There are many different ways to compost your organic waste, some of them easier than others. While composting is not an inherently difficult task and typically requires only a minimum of time and energy to produce good results, it is still not altogether uncommon for beginners to run into one or more of several common composting problems. These problems depend on a lot of variables including the climate, weather patterns, location of the compost pile, construction of the container, and so on, and their presence does not necessarily indicate that you've "done something wrong." Correcting these problems is simply a matter of understand what exactly causes them and what you can do to head them off.
Dryness
While a compost heap should never be sopping wet, it's equally important that the compost does not become too dry. As we know, the actual composting process is done by the microorganisms that take up residence in your compost pile, and they require water in order to survive. If your compost isn't moist enough then simply adding water is often all you need to do, and monitor thereafter to ensure it does not dry out again. Adding more green materials like grass clippings, tea bags and vegetable trimmings will also aid in moisture retention.
Smell
Compost piles do produce an odor -- after all, they are essentially a large pile of decaying organic matter. The smell should not be offensive though, or so extreme that you can detect it even inside your house. A bad smelling compost indicates that there is not sufficient aeration and circulation, and the solution is to turn the pile and add things like branches and twigs to help keep it from compacting back down.
Critters
Some critters, such as worms, are beneficial to compost piles, but that's not true about all of them. If you're having a problem with animals disturbing your compost pile and digging up scraps, this is almost always because you're using materials that should not be composted. Meat, dairy products and other items that are high in fat should never be used in a compost pile. Everything that you DO add should be buried deeply and completely. Adding a lid is another way to keep animals out; there are many designs, include do-it-yourself varieties that are sturdy enough to keep almost any unwanted animal out while still provide adequate circulation and drainage for the compost.
There are several other difficulties you may or may not encounter when you compost, but these are by far the most common.
Author Resource:
CB Michaels is a longtime generator of internet material and an accomplished word slinger, and at this point in time writes about subjects like indoor composting and Earth Machine compost bin .
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