There is estimated to be a major food crisis next year due to fertilizer shortages and climate change. I was wondering if you think composting could become industrialized to the point of helping fill in the first half of that problem after enough people get hit with the hikes. We waste so much food that could easily be separated and turned into compost with a little bit of infrastructure, and it seems like such an easy solution

Looks good, I think! This is one year of kitchen scraps. Should I cover it once the rainy season starts?​

So, ive been composting now since October 2025. In that time, i’ve managed to fill 3x 330L containers with shredded cardboard, paper, food scraps, leaves, grass clippings, woodchip, coffee grounds and of course piss.

Once full, i started filling a chicken wire tube in layers, and i told myself: “once that’s full, i’ll empty, combine, and mix the 3x containers” - that will then sit in a bay to start maturing. The contents of the wire tube will be mixed and distributed in to the 3x containers.

That’s my production cycle.

At the moment, i’ve dumped it on the floor because i havent built the 3-4x bays.

Once i’m ready to dump 3x containers again, i’ll move bay 1 in to bay 2. Rinse repeat. Bay 2 will be screened before it goes to bay 3.

I’m considering having a 4th bin and a bay purely for leafmould (i have a lot of deciduous trees!)

I’m absolutely loving this process.

Some things i’ll do differently this cycle: leaves are going on their own dedicated pile. Egg shells are getting ground first. Lots more coffee grounds. No more moss. Lots more grass clippings.

I am not sure If the box is done. It has ambient temp and some worms in it. I can still see some structural elements, but after sifting it will be i guess.

Somewhere i saw the test idea, to try to grow cress on it. If it looks green as usual, then fine. If it looks yellow or otherwise than not. My comparison batch on the kitchen towel did not do as the compost grown cress (it fall dry the other day).

(The bucket with tiny holes is for kitchen scraps and has many more worms and keeps 4 legged animals out).

From lurking I've heard that whether or not cardboard should be composed depends on what is used to color them.

It has a smooth surface and if it catches the light it has a small shine.

I want to reduce my waste as much as possible, but I don't want to put bad stuff in my compost.

What does the community think?

This in the composting pile in our shared garden in Berlin. Any tips on how to get it to do the composting thing? At the moment I am piling it up and pulling out the larger sticks. I’ll pee on it for good measure after.

Hey guys! At the moment, I've got my compost bins along a neighbouring fence. I've always loved composting. Every year I get a bit more into it, and spend even more time on it. This year, I've started trying hot composting, which means I'm spending even more time at the fence, checking it, turning it, occassionally moving it, etc.

The neighbours on the other side of the fence are people we've gotten along with for the past 14 years, since moving here. However, one of them has recently retired. Since then, we've noticed them becoming a lot more nosy and critical of our garden, in general.

When I say 'critical,' here are some examples:

- 'why is there a piece of paper on the ground?'

- I mention a plan to grow hydrangeas and magnolias: 'don't do it, I don't like them!'

- 'you should put in a concrete driveway.' When told no, we want to put in wood chips instead, I'm told not to, because they did that, and 'there were spiders!' 🤦‍♀️ It's fucking Australia, that shit happens all the time!

- they see a wild baby sapling popping up in our yard: 'you better get that out quickly, that looks like shit!'

- they see mushrooms growing on the property next to ours: 'oh, those mushies are growing heaps!' (translation: get rid of them)

Also, whenever I'm dealing with my compost at the fence (which is a LOT), I can hear them just standing around listening. Listening to me talking to my partner on the phone, listening to me having private conversations with my family etc (have coached my family not to chat with me at the fence anymore).

They frequently pop their heads over the fence while I'm busting my arse and want to be left alone to work. Always with some brand of inane bullshit already mentioned.

I am planning to move the bins away from that fence, and put up a tall magnolia hedge. Ahem.

I found another good spot away from my fence. And I realised I spend so much time enjoying my compost work, why not create a dedicated space where I can work in peace? I'm thinking, a work bench, lots of compost activating plants, etc.

So, I was wondering, what is your perfect compost station setup in real life, or in your dreams? I'm seeking inspiration!

Hello good people of the internet,

I'm looking to get a hole digger like in the image for other reasons around my garden, but I was curious whether something like this would also be viable for turning the compost around in the bins I am planning on building.

Does anyone have any experience with or knowledge about this?

My compost worms look healthy, but they keep climbing up the walls and lid. The bin is sealed at the top (lid) and open to the ground at the bottom. Could this be from poor airflow or excess moisture? Would drilling holes around the sides help with ventilation?

Been a few years. Most of that without aeration. There's still bits of paper in it and it's warm (temp. In 90s) but not moist. I'm turning it once a week. Any thoughts appreciated.

One time I made bone broth and left the bones on the porch counter before adding to the pile. A few days later its container was still warm - from all the writhing maggots going hog wild. So yeah can’t imagine how many flies this thing created.

Does anyone know if it's a good idea to compost in a stainless steel container? Like a pot or something? Just want something that lasts but is plastic free as well. It's a big pot 2x 70L if anyone asks, wanted to make it dual stage.

لدي ثلاثة أنواع من الديدان التي في الصور الأولى هي الريد ويجلر ألوانها خلابة جداً "صيفية😅"

والأخريات الزرقاء الماليزية "انتاجهم اسرع من الريد ويجلر بسبب شراهتم للاكل" اما زاحف الليل الافريقي لم اصوره لكن يوجد تكاثر لأطفال الدود كثيراً جداً الحمدلله

والكرتون والطعام العضوي حولوه تماماً لسماد اسود جميل ازحت الكمية للجنب الآخر من الصندوق و وضعت قصاصات الكرتون وطعام لهم "لدي في الصندوق الكبير نظام حيوي كامل بسبب تواجد ٥ كائنات متكافلة مع ديدان الريد ويجلر وزاحف الليل الافريقي"

الصور لأكلهم وجدته امس في الثلاجة وتلاحقته قبل ان ترميه امي في النفايات، وضعت اكثر وحدة مصابة بالفطر فيهم للدود في الجزء الجديد من الصندوق اعلم ان لو جمدتها سيكون استهلاكهم افضل لكن انا اريد الفطريات بدون تجميد مسبق "لقد فتتها لهم"

اما صندوق الدود الازرق فهو منفصل عن هذا الصندوق

أحبهم كلهم ونعم أنا أحتاج فعلاً الى آلة تقطيع الكرتون (؛