My neighbor said my compost pile was too wet and it made me change my whole routine

I mean, I'd been adding kitchen scraps and watering it every other day for like six months, thinking that was the right way. She pointed out it was basically a soggy mess and should look more like a wrung-out sponge, so now I add way more dry leaves and only water it if we haven't had rain in Portland for a week. Has anyone else had to completely redo their compost setup after getting some blunt advice?

4 comments

4 Comments

ninaowens2mo ago

Well, at least your neighbor was honest. Mine just gave me the side-eye for months until I finally caught a whiff of my own anaerobic swamp and figured it out. That "wrung-out sponge" advice is the real deal though. Sounds like you're on the right track now with all those dry leaves.

william_garcia2mo agoMost Upvoted

Oh man, the side-eye is the worst. I had a coworker who started avoiding my desk and I was so confused until I realized my lunch bag had turned into a science experiment. That sponge trick honestly saved my kitchen compost from smelling like a locker room.

cora5182mo ago

Ugh, the side-eye is brutal.

miles_burns1mo ago

Oh gosh, I've been there. It's amazing how a little honest feedback can completely change your whole approach to something you thought you had figured out.