Problem solver

Not breaking down

A pile that just sits there is missing one of four things: moisture, nitrogen, air, or size. Run down the list in order.

Moisture first, because it is the most common. Squeeze a handful from the center. Drier than a wrung-out sponge means the microorganisms are dormant. Water it as you turn it.

Nitrogen second. A pile that is all leaves and cardboard has plenty of carbon and nothing to fuel the fire. Mix in greens: food scraps, coffee grounds, fresh grass clippings.

Air third. A compacted pile suffocates. Turn it top to bottom and break up any dense mats.

Size fourth, and it surprises people. A pile smaller than about three feet across cannot hold heat, so it works slowly no matter what you do. Pile it bigger or use an insulated bin.

Also check particle size. Whole corn cobs, thick stalks, and intact cardboard take ages. Chop and tear things smaller and everything speeds up.

Tough holdouts like eggshells, avocado pits, and corn cobs lagging behind a finished pile are normal. Screen them out and throw them into the next batch.

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