What should compost look like?

Sorry if this is a silly question - I have a compost bin and when I take the lid off to put kitchen waste, cardboard etc in it is not pleasant! Obviously it's not meant to be, but how gross should it be? What should I see in there? Flies, worms, snails, bugs etc?

Not a nice question, sorry!

 

Hi JWK... following on from the original question. I have one of those 'dalek' style compost bins which I've been filling up with mixed organic waste over the last year. I also have a pile of decomposing leaves, which are now pretty rotten and brown. Can I add these to the compost bin, or should I use them as mulch?

 

I wouldn't add them, use them as a mulch...

Ive just turned one of my bins Sann..This is what it looks like...



This one's been Cooking all summer and its ready to use on my borders..



Have you tried smelling your compost, It should smell "Sweet" if it pongs you need to turn it..

 

Cheers - will have a go at turning it, though it's in a Dalek so that might be tricky!

 

I lift my Dalek off (its cone shaped), place it alongside, and then fork the stuff back in to mix it.

I wee on most days, that helps get the temeprature up (although this time of the year it may not help much, and more moisture is required in Summer and very little in Winter)

My compost looks pretty rough - sticks / stalks / etc. in it. I don;t take any trouble to shred or grind anything up so I'm not surprised / bothered. I just chuck it on the beds in the spring and let it finish rotting down there.

If it smells bad when you lift the lid that's not good. It should smell slightly sweet, or not at all. But if you see lots of critters and rotting stuff that's normal!