Just changed how I layer my bin after a mold disaster

I used to just throw scraps in and cover with a handful of bedding. Then last month my whole bin got this fuzzy green mold that smelled terrible. My neighbor who's been composting for years said I need to do a full brown layer every time, like 2 inches of shredded cardboard on top. Now I prep a bag of paper shreds by the bin and it's been totally smell free for 3 weeks straight. Anyone else struggle with getting the brown to green ratio right?

3 comments

3 Comments

tessa36818d ago

Honestly I used to have the same problem until I realized I was overcomplicating the "green" part. People obsess over ratios but what really helped me was just throwing in a handful of dried leaves from my yard if I don't have cardboard. They break down slower and trap air pockets better than shredded paper does. Ngl I think a lot of mold issues come from packing the browns too tight so the greens stay wet.

graym4918d ago

Dried leaves are honestly the most underrated brown material out there.

emerycarr18d ago

Read somewhere that worms actually breathe through their skin so too much wetness suffocates them, mold or not.