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How often should I turn my compost?

QUESTION: How often should I turn my compost?

ANSWER: The ideal schedule for turning your compost is once every couple of weeks. You don’t want to mix things up too frequently, but it is beneficial to aerate the compost every few weeks by mixing the materials using a pitchfork, shovel, or compost turner. However, your compost will still decompose if you don’t turn it at all. It will just take the materials a lot longer to break down if you aren’t turning the compost every so often.

If you own and use a compost tumbler, it doesn’t hurt to turn it each time you add new materials to the bin.

How many worms do I need to start composting?

QUESTION: How many worms do I need to start composting?

ANSWER: It’s a common misconception that worms are a necessary part of the composting process. Unless you’re using the vermicomposting method, you actually don’t need any worms at all, although the nutrient-rich compost may attract some neighborhood worms from time to time. For all methods except for vermicomposting, there’s no need for you to introduce worms, track their whereabouts, or otherwise manage the worm population of your compost.

Can you put raw chicken in the compost?

QUESTION: Can you put raw chicken in the compost?

ANSWER: Any meat product, whether cooked or raw, should not be included in your compost. For one thing, these materials can result in a very unpleasant smell as they break down. They also tend to attract undesirable creatures, like rodents and maggots, so all meat products should be avoided. The same goes for fish, grease, or dairy products.

Can you put meat in compost?

QUESTION: Can you put meat in compost?

ANSWER: Meat products, whether cooked or raw, should not be composted because they will cause an unpleasant stench as they break down and can also attract rats, maggots, and other pests. For the same reasons, you should not include fish, grease, or dairy products in your compost.