Check out this Composting Flyer linked and also included below for an overview of backyard composting.
BROWNS (Carbon-rich materials) |
GREENS (Nitrogen-rich materials) |
What NOT to add to your pile: |
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Alternate layers at a ratio of 2 parts Brown : 1 part Green
| Symptom | Problem | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Pile smells like rancid butter, vinegar, or rotten eggs | Too wet or not enough air or too much nitrogen | Turn pile; mix in leaves, straw, sawdust, or wood chips |
| Pile is not heating up | Pile is too small, too dry, or has not enough nitrogen | Make pile larger, provide insulation, add water while turning, add nitrogen sources |
| Pile is attracting animals | Food scraps are not well covered or meat or dairy products were added | Cover food with brown leaves, wood chips, or finished compost; keep meat and dairy out of pile; enclose pile in 1/4-inch hardware cloth |
| Pile is damp but won’t heat up | Not enough nitrogen | Mix in grass clippings, food scraps, other sources of nitrogen |
| Pile is dry | Not enough moisture, too much air flow | Water and mix well; cover loosely with tarp or landscape fabric to help hold in moisture |
| Pile is damp and warm in middle but nowhere else | Pile is too small | Add more material and moisten |
Questions? Reach out to N.C. Cooperative Extension Forsyth County Center. 336-703-2850
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