🪱 Compost Check

Smells off, won't heat up, or just stuck? Answer 3 quick questions and get a straight answer on what's actually wrong and how to fix it.

1How does it smell?

Earthy, like fresh soil — or barely any smell Sharp, like ammonia or urine Rotten eggs / sulfur Sour or vinegar-like

2How wet is it?

Soggy — water drips out when you squeeze a handful Damp, like a wrung-out sponge Bone dry and dusty

3Is it warm inside?

Yes — warm or hot in the middle No — cool all the way through

4Any pests? (optional)

None that I've noticed Fruit flies swarming around it Rodents, or maggots in food scraps

Sourced from Planet Natural and Cornell Waste Management Institute's composting troubleshooting guides. General guidance, not a substitute for judgment about your specific pile — when genuinely unsure, a slower/messier pile is rarely dangerous, just slower.

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