Compost do-over - where do I start?

17 years ago

My 'compost pile' is huge; maybe 8x8x3, but dead as a doornail. I call it 'the compost pile', but it's actually just the place where I dump old soil-less potting mix, leaves, grass and plant clippings ~ no proper layering, no turning for years.

As a result,there are no worms, no dark, rich 'garden gold' ~ only dry, lifeless 'un-compost'. It also seems that the deeper I dig, the worse it is. There are a few fringe areas where my 'sheer neglect' technique has worked and the soil is black and literally packed full of big fat worms, but these areas are few and far between.

I have thought about moving the whole thing one shovel full at a time and then rebuilding it back in the same place, taking care to layer leaves, dirt, grass,kitchen scraps,a little water, etc. in hopes of finally getting the heat going, but this task feels daunting as I don't think I can do this much shoveling.

As as an alternative, would it work about as well to just dig a bunch of holes and do the layering thing in each hole? What about adding 10-10-10? Would covering it move the process along or is summer heat enough?

Sure would appreciate any thoughts on this !

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Comments (6)

takadi
17 years ago
I don't believe any compost is "dead" unless it's contaminated heavy metals, or poisons of some sort. Nothing that a little moisture and extra nitrogen won't fix. Your pile is probably either just dry or lacking green materials
pennymca
17 years ago
Maybe, if it needs moisture, you should mix up some "Bug Juice" and pour it into some holes in the compost or just on the compost. Use some the "sheer neglect" compost as part of the starter in the BJ.

For matters of experimentation, why not make a small pile (from the big pile), add more nitrogen in the form of some alfalfa pellets or other greens that are easy to obtain, and some of the compost that "happened" and see if you can't get a smaller steaming pile. Then you could gradually add stuff from the big pile. Also, use the bug juice to moisten that as you are building it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bug Juice Recipe
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lincann
Original Author
17 years ago
Brilliant, pennymca and takadi !!! It's like you were looking over my shoulder and into the great, dry, beige abyss that is my compost pile!

The Bug Juice is on my to-do list and I think the addition of BJ, water and 'green' will get me in the right direction ~ guess I just needed someone else to say so.

Thanks so !
Kimmsr
17 years ago
That size pile is a bit too large and can inhibit air passege to the center where the aerobic bacteria are working the hardest. The maximum size that is workable is a 6 x 6, although height does not seem to be a limiting factor. Beyond that you need to look at particle size, moisture (too much is as bad as too little since too much excludes the necessary air), C:N ratio. It is difficult to know whether adding any Nitrogen would help and putting in that synthetic fertilizer could cause more problems then it would solve. Earthworms are not significant digesters of compost, leave them in your soil where they do belong.
teequiltbarbie
17 years ago
Wow, thanks! Looks I'm not the only one with cold slop which I thought should be compost by now. Used one 3x3x3 bin yesterday to help fill raised bed. When I got to the second bed, it was cold, sloppy, mostly browns that hadn't done as much as they should have. Lots of clumps of leaves, sticks, paper, eggshells. So today I will turn into empty bin, add grass clippings and hopefully start a new pile hoping to rescue the "stuff" that sits lifeless in binb #2. So glad you all answered this post. I'll work on it...thanks.
toxcrusadr
17 years ago
I wouldn't add soil to a compost pile, it does not provide any C or N and just absorbs heat. It can contribute microbes of course but your old pile is full of them. They are just sitting idle due to lack of greens and moisture.

I'd repile with grass clippings mixed in, if this were at my house. I still find bags of them curbside, although it's decreased a lot in recent years as people switch to mulching mowers.

Good luck!