is my compost ruined

newstart 2/7/2012, 6:57 pm

Ok we have had lots of rain. I went to add stuff to my compst pile and as soon as I moved it a little there was what felt like millions of flies. They were all over me. affraid

SO I waited for a while and went back. and its wet in there and tons and tons of bugs and other stuff. is this ok? what about the flies its really bad but there is no smell. How Am I to harvest this and help would be great

newstart 2/7/2012, 6:58 pm

ohh and too I threw some really old potatoes in there and they have sprouted with a vengence Shocked

**llama momma** 2/8/2012, 1:58 am

Sorry to hear of your fly issue. I went straight to my 300 page compost book and it doesn't even mention fly control. I use lots of llama manure and haven't had any problems. How often are you turning it over? Do you add scraps by burying it at least 6 inches to a foot? Flies in general are attracted to stinky rotting stuff, yet the addition of carbs like leaves, straw and such, seems to neutralize stinky manure, in my 2 years experience anyway. Suggest turn over the heap and add more carbs till someone with more experience chimes in Very Happy

I am betting your issue is temporary.

JK 2/8/2012, 8:46 am

Im still very new at all this but I had that same problem a week ago. I added dry fallen leaves, turned the pile, and then added more dry leaves on top. Not sure what this has done to the actual production of compost but it 'almost' totally took care of the flies.

tomperrin 2/8/2012, 9:38 am

I mean you would really have to work at it to ruin compost by adding totally inappropriate things.

Just because your compost has a few critters in it doesn't mean it's bad. The critters are helping along the decomp process. It's all good.

Lavender Debs 2/8/2012, 10:30 am

I am "bugged" a lot more by the potatoes than the flies. The maggots digest the ickies in the pile. That is probably why it smells nice. But those potatoes, they will come up everywhere, at all times in your garden. At first it seems cute. But after a while....arghhhhhhh! BUT there are far worse things in life than volunteer potatoes. Live and learn......and get dirty.

Debs....who passes potatoes through the chickens before putting them in the compost.

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