Composting FAQ
1.My bin is leaking and the liquid smells. How to ensure that the bin does not leak?
Making a thick base of browns/coco peat/microbes helps absorb the extra moisture.Remember to remove excess moisture from the food waste before you add it to the bin.Pile smells when there is lack of aeration
2. How many days will it take for the compost to be ready?
By using a compost maker/ microbes it will take anywhere between 25 days to 35 days. Bones, seeds, shells take longer than other organic material like fruit and vegetable peels. Usually, composting takes 45 days when no microbes are added.
3. How to know that the waste is composted and its time to empty the bin?
The contents will be reduced to half and will be rich black and will smell like earth. You can easily touch it by hand. It will not be soggy/dry. It will be moist.
4. Are the microbes in the compost bin harmful for humans? While harvesting do we need to take any precautions?
Compost is pretty darned safe. Some of these problems, such as the fungal diseases, afflict very few people. Others, like the pathogens, are far more likely to occur in manures than in compost.
5. Why there are ants in my composter?
Ideally ants are part of ecosystem so you can let them finish their work , if they are bothering you then little bit of chilli powder can be sprinkled.
6. How to reduce moisture in the composter?
Remove excess moisture from the food waste before you put it in the bin.Wipe the lid every day with a cloth to remove droplets on the lid.Add enough microbes to absorb moisture
7. Can sawdust be added to compost?
Saw dust has very high electrical conductivity and this can hamper the growth of the plants later on.
Even if something goes wrong with C:N ratio, it's fine. Plants, just like us,plants do survive with many deficiencies in the body. But they can't take very high EC.
