Re: a composting experiment

Dan:  If a pile smells like a sewer, the pile is losing N - BIG TIME.

1. Try to dry out your pile and get more air into it.  This is usually done
by turning.  In your case try running the drier empty.  Hot dry air should
be a great help.
2. You have to much N and need more C - the smell you're noticing is amonia
which carries away your N.  Adding more C is the best thing you can do.
3.  Consider using a couple big bags of cat littler as a cover.  This is
clay and the cheaper kinds do not have any chemical additives.  It will
abosorb great amounts of amina and N.  but best to get the N/C ratio more
in line.
4.  A plastic cover will help keep rain off your pile and keep it from
going anaerobic, a wet rotting pile without air could be an exposure danger
.  Aneribic composting is completely different from aerobic composting and
a no no for a neighborhood backyard.


michael in akron
mcohill@neo.lrun.com
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