Composting & Worm Farming

One ratio explains almost every compost problem

A pile that stinks has too much nitrogen; a pile that sits cold and does nothing has too much carbon. Both are the same dial: the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, with a target around 25–30:1. In kitchen terms that's "browns" (dry leaves, cardboard, straw — high carbon) balanced against "greens" (food scraps, grass clippings, coffee grounds — high nitrogen), roughly two to three parts browns to one part greens by volume. The C:N ratio guide has the mix table and a worked example, so the fix for a smelly or stalled pile is a measurement, not a mystery.

Pick the system for your space, not the ideal one

A tumbler suits a patio and turns fast but holds less; a stationary bin takes yard volume and patience; a worm bin fits under a sink and eats scraps year-round; bokashi handles the things other systems can't take. The bins and tumblers guide compares them by space, speed, and budget. If worms won: red wigglers, moist shredded-paper bedding, feed weekly, and skip meat, dairy, and citrus — the worm bin guide covers setup through the lazy way to harvest castings.

Common questions

Why is summer the best time to start? Heat is the engine. A pile built in July with the right browns-greens mix can be actively cooking within days and finished for fall bed prep — the same pile started in November mostly waits for spring. The one summer chore: keep it about as damp as a wrung-out sponge.

Can I compost in an apartment? Yes — that's exactly what worm bins and bokashi buckets are for. A well-run worm bin doesn't smell, fits in a cabinet, and produces castings that cost real money at the garden store.

How do I know it's finished? Finished compost is dark, crumbly, smells like forest floor, and you can't recognize what went in. If it heats back up after turning or you can still identify last month's salad, it needs more time.

Should grass clippings go in the pile or stay on the lawn? Both work. Clippings left on the lawn return roughly a quarter of its nitrogen need for free; bagged clippings are one of the best "greens" a pile can get. If you go the lawn route, the fertilizer math (how much actual nitrogen your lawn needs, and the ~1 lb per 1,000 sq ft cap) is what our Turf lawn-care calculator does.