Compost is Slow
Question
January 12, 2025
I attended the beginners composting class back in October, and started composting a few weeks after in October. My compost container has been getting full, and since it's been about 3 months since I started, I decided to try to empty the container onto a tarp and see if the compost was ready. It didn't really look like compost to me, and I wasn't sure if that was because of time or if there is something I should be doing differently. I would greatly appreciate any insight you have to offer. Attached is a photo. Thanks.
Photo: https://static.wixstatic.com/media/9ed432_9b4b508ca4b545a493ed52d99eb2930d~mv2.png
Answer(s)
Answer by WR: Looking at your photo, I think you might have too many carbon-rich "browns" compared to nitrogen-rich "greens". Those twigs ("browns") will take a long time to decompose so you'll need lots more greens in your compost such as fresh food scraps, coffee grounds (yes, those are "green" even though they are brown, ha ha), green plants, grass clippings (which you probably won't have this time of year). See the list of "greens" and "browns" in this brochure: https://www.nmcomposters.org/_files/ugd/9ed432_2efaef3fb0404de2b74b646940ed51ac.pdf
If you don't have enough greens available, you should pull out some of those twigs and save them to add later when you do have more greens. Once you have a good balance of greens and browns, give it another few months. If you have any kind of a shredder, you might shred the twigs into much smaller pieces as well. Otherwise, you'll need to add them in smaller amounts to your pile. It's good to have some twiggy material so the pile is aerated but I think you have too many at this point. Twigs that size will take a long long time to break down. I hope the other Master Composters who receive this will also respond to your question. Be sure to contact us again if you still have questions or problems.
PS, when I look very carefully at your photo, it seems there is some good compost-in-the-making between all those twigs. I think the problem is that there are just too many twigs! Unless you can find a way to break them up into TINY pieces, I think you need to take most of the twigs out. But, I hope other Master Composters will respond.
Answer by JZ: Great that you are enthusiastically checking your composting setup. In addition to what Wynette has sent you, here are some of my thoughts. Agree. I see what looks like some finished product at the bottom of the white bag. Looks like chocolate cake crumbs. In our area, especially with the cooler temps, it takes 6 -12 months to get a finished product. So be patient, continue to add chopped kitchen scraps, coffee, other organic material on hand. If your bin is movable, you might put it in sunny spot over the winter. My opinion would be to leave the sticks/twigs in place as they will help vary the texture in the setup, thus avoiding compaction and facilitating convective air flow. Maintain moisture at all times. Cover drape the top of the pile to avoid evaporative moisture loss. Be patient and compost on! Get back if you have questions.
Answer by WR: John gives you different advice than I did and he has a whole lot more experience than I do so please listen to him. I agree with what he says, the twigs aren't hurting anything. They are useful in the compost because with them your pile will be well aerated. However it will take a very long time for them to break down. After the rest of the materials you've added have turned into compost you can pull or sift out the twigs that haven't broken down and put them into your next batch. Yes, the big thing to remember is that compost does take time! But totally worth it. Let us know how it goes!