Frequently Asked Questions
Will my compost smell?
Properly running composters should not give off any unpleasant odors – if anything, they should be almost sweet-smelling. If you do notice any unpleasant odors, mix it well with a compost turner or pitchfork to get more air into the pile, and add some more “browns” (e.g. leaves) to dry it out. Don’t add piles of grass clippings all at once, as they will give off an ammonia-like smell (see page 15 for tips on managing grass clippings). Also, make sure not to put any meat or dairy products in your composter.
How long before I get compost?
Most people find that they can harvest finished compost from the bottom of their pile every 6 months or so. However, if you have a good mix of “greens” and “browns”, stir thoroughly and frequently, and keep it from getting too wet or dry, you will find you can “cook” a batch of compost in as little as 6 weeks.
What do I do to get rid of fruit flies?
During the summer, you may be greeted by fruit flies when you open your kitchen pail or composter. To keep them at bay in the kitchen, make sure to close the lid on your kitchen pail tightly and empty your pail frequently. At your composter, add leaves or a thin layer of soil each time you add fresh material.
What can I do to keep raccoons, squirrels, rodents, and dogs out of my composter?
Occasionally, an eager pest will decide to take a liking to your composter, so here are a few things to keep those critters away:
- Avoid all food scraps with meat, dairy, oil, or fat
- Bury fresh material in the compost pile
- Keep the door fastened by placing a stick through the matching holes in the door and composter
- Place bricks or flat stones around the base of the composter
- Add dog hair to the compost
If the problem persists, you can line the bottom of the composter with a layer of chicken wire.
My composter fills up too quickly. What should I do?
Use your Earth Machine primarily for kitchen waste, as yard waste will fill it up in a hurry. If you generate too much kitchen waste for one composter, consider getting a second one.
How should I handle yard waste?
Consider buying or making a large yard waste composter, and keep it close to your Earth Machine so you have a ready source of cover material. Remember to keep some bags of leaves aside for use throughout the year.
How moist should my composter pile be?
The rule of thumb is to keep the material as moist as a wrung-out sponge. In arid climates, this means you will have to periodically add water to the pile, or make a point of adding wet materials to the kitchen pail (e.g. leftover coffee). In rainy areas or seasons, you may need to add dry leaves, aerate the pile with a pitchfork or compost turner, or leave the lid of compost off on sunny days.
Is there a way to make winter composting in the snowbelt easier?
Hopefully, your composter is located close to your back door so you don’t have to shovel a long path to it. If not, leave an old garbage can next to the back door and empty your kitchen pail directly into it. Once spring comes you can just add it to your composter, together with some leaves or other browns.
