How Do You Revive A Nonperforming Compost Pile?
When it comes to organic matter, compost is la cre`me de la cre`me. Making a big batch of the stuff is fairly simple: The key is striking the right balance of 3 parts dry, high-carbon (aka brown) material to 1 part succulent, high-nitrogen (aka green) material. Still, even when you’ve got the numbers just so, things can go awry. If animals are raiding the compost pile, grind up fruits and vegetables in a blender before you add them to pile, or bury them in center. If some pieces are not breaking down, take them out, chop them up and put them back in. Generate heat by adding more “green” material, such as manure, fresh grass clippings, alfalfa meal or seaweed. Occasionally nature will not take its course and will need some assistance. For those times when nothing is breaking down, try to add water until center is evenly moist in case the pile is dry. In dry climates, cover pile with a tarpaulin to hold in moisture, and check frequently. If pile is moist, add “greens” and turn pile. If i
