How To Compost

Manure Compost: What is it? How to make it? A round up of resources.

01.28.2010 by Admin //

Wondering about making compost from manure? Here’s a guide to what you can and can’t do, along with links to some other great resources I’ve found about the subject.

When I refer to manure, I am talking about horse manure, cow manure, and chicken manure.

If you want to know about whether to compost dog and cat poop, please check this page instead.

Horse Manure Compost

Horse manure can be composted, without much difficulty. Whatcom County in Washington State has the clearest and best page about how to compost horse manure, with step by step explanations and instructions. They even go as far as giving you the design for a bin that you can build yourself.

Cow Manure Compost

Managing cow manure issues is more complicated than just composting. It is possible to compost cow manure, but cattle ranchers and dairy farmers will need to follow all of the laws and regulations in their states. This publication features several complex strategies for dealing with cow waste via composting. Cornell also has a great page with links to many other resources for larger scale cattle issues. If you’re a home composter, it is safe to add cattle manure to your compost pile. Cow manure is high in nitrogen.

Chicken Manure Compost

Seattle Tilth has a terrific, comprehensive guide to composting chicken manure, compiled by Judy Duncan, WSU Cooperative Extension, King County Master Gardener and Cooperative Extension Livestock Advisor. She covers benefits, collection methods, and composting methods, among other things.

Is there anything I missed — either a type of animal, or a good resource? Leave a comment and let me know and I’ll update.

Composte: How to make compost

01.20.2010 by Admin //

You say “composte,” I say compost!

But either way, I want to help you learn to make your own composte at home.

Here’s a rundown of the resources available on this site:

In a hurry? Learn How to Composte In One Page.

Still have questions about composting? Ask on our Composting Questions and Answers page.

Check out our Chart of Materials that you can and can’t use when composting.

Want to know Why to Composte? We’ve got a page for that too.

Compost Odor? Potential Solutions!

12.28.2009 by Admin //

Are you dealing with compost odor, or afraid to begin composting because you’re worried about bad smells?

If your compost has a bad odor, then there is something wrong. When the composting process is working correctly, then there are not any bad smells or strong odors.

Compost has a strong ammonia smell

A strong ammonia smell is typically related to too many nitrogen rich materials, and too much moisture.

Solution:

Add sawdust, shredded leaves, shredded newspaper or shredded cardboard to add more carbon rich materials, dry out the pile, and bring it back into balance. If it’s a bin, leave the lid off in sunny weather so that the moisture can burn off.

Compost smells rotten

A rotten smell is usually related to adding materials to your pile that should not have been composted in the first place. Are you added meat, dairy, grease or bones to your compost pile or bin? If so, stop!

Solution:

You can try adding more carbon rich materials like leaves and sawdust to bury the smelly materials.

You could dig a hole and bury the entire contents of the bin or pile and start over, avoiding meat, dairy, grease and bones in your next batch. Trench composting takes place underground, but there aren’t any smells because the materials are fully buried.

There are organic products that rapidly end any odors, and they work! I like this BioWish Odor Control product.

Do you have a different kind of stink with your compost?

Leave a comment here and tell us about it, or go to our Composting Questions page for help.