Climate Problems

• 1). If animals are raiding the compost pile, grind up fruits and vegetables in a blender before you add them to pile, or bury them in center.
  
  
• 2). If some pieces are not breaking down, take them out, chop them up and put them back in. Generate heat by adding more "green" material, such as manure, fresh grass clippings, alfalfa meal or seaweed.
  
  
• 3). Occasionally nature will not take its course and will need some assistance. For those times when nothing is breaking down, try to add water until center is evenly moist in case the pile is dry.
  
  
• 4). In dry climates, cover pile with a tarpaulin to hold in moisture, and check frequently. If pile is moist, add "greens" and turn pile.
  
  
• 5). If it smells like ammonia and feels moist but not soggy, add more "brown" material, such as straw, shredded paper, leaves or sawdust, and turn pile.
  
  
• 6). If it smells bad and feels soggy, add "browns" and turn pile. In wet climates, cover pile with a tarpaulin to keep off rain.