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Rant: Neighbor called me out for my compost pile and I'm actually grateful
I've been throwing kitchen scraps in a pile in my backyard for like 3 years. Thought I was doing good for the planet, you know? Then last month my neighbor Larry, who's been gardening for 40 years, walks over and says 'that's not compost, that's a garbage heap.' Turns out I was just creating a stinky mess that attracted rats and raccoons. He showed me how to layer browns and greens, keep the pile damp but not wet, and turn it every couple weeks. Also learned you can't put meat or dairy in there, which I had NO idea about. So now I've got this proper bin setup with wire mesh and I'm actually getting dark, crumbly soil after 6 weeks. Has anyone else had to totally rework their system after getting called out?
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jakewhite1mo ago
Larry did you a huge favor honestly. I had the same wake up call when my pile started smoking and my HOA showed up. Key things I learned the hard way: shred your browns small like leaves or cardboard or they take forever to break down, keep a pile of dry leaves right next to the bin so you can cover every food scrap immediately, and water it only when you turn it not every day or it gets slimy and gross. Also bury new scraps under 6 inches of browns or the flies will be unreal. Your 6 week turnaround is good for a first go, just watch the moisture because too wet and it goes anaerobic and stinks again.
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claire_grant341mo ago
Wait is this really that big of a deal? I mean I get smoking piles are bad and all but calling the HOA over compost seems a bit extra. What does your pile look like that they even noticed it from a distance?
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sage_moore371mo ago
Is it really that big of a deal though? I mean the HOA showing up sounds like more of a neighbor issue than a compost problem. Maybe the pile was just sitting right against the property line or something. I get that smoking is bad but people leave grills smoking all the time and nobody calls the HOA over that. Seems like a lot of fuss over some dirt and banana peels.
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