A garden is only as good as the ground that it's planted in. Discussion forum for the many ways to improve the soil where we plant our gardens.
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#1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: VA - Zone 7A
Posts: 344
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Ran into a guy that had home made compost and man does it stink. He had all kinds of stuff in with it to include pumpkin, squash, kolorabie & corn on the cob to name just a few. Then add a bunch of leaves ect...
My lord what should it smell like? |
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#2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Jersey
Posts: 1,183
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finished compost shouldn't stink
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#3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: VA - Zone 7A
Posts: 344
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The compost is actively being built. So it's not finished yet. I guess that's an important detail.
Sorry... |
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#4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 1,836
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Good compost smells like money...
Only way I can describe it... |
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#5 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Jersey
Posts: 1,183
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#6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MA/NH Border
Posts: 4,919
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My working compost smells very strongly earthy, but not garbage-like.
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#7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: VA - Zone 7A
Posts: 344
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I think the guy was slippen a little dog poo into it... Man did it stink!
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#8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: France
Posts: 554
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Vegetation needs oxygen to give compost, if there isn't enough it will rot and give a characteristic unpleasant smell. Moving the compost heap from left to right, then from right to left the following month with a fork will give it enough air. Without oxygen the molecules will still break down but it will take at least two years instead of some months.
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#9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Norway
Posts: 1,049
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I have 2 enclosed bins which heat up, and which I use in alternating years. I only compost plant material, and I aerate it often. The compost just smells good and earthy.
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#10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: VA - Zone 7A
Posts: 344
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This definitely smells of dog poo... I guess pumpkins and squash don't break down so good...
Oh well... Thanks |
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#11 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Gloster, Lousiana 71030 Zone 8a
Posts: 253
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#12 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: California Central Valley
Posts: 2,542
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The unpleasant odor can indicate that he's adding stinky stuff, but in general, stinky compost is compost that has gone anaerobic. It needs to be aired out, and dried out. If it were your own compost, you could do this by turning it and adding more "browns" as you went. Browns are mulch, newspapers, straw, autumn leaves, etc. The stinky odor can mean the browns and greens were not balanced -- excess greens make a stinky mess -- or it could even mean that he's just adding "greens" (kitchen waste, green leaves, grass clippings, coffee grounds, etc) without covering them up.
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#13 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: VA - Zone 7A
Posts: 344
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Thank you all for your posts. Great info here from you guys and gals!
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#14 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Downingtown, PA
Posts: 337
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first year i made this mistake, it smells like death when it goes anerobic, it will still eventually compost, but it takes a lot longer.
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#15 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
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I just now saw this thread as old as it is.
Compost should smell like a forest floor. Just go out in the woods and scoop up some black soil right under the leaves and smell it. That is what it is supposed to smell like. You can use any kind of animal flop (including human) you want but it better be (hot hot super hot ) compost so it kills the parasites and other types of no no's that are in it. I choose not to use it myself. ![]() Worth |
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