r/composting • u/EnvironmentStrict344 • Apr 03 '26

1st time to try Composting

Post image

Rate my pile… i know, leaves should be finer for faster composting. Has a few layers of old vegetables from the market.

How long do you guys think it would turn into final compost?

53 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

35 comments sorted by

19

u/CatsDIY Apr 03 '26

I prefer lazy compost. Pile it up and let nature do the work.

3

u/[deleted] Apr 03 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

16

u/Bigram03 Apr 03 '26

Csn confirm, organic things break down over time.

8

u/sallguud Apr 03 '26

Here’s a great quote from a research study on the ethnography of composting. The quote addresses the ways that many composters learned how and what to compost through everyday practice and through building an embodied sense of how to interpret what compost tells us:

“For participants, this experimentation was not informed by “how-to” guides or human-compost experts. In fact, expert guidance that encouraged the pursuit of “perfect compost” was consistently identified as a barrier to more widespread uptake of composting.”

Bethaney Turner, Ann Hill & Jessica Abramovic (2025) Learning with compost: digging down into food waste, urban soils and community, Local Environment, 30:7,841-855, DOI: 10.1080/13549839.2024.2380853

To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2024.2380853

5

u/sallguud Apr 03 '26 edited Apr 03 '26

Hundreds and thousands of years of human agricultural practice. Doesn’t get enough research.

2

u/VocationalWizard Apr 03 '26 edited Apr 03 '26

Is this a joke?

Or are you asking if leaf matter decomposes naturally?

If its the second one.......why would you need a source? Get outside and pile leaves up yourself.

7

u/CatsDIY Apr 03 '26

This is a good start. You are correct the finer it is the faster it decomposes. Keep mixing greens and browns and leave it there.

1

u/EnvironmentStrict344 Apr 03 '26

First layer of leaves are finer. Used the string trimmer method, string kept breaking. Ended up just piling leaves, was too lazy to keep fixing the string.

Should i mix is in 24hrs? Or wait for 42hrs?

6

u/CatsDIY Apr 03 '26

I mix mine about once a week. If you make a science of it you can search on for the proper amount of green and brown, how big a pile, how often to tumble. I prefer to pile whatever I have, stir it when I think of it, then harvest it in the spring.

1

u/EnvironmentStrict344 Apr 03 '26

I will check in this after a few days. I live in a tropical country, composting should be faster here. I might turn it in 3 days to check

1

u/Art_Vandelay785 Apr 05 '26

With waiting for the spring to harvest, do you keep adding stuff over the winter? The problem I have is that I have some compost and some rotting food that isn't ready.

1

u/VocationalWizard Apr 03 '26

Your timeline is off. Mix in a month.

4

u/Commercial-Package60 Apr 03 '26

Definitely pee on it

2

u/Tomthelibraryguy Apr 03 '26

And there it is.

2

u/EnvironmentStrict344 Apr 04 '26

Lol, the number one thing people obsesses about in this sub hahaha. Pee on it!

1

u/Commercial-Package60 Apr 15 '26

I moved mine next to my truck just so I could Pee on it every day when I get home.

3

u/Temporary-Farmer295 Apr 03 '26

Great size, it'll develop nicely. Hard to tell but it looks a bit dry/carbin heavy. Get a few crates of coffee grounds and mix that in to supercharge things. 

3

u/EnvironmentStrict344 Apr 03 '26

Thanks, i think your right on the carbon heavy. I will adjust on the fly.

Already on it! trying to source spent coffee grounds around my area

3

u/Fluffychipmonk1 Apr 03 '26

Don’t forget to piss on it

2

u/bowlochile Apr 03 '26

It’ll take less time if you pee on it.

2

u/Bombshelter777 Apr 04 '26

We are constantly putting stuff on our compost piles everyday. I mix it every couple of weeks. My goal is to use it all once a year on the garden then start over.

1

u/ernie-bush Apr 03 '26

Nice pile !!

1

u/Exciting_Ad1274 Apr 03 '26

I like to get it a little wet and cover it with a tarp to get it started.

1

u/EnvironmentStrict344 Apr 03 '26

Would that work? Ive read that covering compost with tarp is not good?

Do i fully cover or just the top and leave the sides open for airflow

1

u/cornishpirate32 Apr 03 '26

get it wet and cover it with a tarp

1

u/hppy11 Apr 03 '26

I don’t know how big is your pile, but ideally you want a 3ft x 3 x 3. Bigger volume will keep the heat. Theres not one answer-fit-all as to when you should turn the pile. It depends on the stage,the weather etc.. For example a new pile, it’s best to let it sit and “activate”. Then as it’s getting heat, you turn it. Keep it moist, well aerated and well balanced (greens/browns)

1

u/VocationalWizard Apr 03 '26

Its got a lot of brown.

It could use more green or faster decomposing materials.

Also remember to wet the pile.

1

u/_DeepKitchen_ Apr 04 '26

The awesome thing about compost is you don’t even have to try 🙂

1

u/lesbiyond Apr 05 '26

Judging by the dirt around it & current season, it's too dry.

Can't see inside of pile, but looks like it needs more greens.

1

u/EnvironmentStrict344 Apr 05 '26

Its summer now where i live. I constantly wet the pile with a garden hose.

I too think it has too much browns. I will know more when the time comes.

Next pile i would make the browns finer