Composting in the desert

S Smithsson

pollinator

Posts: 241

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posted 1 year ago

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Composting is HARD in the desert! Turns out you need water to turn scraps into compost!

I have compost containers that have not progressed in years! I took the covers off so they would get rain and snow. That was two years ago. Aside from watering the compost piles, does anyone have ideas on how to prevent this in the future? I have tried putting egg cartons, etc over scraps when I add items, this sorta worked, but I need a better way to keep the moisture in.

sandy

Zone 6b, dry, high desert in New Mexico 7500' elevation

have you checked your new USDA Hardiness zone? Check here: https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/

Timothy Norton

master gardener

Posts: 4237

Location: Upstate NY, Zone 5, 43 inch Avg. Rainfall

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posted 1 year ago

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It never seems to fail.

When a composting question comes up, the answer is always to pee on it.

If you have a way to divert your homesteads urine to be able to be strategically added to your compost, you will not only increase moisture but add nitrogen to the pile.

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