I've got a compost pile that has a nasty population of fruit flies. Probably started because I left veggie waste in the open for too long before adding it to the bin and dressing it.
Is there easy way to keep them from reproducing? Maybe a garden-safe additive I can put on the pile? The bin is outdoors and well away from my house, so they're not a real problem, but they make turning the pile a serious annoyance.
Most people throw all their food scraps in a pile, it rots or gets eaten by bugs and call it compost. They're not totally wrong, it's just ineffective.
That's me!
I think I need to invest a couple hours into gathering a bunch of leaves to use as browns. I'm definitely on the green-heavy side. I've had good success in the past with composting, but I think I've just been neglecting this pile too much.
It normally requires 27 cubic feet
Is that just for heat reasons, or is there more to it? I use a tub that holds a little over 100 gallons (best guess 10-12 cubic feet).
Maybe its time I went to vermiculture. I've always liked the idea, but never had a compelling reason to build a good place for worms.
The 27 cubic feet is to get the heat going. The pressure from a pile that large will get the bacteria working to heat it up. Otherwise you'll have a cold compost. Which is fine, just slower.
I personally prefer lasagna gardening where I lay down layers of everything and let it rot/decompose over the fall. Always results in a lot of worms, good tilth, and healthy soil.
Most compost piles are trash heaps. There are many forms of compost, but below are the two most common.
Vermicompost - this is food scraps eaten by worms. Often done indoors in a bin. This requires a balance and a lot of practice/patience.
Hot composting - a big freaking pile of herbaceous material that breaks down quickly. It normally requires 27 cubic feet and a good balance of carbon-heavy products and nitrogen-heavy products. Or browns and greens.
Most people throw all their food scraps in a pile, it rots or gets eaten by bugs and call it compost. They're not totally wrong, it's just ineffective.