TIL my compost pile needs way more brown stuff than I thought

I read a fact sheet from the county extension office that said you need a 30 to 1 ratio of browns to greens, not the 50/50 mix I was doing. My pile was just a wet, stinky mess for months until I added a bunch of dried leaves and shredded cardboard. How do you guys keep enough brown material on hand?

3 comments

3 Comments

kellyallen2d ago

Yeah, that ratio is a game changer! I save all my paper towel tubes and junk mail in a bin by the garage. It sounds silly, but having a dedicated spot makes it easy to just grab a handful when the pile looks soggy.

mila_murphy2d ago

Honestly, that sounds like a fire hazard waiting to happen. @kellyallen, all that paper just sitting there is basically kindling. I'd rather just deal with a wet compost pile for a minute than risk a garage fire.

skyler_johnson322d ago

My neighbor's garage burned down from oily rags last summer.