Wet Compost

The compost in our bin is a touch 'wet' and smelling of fish, what can be added to dry it up? Someone suggested tea bags, coffee grinds and cardboard, or can it be left to its own devices?

It needs to be turned thoroughly and some 'brown ' material added. It is best to either fork it into another bin or fork it out into a heap and then load it back in. As you do this add brown material such as cardboard, shredded paper, straw etc.

This is heavy work, just a stir and a poke of the top will not work. If you are serious about your compost you will have to do it. Otherwise just use it for your bean trench.

Agree with lack of aeration and probable lack of brown material but also suggest you keep it covered which makes it far easier to control the amount of moisture in the heap rather than just relying on the elements (if it is already tightly covered you must have over-watered it; moist throughout but not soggy is what to aim for.)

Thanks to all for the really help advice. Have just got back from the allotment, having emptied out the bin, turned it over with a fork and added, some cardboard and paper. Also placed the lid on, so hoping it will start composting more effectively now.