Frog Town Green: September 24 Workshop

Good afternoon! We wanted to let everyone know that we have uploaded the power point from the workshop on Saturday. Its located in the "Documents" section on the right hand side of the screen.

Looking for more resources on backyard composting? We love the work the U of MN has done on this topic

Composting in home gardens | UMN Extension

We are so excited as your own compost bin comes together! Here are some tips and tricks we have for you as the weeks go by!

Tip #1: Make sure you balance your greens and browns!

Having too many greens in your mixture can slow down the decomposition process along with effect the texture of your compost! Remember the correct ratio for your compost bin (3:1 for cedar bins and 1:1 for tumbler bins)!

Tip #2: Keep your compost moist!

If your compost is too dry, it will take longer to decompose. Remember to water your compost and keep it moist like a wrung-out sponge!

Tip #3: Keep it small!

Sometimes having big chucks of greens and browns can cause the decomposition process to slow down. It can help by cutting your food scraps into smaller pieces, breaking down your plants/weeds, and shredding paper before adding it into your cedar/tumbler.

For more tips and tricks on composting, check out this news article about more efficient and fun ways to get familiar with your compost bin? Click Here for more tips and tricks!

Have some tips to share with other participants? Leave a comment below and let us know.

Having trouble finding browns or running out of browns quickly?

Here are some back up items and tricks to having a constant pile of browns for your compost bin!

First off, what are browns? Browns are any dry, plant, or woody material, they are usually brown or will turn brown naturally. Not all browns are natural or nature based.

Here are examples of some common browns used for composting:

• Fall leaves
• Pine needles
• Straw or Hay
• Paper (newspaper, coffee filters, napkins)
• Lawn clippings (dried out)

Alternatives for natural brown materials:

• Cardboard (egg cartons)
• Paper towels
• Toilet paper

Accidently recycle all your cardboard? Have no more leaves? Just used the last of your browns? Don't worry, you always have something laying around somewhere in your house. Here are some alternatives that you probably don't even know can be use in your compost bin:

• Dryer lint
• Coffee filters
• Junk mail
• Toilet paper rolls
• Paper (shredded)

See any that aren't on the list? Comment below or let us know in the forum.

Does your compost pile smell? Is it taking a while to break down? Here are some solutions to these and other composting problems:

My Compost Smells Like Rotten Eggs:

This is usually due to lack of air and an excess of moisture in the pile. To solve this issue, turn the pile to add air and to dry out. You can also add some more bulky brown materials to increase the amount of air space in the compost pile.

My Compost Smells Like Ammonia:

Excess nitrogen from green composting materials can cause an ammonia smell. To solve this issue, simply add more brown materials to the compost pile.

My Compost Pile will Not Heat Up

There are many reasons why a compost pile will not heat up. The most common issues are that the pile is either too small or the pile is too dry. In order to heat up, a pile should be a minimum of 3 feet high by 3 feet in circumference. If the pile is too dry, turn the pile to mix materials and add water with a hose or watering container. Then let the pile rest for several hours and test the moisture level again.

My Compost Is Attracting Rodents or Other Animals:

Animals are attracted to compost piles by any materials that they see as food. Therefore, do not add materials such as bones, meats, oils, fats, or foods cooked in oil/fats, and dairy products. It's also a good idea to bury any kitchen scraps beneath several inches of brown materials such as leaves.

Are you having any issues with your compost so far? If so, post them below or in the Forum Section and we can help provide solutions.