Topic: Going Green
I didn't think it would be possible to compost in my townhouse, but after doing some research, I am going to give it a try. I am planning to compost my kitchen scraps and dryer lint and hopefully my little succulents on my patio will reap the rewards.
I was always under the impression that a large pile is needed. But I've been searching and reading several different sites and now feel a small compost heap is entirely possible. Another misconception that kept me from trying it was smell. I don't want to stink up the neighborhood! But I'm assured by some sources, that my pile should not offend my sensitive little nose.
http://www.highcountryconservation.org/composting.htm
"Troubleshooting Odor is the most obvious sign of trouble– healthy piles should not have much of a smell at all, when finished the compost should smell like fresh air after a good rain. Undesirable smells and problems are typically easy to fix.
Ammonia smell - the pile is lacking in “brown stuff” so add some
Rotten eggs smell - either the pile does not have enough air, has too much water, or the wastes are not mixed in completely. All of these causes can be taken care of by mixing the pile well.
Nothing is happening - the pile is the wrong size, too wet, too dry, or is lacking “green stuff.” The solutions are obvious to each of these (see proper pile size above, dry it out, wet it down or add “green stuff” respectively)."
So I have started collecting my scraps and lint and should soon have a nice pile fermenting.
