Resolved Question: How do I deal with an out-of-control compost pile?
Tuesday, September 7th, 2010
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Hi!
I’m looking for some advice on how to deal with my big mess of a compost pile.
We just moved into a house in southeast PA and the local trash service does not collect yard waste, so we inherited two large compost bins full of yard waste. The bins are at least a few years old, so one would think that by now there might be some gorgeous, yummy compost in there somewhere, but no…all we have is a whole lot of very slowly decaying woody trimmings, piles of weeds (many with seed heads…yikes!), and tons of grass clippings that take up at least half of one bin. From what I understand about composting, this mix just ain’t good. 
The bins are made of wood and chicken wire. They’re about 5′ wide x 5′ deep x 5′ tall each with boards nailed all around the bottom up to 3 feet off the ground…so no getting to the compost easily even if there were some. The chicken wire runs around 3 sides of each bin with the 4th side left open, and they are overflowing with yard waste.
Basically, it just looks like a big mess. Thankfully, there is an absolutely gorgeous wisteria vine covering the entire side of these bins that faces my house, so at least we have a nice view. Can’t say the same for the neighbors, though. 
So can I do anything to fix these compost piles and end up with some decent compost to put on my garden next year? I know it needs aeration, but I can’t see how I will possibly be able to turn it at all with the bins being enclosed at the bottom and filled to my eye level. Any suggestions?
Also, our garden next year (fruits and veggies) will be grown using entirely organic methods and products. If the yard waste in the pile was treated with chemicals while it was still living and growing, will those chemicals be present in the compost??
Maybe I should just have the entire contents of the bins hauled away and start from scratch.
Any suggestions, information, and advice is welcome and very appreciated! Thanks in advance. 
Amy
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