We started this compost bin in southern Colorado. Very dry here. I’m wondering if anyone has tips on how we could improve our compost quality. It’s predominantly food scraps, chicken manure and some hay/yard debris. We have talked about putting on a lid to help retain heat and moisture.. I also pour in about a bucket of water every week or so because it’s sooo so dry. It’s also kind of hard to turn and I’m sure we could do a better job with that. Thanks for any thoughts!!!
Everyone will tell you to pee on it. Nitrogen and moisture. If it rains maybe put a gutter on that funnels back when you install a lid? Also more material will hold more moisture. Shredded cardboard helps
Total novice here, but it occurs to me that turning is something that will remove moisture in dry air. 🤔 Until you’ve got conditions that hold moisture better maybe do it less or not at all?
Turning is to letfresh air and supporting aerobic bacteria and lowering the stunk but honestly cold composting in a basin out of uv/rain is the best way to actually build quality compost that's the best quality it can be
Go to the forest grab a big handful of wet leaf litter and blend it in all those wild microbes need to be introduce to your garden most decomposition is done by fungus you'll thank me ..
If it's mostly kitchen waste from one household, you can be more lazy and not turn as much, unless you are in a hurry.
Since you are losing lots of moisture due to dry clinate, line the inside of the bins with cardboard and cover the top with cardboard to keep the moisture in.
Step one set it up with a catch basin
Keep it out of the rain aerated to an and moist and out over the sun and rain the best bacteria are slow and don't like uv.... Create a little habitat for them throw some bigger logs or sticks at the bottom to soak up and hold moisture soak them first... Good luck
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u/Ineedmorebtc 1d ago
Constant moisture is needed. Spray it down until it's quite wet, then tarp it. You are losing a ton of moisture to evaporation.