I've been using this compost bin for about a year now and today I decided to sift it and get it ready to use in my raised beds.
I removed the top layer of recent produce and the rest seemed almost 90% dirt! But when I went to sift I realized it was more like… mud?
I'm using a very wide sifter made with some chicken wire I had laying around and even still it's too thick and muddy to sift.
I also noticed wayyyy more pill bugs than I anticipated and it feels like too many but I don't actually know if that's something to worry about.
Is there something I can do to dry this up in the coming weeks? Or do I just need to wait till next year? I'm very new to composting and any help would be appreciated thank you!!
Oh also… It did rain a little this week so it could just be that, but it would be surprising to me if a little rain made it THIS mucky.
Thanks again!!
Pic 1: pre removing top layer
Pic 2: after removing top layer
Pic 3: after turning
Pic 4/5: after attempting to sift
by dobsonfly1312
8 Comments
Needs more browns. Sawdust, cardboard, paper, dry leaves.
If you rly want it to dry out just spread it out in the sun wherever you have room. There are a fair amount of sticks in there.
At first glance I thought you just threw a whole chicken on top
https://preview.redd.it/ohb3qrhvikzg1.jpeg?width=1319&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1cfb021d7a967b0e9e4c78baadfab7417a240ebc
More browns, more stirring, more time.
I put mine on a tarp to dry it out turning it every few hours. The robins go nuts for the bugs and appear as soon as the tarp gets rolled out. I put it back undercover at night. Two days, sometimes three is enough to make it light and fluffy. I do this mostly as im transporting it and its too heavy when wet. It also allows me to seive out the rough stuff that I reuse as bulking agent for the next batch.
You need a tarp of leaves man lol like 5 pounds worth
That’s not a compost anymore it’s a garden pot!
I put mine in a space with worms 😠I hope I’ll even out the dry and green thing that way
At this stage just treat it as a garden bed haha, look at those plants thriving