garden trash, but maybe too much organic rubbish, Maybe these two kinds should be separated, and kept away from dog's and animal's reach. I think the best solution that many of you mention, is to use it straight away in the soil. |
My Compost Smells
"Ross McKay" wrote in message
... On Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:53:12 +1100, "FarmI" wrote: It IS strictly true as it applies to him. He has smelly 'compost' right now (or says he does). The only way to cure his current 'compost' problem is to turn it. Any future compost pile is not what he asked about. Indeed, we don't want him to learn from his mistakes, we only want him to sweat! :) But if you look at it slightly differently, then putting in the sweat now could lead him to learn. It's usually our mistakes that make us start to think before we act. |
My Compost Smells
On Thu, 25 Feb 2010 06:37:26 -0500, phorbin
wrote: In article , says... Well, he could add leaves or straw on the top which would contain the smell. Trying to seal it up would make the pile more anaerobic. Eventually it all breaks down and the smell goes away but depending on the size of the bin/pile, it can take awhile. I can't give accurate facts and figures but I've instigated a couple of compost heap meltdowns with too many grass clippings and I think it took about two weeks for the stench to drop to barely noticeable. At the time the neighbours were all on vacation or the houses were vacant and up for sale, my wife was away and the compost bins are far away from the house so I let it go and then incorporated the result in the next compost heap. Adding leaves (and rarely straw) is actually what I do when I empty my inside compost bucket on top of the pile. I'm a lazy composter who only turns it once a year. The leaves cover the odor as far as my nose can tell. Come spring I turn the whole thing over and take from the bottom. I used to love to use grass clippings but now I just leave them where they fall. Someday it's going to warm up..... |
My Compost Smells
In article 782984b9-0881-4e78-8265-9b13c25f47e2
@o30g2000yqb.googlegroups.com, says... Well, I think the problem is that I've not only put garden trash, but maybe too much organic rubbish, Maybe these two kinds should be separated, and kept away from dog's and animal's reach. I think the best solution that many of you mention, is to use it straight away in the soil. What do you mean by organic rubbish? |
My Compost Smells
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My Compost Smells
In article ,
phorbin wrote: In article 782984b9-0881-4e78-8265-9b13c25f47e2 @o30g2000yqb.googlegroups.com, says... Well, I think the problem is that I've not only put garden trash, but maybe too much organic rubbish, Maybe these two kinds should be separated, and kept away from dog's and animal's reach. I think the best solution that many of you mention, is to use it straight away in the soil. What do you mean by organic rubbish? Probably autobiographical from someone who recommends growing tea but who doesn't, and doesn't even know the difference from herbal teas and tisanes. Then claims that he grows 400 olive trees, and wonders how to make them produce fruit year round. Who owns a pizza "hut" and wants to grow tomatoes year around for sauce. Something definitely smells. -- "Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." - Benito Mussolini. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100119/...ting_activists http://www.democracynow.org/2010/1/19/headlines |
My Compost Smells
On Feb 26, 5:12*am, phorbin wrote:
In article 782984b9-0881-4e78-8265-9b13c25f47e2 @o30g2000yqb.googlegroups.com, says... Well, I think the problem is that I've not only put garden trash, but maybe too much organic rubbish, Maybe these two kinds should be separated, and kept away from dog's and animal's reach. *I think the best solution that many of you mention, is to use it straight away in the soil. What do you mean by organic rubbish? Well food basicly, like meat vegetables, fruit, coffee. |
My Compost Smells
In article f6346e84-04eb-4a58-84d8-34af7e636289
@k17g2000yqb.googlegroups.com, says... On Feb 26, 5:12*am, phorbin wrote: In article 782984b9-0881-4e78-8265-9b13c25f47e2 @o30g2000yqb.googlegroups.com, says... Well, I think the problem is that I've not only put garden trash, but maybe too much organic rubbish, Maybe these two kinds should be separated, and kept away from dog's and animal's reach. *I think the best solution that many of you mention, is to use it straight away in the soil. What do you mean by organic rubbish? Well food basicly, like meat vegetables, fruit, coffee. Meat is where you're going far wrong. You've already noticed the stench. It can and will attract scavengers, including rats (which may or may not be a problem where you are). These days the general rule is only vegetable matter goes into a compost heap. If you want to process meat down to compost you use a digester. http://www.greenusesforwaste.co.uk/m...ood-waste.html http://www.leics.gov.uk/index/enviro...ges/food_waste _digesters.htm |
My Compost Smells
In article wldbilly-110A62.21254225022010@c-61-68-245-
199.per.connect.net.au, says... In article , phorbin wrote: In article 782984b9-0881-4e78-8265-9b13c25f47e2 @o30g2000yqb.googlegroups.com, says... Well, I think the problem is that I've not only put garden trash, but maybe too much organic rubbish, Maybe these two kinds should be separated, and kept away from dog's and animal's reach. I think the best solution that many of you mention, is to use it straight away in the soil. What do you mean by organic rubbish? Probably autobiographical from someone who recommends growing tea but who doesn't, and doesn't even know the difference from herbal teas and tisanes. Then claims that he grows 400 olive trees, and wonders how to make them produce fruit year round. Who owns a pizza "hut" and wants to grow tomatoes year around for sauce. Something definitely smells. Maybe, but people do get into trouble by trying to realize an idea without understanding that there's more to know, doing any research or having knowledgeable help. On this account and in this instance I'm willing to give a by because basic information is important enough to restate. Everyone starts somewhere even if that somewhere amounts to putting your foot in it and losing a shoe the first time you discover the barnyard. (It's losing the shoe that make people remember the event. Who knew that a crusty, dusty cow patty could look like dirt?) I'll await developments. |
My Compost Smells
On Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:13:54 -0500, phorbin
wrote: In article , says... Adding leaves (and rarely straw) is actually what I do when I empty my inside compost bucket on top of the pile. I'm a lazy composter who only turns it once a year. The leaves cover the odor as far as my nose can tell. Come spring I turn the whole thing over and take from the bottom. Which is adding brown to green. Brown + green in relatively good proportion equals no stench to speak of. Yup. We do that too through snowless periods during the winter which serves double duty by keeping the kitchen compost hidden until things heat up. I guess I do sort of turn it in the warmer months by covering the kitchen by products with the unfinished compost. I'm looking forward to be able to do more than converse about gardening... |
My Compost Smells
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