Im trying my hand at making compost. I took a rubber maid trash can and
placed refuge in there (Leaves lawns clippings, lettuce from salads
ect) I placed some lime in there and with the lid secured, I tumble it
just a bout everyday. Lately I've been noticing water sludge coming from
the can with a foul stench. Today I took the lid off, everything inside
is wet and the water appears to be "moving". Like it has small micro
organisms that you can see moving about. There were also some other
type insects in there. They were bigger then maggots roughly half an
inch to a full inch.
Is this normal or did I do something wrong?

Peter Pan said:

Im trying my hand at making compost. I took a rubber maid trash can and
placed refuge in there (Leaves lawns clippings, lettuce from salads
ect) I placed some lime in there and with the lid secured, I tumble it
just a bout everyday. Lately I've been noticing water sludge coming from
the can with a foul stench. Today I took the lid off, everything inside
is wet and the water appears to be "moving". Like it has small micro
organisms that you can see moving about. There were also some other
type insects in there. They were bigger then maggots roughly half an
inch to a full inch.
Is this normal or did I do something wrong?

Leave the lid off. It needs air, too.
--

Eggs

The speed of time is one second per second.

on 8/21/2008 2:59 PM Peter Pan said the following:
Im trying my hand at making compost. I took a rubber maid trash can
and placed refuge in there (Leaves lawns clippings, lettuce from
salads ect) I placed some lime in there and with the lid secured, I
tumble it just a bout everyday. Lately I've been noticing water sludge
coming from the can with a foul stench. Today I took the lid off,
everything inside is wet and the water appears to be "moving". Like it
has small micro organisms that you can see moving about. There were
also some other type insects in there. They were bigger then maggots
roughly half an inch to a full inch.
Is this normal or did I do something wrong?

You made a septic tank. Compost needs drainage and air.

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
in the original Orange County
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

Peter Pan blurted out in alt.home.lawn.garden:

Im trying my hand at making compost. I took a rubber maid trash can and
placed refuge in there (Leaves lawns clippings, lettuce from salads
ect) I placed some lime in there and with the lid secured, I tumble it
just a bout everyday. Lately I've been noticing water sludge coming from
the can with a foul stench. Today I took the lid off, everything inside
is wet and the water appears to be "moving". Like it has small micro
organisms that you can see moving about. There were also some other
type insects in there. They were bigger then maggots roughly half an
inch to a full inch.
Is this normal or did I do something wrong?

Make sure the bottom of it can drain and try adding some "brown" material.
I'd also leave the lid off until it dries some.
Drill some holes in the bottom, sides and lid so that it can get air.

If a compost pile stinks, it's too wet so it needs air or more dry material.