My neighbor called my compost pile a 'raccoon buffet' and he was right

I've been composting in my backyard for about 8 months, just piling up kitchen scraps. My neighbor, who's been gardening for 30 years, walked over last week and said, 'You're just feeding every critter in the county with that setup.' He showed me his system: a simple, lidded plastic bin with air holes drilled in it. I bought one for 25 bucks and started layering my greens and browns properly. After just two weeks, the smell is gone and I haven't seen a single raccoon. Has anyone else had to totally redo their compost method after getting some blunt advice?

3 comments

3 Comments

shane_anderson19d ago

Wait, you were just piling up scraps loose in the yard for eight months? That's wild, no wonder the raccoons were having a party. A simple bin fixes so much.

loganthomas19d ago

Yeah, that open pile method is basically a welcome sign for pests. Adding a layer of dry leaves or shredded cardboard on top of fresh scraps makes a huge difference too. It's like putting a lid on the smell they're after.

lily_young5919d ago

Learned that lesson the hard way last summer. My compost pile basically became a raccoon buffet. They'd dig through it every single night. Started using a thick layer of grass clippings on top. Works like a charm now. Felt pretty silly for not trying it sooner.