My compost bin outside has a lot of flies around and in it, what am I doing wrong?

Question

I am new to composting so the compost pile is only a month old. I haven't added worms to it, would that help? It is a real compost bin, I bought it from the city I live in, it has a lot of vents on the side that can't be closed. I have only been adding fruit and vegetables to it.

Answer 1

I think it needs worms  that is what eats the yuckie stuff

Answer 2

It sounds a bit wet to me. The water from all your fruits and vegetables drains out as they decompose and create a dark puddle of fermented waste that flies love.

Add some shredded newspaper, dead leaves, and used paper towels too. Then mix it in real well until the liquid is absorbed. Then add your worms. Keep turning and mixing and add some dry material along with your fruits and veggies and it should be fine.

Answer 3

What you have built is a fly magnet, and worms don't do good in wet Garbage, they will leave and find some soil that is moist but clean.

Probably the ground below your composter.

add leaves, and grass clipping, and preferably some Chicken, steer or rabbit manure, the manure causes in to heat better and compost faster.

This article should help.

http://www.composting101.com/

Answer 4

You can add some "brown" to it, or leaves, twigs, lawn clippings, newspaper shredded and so on.  What you pile needs, is some "carbon".  I keep a pile of leaf mulch  and some potting soil next to mine and when I add some peelings, or banana skins, whatever, I add some handfuls of leaf mulch and some potting soil.  I rarely have flies or bugs, and I also keep it watered if it hasn't rained in a while.  Mine is covered with a lid that has some holes in it, and I keep a brick on top to keep it on when the wind blows.  Hope this helps!

Answer 5

HAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAH thats the whole point buddy, flys worms p**p maggots, its all a part of the whole compost concept. now if ur really worried u could check for a dead body near by haha

Answer 6

Yep, it's definitely too wet and needs dry materials/carbon. I wouldn't put color printed paper in the pile because of the probable chemicals in the inks.   I too keep a pile of dry leaves next to the bin to add when the veggie layer is about 2 inches thick.  Just a light covering will do it.  There will still be a few fruit flies and insects, but they're there with a job to do.  Another hint that your pile is too wet is a stinky smell.  

There is no need to add worms if your pile or bin is sitting on the bare soil--they'll find their way .

In the winter, I just let all the veggie materials pile up thickly in the bins and mix it up when the frozen ground releases my dry leaves.  

Don't forget to add coffee grounds, tea bags and egg shells and wood ashes (not from charcoal briquettes) as these contribute important nutrients to your finished compost.  

Compost piles are very forgiving.  Keep it up!!!!

Answer 7

It is too wet. Add torn cardboard, such as cereal boxes, waste paper, anything dry such as garden waste. If you still have a problem, then add a big packet of cheap wheat bran to correct it. Then continue adding your dry compost ingredients as you go along.

Answer 8

kelsey is an idiot.

Are you keeping it moist, not flooded? Are you turning the heap to get air into it?

Google compost and read up on it. The concept works but there are things you must do. Good luck.

Answer 9

it sounds as if you have it too wet

cover any new stuff with saw dust or leaves to seal it of .

add worms ,don`t have it too wet ,just moist

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