Comments on: Live Oak Leaves are Falling - Feed Your Compost! http://www.gogreencharleston.org/2008/03/25/the-live-oak-leaves-are-falling-feed-your-compost/ We Can Do This Together Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:16:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Joshua Mueller http://www.gogreencharleston.org/2008/03/25/the-live-oak-leaves-are-falling-feed-your-compost/#comment-18891 Joshua Mueller Fri, 28 Mar 2008 03:36:49 +0000 http://www.gogreencharleston.org/2008/03/25/the-live-oak-leaves-are-falling-feed-your-compost/#comment-18891 Mine's a bit younger than yours. It only smelled of ammonia (too much nitrogen) I think because we had a rain spell a few months back during which I put a larger than normal batch of kitchen scraps. Following this event, the ammonia smell arose, and then I added a wheelbarrow's worth of dry leaves. Mine’s a bit younger than yours. It only smelled of ammonia (too much nitrogen) I think because we had a rain spell a few months back during which I put a larger than normal batch of kitchen scraps. Following this event, the ammonia smell arose, and then I added a wheelbarrow’s worth of dry leaves.

]]> By: Chad Norman http://www.gogreencharleston.org/2008/03/25/the-live-oak-leaves-are-falling-feed-your-compost/#comment-18857 Chad Norman Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:47:10 +0000 http://www.gogreencharleston.org/2008/03/25/the-live-oak-leaves-are-falling-feed-your-compost/#comment-18857 Our pile is only 6 or 7 months old, but seems to be doing fine. It actually doesn't really smell at all. It's starting to look dark and rich when I turn it, but not done cooking yet for sure. I'll be posting pics of "the turn" soon. Our pile is only 6 or 7 months old, but seems to be doing fine. It actually doesn’t really smell at all. It’s starting to look dark and rich when I turn it, but not done cooking yet for sure. I’ll be posting pics of “the turn” soon.

]]> By: Joshua Mueller http://www.gogreencharleston.org/2008/03/25/the-live-oak-leaves-are-falling-feed-your-compost/#comment-18760 Joshua Mueller Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:46:26 +0000 http://www.gogreencharleston.org/2008/03/25/the-live-oak-leaves-are-falling-feed-your-compost/#comment-18760 Chad- Are you worried all those leaves may stall your compost pile? I had ammonia smell coming from mine a few weeks ago. At the same time, there was clearly no decomposition. I added some dry leaves hoping to boost the carbon content. I think I overdid it, because it took another 2 weeks of adding nitrogen rich kitchen scraps for the pile to get cooking again. The ammonia smell went away immediately, but it didn't heat back up for almost 2 weeks. In fact, I think it may have been the waste veggie oil (I use it for my benz) I dumped into it that really boosted it back into balance. How often do you turn yours? Josh Chad-

Are you worried all those leaves may stall your compost pile? I had ammonia smell coming from mine a few weeks ago. At the same time, there was clearly no decomposition. I added some dry leaves hoping to boost the carbon content. I think I overdid it, because it took another 2 weeks of adding nitrogen rich kitchen scraps for the pile to get cooking again. The ammonia smell went away immediately, but it didn’t heat back up for almost 2 weeks. In fact, I think it may have been the waste veggie oil (I use it for my benz) I dumped into it that really boosted it back into balance.

How often do you turn yours?

Josh

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