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My compost bin in the backyard turned into a weird science project
I started a compost pile last spring with just kitchen scraps and leaves, but after six months it was still a wet, smelly mess. I learned I needed way more 'brown' stuff like cardboard or dry leaves to balance it out, not just food waste. Has anyone in a wet climate like Seattle figured out a good ratio for backyard composting that actually works?
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phoenixb342mo ago
Oh man, that wet mess is the WORST. I'm in Portland and had the same issue. The trick is to keep a giant bag of dry leaves or shredded paper right next to your bin. Every time you dump a kitchen pail of scraps, you bury it under a layer of that brown stuff that's at least twice as thick. If it looks or smells soggy, you just aren't adding enough cardboard and leaves. My pile finally heats up now because I stopped being shy with the browns.
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kellys782mo ago
Wait you keep a whole bag of leaves next to your bin? That's actually genius lol. I just run out to the yard every time and get soaked. My pile is definitely still a cold, slimy disaster because I'm totally skimping on the browns. I gotta get over that and just dump a whole newspaper in there.
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hugo_robinson252mo ago
Totally agree with @phoenixb34, it's funny how we all skimp on the simple fix that makes the biggest difference. What's your next move to fix that slimy pile?
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