>>Fruit punch? It won't get drunk here, but I was worried about the chemicals since I am pretty much all organic here.

Food is generally OK. You know, if it's edible for a human, it's edible by the compost.

>>Fermented food, such as sauerkraut? Would that disrupt the microherd?

A cupful, no. It's acidic but a small amount will blend right in.

>>Old baking mikes and if so should I get them wet first.

Yes, and no, you don't have to. Spread them out though so they don't make clumps.

>>I also have some beef broth that needs to be tossed, but I was worried about the sodium.

Again, small quantities, no worries. 10 gallons of beef broth? Might be a problem. :-]

Get free coffee grounds from starbucks.

That fruit punch will be mostly sugar but the compost pile may be a better place for it, otherwise just as Tox has already written.

I would be hesitant about broth (and avoid adding anything that is or has touched meat or dairy) because our dog has access to compost pile and he would tear it up looking for that stuff. If you don't have critters around that you think will be attracted by it, it's fine for composting.

Generally any food you are going to toss that you would have eaten if it hadn't rotted (or maybe burned) first is good to compost, any peels or rinds from fruits & veggies, any yard waste that's not big chunks of wood, full of seeds, thorns, or poison ivy/oak/sumac.

What are baking mikes?

Baking mixes, I believe.

Good advice on the dog front, I forgot to mention the critters and meat aroma issue. :-)

If you have a lawn then mow it and use that. I dump the clippings in every week and it heats up to 150+ over night.

Shadestorm was looking for 1) whether the list of kitchen stuff was OK to add, and 2) ideas for browns that would be organic. Starbucks coffee grounds and grass clippings are great additions to the compost, but neither is related to the original questions.

Alfalfa hay or adding alfalfa meal would feed your micro-herd and give your compost a great N source.

thanks for your comment toxcrusadr ... the first sentence from the original post "I am trying find more more nitrogen sources for my compost before I add the a ton of browns I have waiting."

I provided a source

Will not help this year, but comfry in a container may help next year. It is high in Nitrogen.
Do a search to get better details then I have.

Yeah, I don't think he/she was looking for browns. Alfalfa meal DOES do lots of good. So does a dose of blood meal. Mine got cooking right away. I don't know if it's a good idea or not, but it worked. Pure N, I believe. It's hot.

Sauerkraut is PACKED with salt. To me, it's a definite no. No way.

Sorry! I dunno y'all, I musta had a brain spaz. Maybe I was reading a different thread, or slipped into an alternate reality.

Sauerkraut, all I can say about the salt is, a compost pile is like a person, it needs balanced nutrition. One can of sauerkraut, no problem, it can handle the salt just like you or me. 25 cans at once, neither human nor compost pile would be happy. :-o

Toxcrusadr was correct. I was asking about those particular items.
Sorry I didn't clarify earlier.
Yes I meant Mixes not mikes. Shouldn't post when I am tired lol.
I am a she.
No I was not looking for more browns, I have a large amount of wood chips and straw that I need to move and would have rather put it on my compost pile than put it in the city green waste bins.

Perhaps you might consider eating more vegetables, good for you and the peels etc. are great for the compost! *smile*

I try to be as organic as possible also and I'd use all the things you mention in my compost altho have found that flour needs to be well mixed or stays in a layer until the bear comes and licks some of it up! At least that's what appeared to happen, I didn't actually witness that.

I even throw in milk, bread, and small amounts of fat and meat with no problems. And it hasn't attracted any critters. I do bury those things deep in the CP.

Actually I do eat a lot of veggies, but this time of year there is little waste aside from potato skins and the tops of carrots and radishes and a very small portion of the lettuce and kale. Once my spring crop starts producing, there will be plenty. Just very minimal right now and not enough to have a correct balance with the amount of browns I have.