Hi
In my compost every thing is change to soil but the peanut peel change to dark brown but not disappear.
Is my compost ready?
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- Newly Registered
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 4:09 pm
- Location: Lexington, KY
Yeah, you can use that.
You can sift the compost, so that the pieces that are still not decomposed are removed and returned to the pile. I did this once. It made beautiful compost that I was very proud of. Looked better than store-bought. However, WAY too much work for me!
Now, when I need compost, I just turn the pile. While turning, when I get far enough down that about 90 - 95% of the contents are completely decomposed, I start harvesting. I don't let the occasional chuck of grass, bark, egg shell, or corn husk bother me. If I notice it, I may throw it back in the pile. My garden is loving it! If the pile is very active and hot, I sit the harvested compost aside for another couple weeks to "cool off" so I don't accidentally burn my plants.
You can sift the compost, so that the pieces that are still not decomposed are removed and returned to the pile. I did this once. It made beautiful compost that I was very proud of. Looked better than store-bought. However, WAY too much work for me!
Now, when I need compost, I just turn the pile. While turning, when I get far enough down that about 90 - 95% of the contents are completely decomposed, I start harvesting. I don't let the occasional chuck of grass, bark, egg shell, or corn husk bother me. If I notice it, I may throw it back in the pile. My garden is loving it! If the pile is very active and hot, I sit the harvested compost aside for another couple weeks to "cool off" so I don't accidentally burn my plants.
I have the same issue, most of the compost is soily but there are still lots of bits that aren't decomposed, it smells a little too. My compost bin is the plastic kind with a lid at the top and a flap at the bottom to access the ready compost. I do try turning it over but the bin top is fairly narrow. I am worried about using this too early as I may attract the local foxes with the smell.