All your "dumb" reader questions, answered

First of all, let me say this: There are no dumb compost questions.

A lot of people are very embarrassed to ask me what they consider to be basic questions about compost, perhaps because they’re worried I might judge them? But I would never. I still vividly remember the time when I knew nothing about compost, myself, and the first (hesitant) questions that I asked my own internet friend, Jordan. At the time, I didn’t even know that compost was made from more than food scraps. My first questions were all “dumb” questions.

I think the most important thing for anybody to keep in mind, when it comes to compost, is that everything is going to decay, anyway. Your interventions can help decay happen faster, help decay happen “less smelly,” and help guide the “finished” decay toward a specific ratio of nutrients—but it’s going to decay, with or without you. If you throw all of your food and yard waste into a big pile in your yeard, and leave it completely alone, you will eventually get compost. It won’t be great compost, but it also won’t be methane emitting from a landfill, which is what happens to your food scraps when you throw them in the regular trash.

However, you can make better compost. And the best way to start making better compost is to not be afraid to ask a bunch of supposedly-dumb questions. That’s just how learning happens!

A (Not) Dumb (In Progress) FAQ of Reader Compost Questions:

“We compost here in Costa Rica and in Austin... but.... We don't really have a garden in either place. I'm trying to find a local farm or garden that would want the compost, but I'm curious - are there other things we could do with it?” — Eric

The only limit is your imagination. Find a local farm or garden, use it in your house plants, share with friends, post a sign on your back gate that says “Free Compost!” … all are great and possible options. My favorite solution for the garden-less, though, is to find a local community garden or school where you can donate your compost. A lot of them will happily take it. You could also try posting on Instagram or NextDoor, and meeting some garden-happy neighbors you didn’t know you had. I’ve had success throwing a box of finished compost in my truck, adding a “FREE” sign, and driving around with it. If you have the time and inclination, you can also start to guerrilla compost your neighborhood. (Something that nobody will be surprised to learn I have also done.) A lot of the soil in city neighborhoods is unhappy, at best, and there’s pretty much zero harm than can come from sprinkling some of your compost here and there, on your (perhaps) (not speaking for myself, of course) (I’ve never done this) daily walks with a dog.

“Is it possible to turn/stir my compost TOO often?” — Corey

Short answer: Yes, it is.

Longer answer: You do want to turn your pile. How much you turn it really, like all things compost, just depends. Turning helps with aeration, which any good aerobic pile needs, and it can ensure that decay happens evenly throughout the entire heap. However, if you stir and turn too much, too quickly, you’ll disrupt the formation of essential fungi and actinomycetes, which are important for the breakdown process and for creating a nutrient-rich finished product. You want to find the Golidlocks zone, i.e. “just the right amount.”

When figuring out “the right amount,” the size of your pile, the time of year, how moist things are, how hot things are, whether or not there’s compaction happening, and what’s in your actual compost are all factors you can bring into consideration. You should also consider your own compost goals. Do you need your finished compost on a specific timeline? Do you need it calibrated to any specific standard based on what you’re growing (if anything)?

If you’re not on a particular schedule, there’s a lot less pressure to figure out the “right” turning method. Most unhurried backyard composters that I hang out with will turn their piles ever few weeks, and leave it at that. It’s fine. If you’re interested in being more deliberate, though, I would recommend assessing your pile based on the factors above, and turning it accordingly.

Here are some examples:

• If your pile is brand new, leave it alone. It needs time to get cookin’. Start turning it once it starts to warm up. Two weeks or so should do it.

• If your pile begins to show signs of compaction (or smells), turn it. Get that air in there.

• If it’s winter and cold, turn your pile less. This allows the pile to retain any heat that it creates, which is better for decomposition. Some people even leave their piles unturned for the entire winter.

• If your pile is hot (i.e. above ~110 F°), you can turn it more frequently. Once every two weeks helps speed decomposition, and ensure complete and even decay throughout the heap. When things start to cool down and stays cooling down, the compost is nearing “finish.”

It’s also perfectly okay to lightly stir when you’re adding new food scraps. I always dig a small hole in my compost pile, pour food scraps in, and re-cover.

“Is it important to have a thermometer in my compost pile? How important is it to know the temperature and get it to the right temperature?” — Skye

I feel like a broken record, but: “It depends!”

Taking the tempature of your backyard pile is definitely fun. You only need to worry about ensuring your compost is HOT, though, if you’re adding materials where there’s a pathogen concern, or if you’re composting weeds and want to then use the compost on your vegetables, without worrying that the weeds will repropogate there. It’s really up to you, the humble composter. You don’t have to do it, but it’s certainly enjoyable. I use a thermometer in my backyard compost.

“Why are compost drop offs so finnicky about what you can add?” — Rex

They’re trying to do the best they can, usually with minimal resources, to successfully and safely compost the most possible amount of stuff. That means not including anything that might make the process even slightly complicated. For example, orange peels and egg shells. Also, dog poop. Most community compost drop offs I’ve worked with also do not take or try to compost the “compostable” bags that you see sold in supermarkets. In fact, many items branded and sold as “compostable” are not, in fact, very compostable at all, unless done so in specialized industrial facilities. For the love of your local community compost, I do recommend keeping your scraps in reusable containers that you bring with you to the site, and take home with you again.

See? No stupid questions. I love answering all questions. In fact, you can respond to this email right now and send me some more, if you got ‘em.

Xo,

Cass

Look, I just found out I can add buttons? ^