Blog

Today is Day 19 of our 30 days of homesteading Q&A on the podcast where I have reached out to some of the best bloggers and podcasters in the homesteading space to answer your questions about homesteading.

Today’s question is “What’s the best way to compost without the smell? I don’t have a big yard and I don’t want a stinky compost pile close to my house.” Back to answer this question is David The Good from TheSurvivalGardener.com.

Listen To The Podcast

How to Compost Without the Stink: Simple Solutions for Small Yards

Composting is a fantastic way to recycle kitchen scraps and yard waste into rich, garden-boosting material. But, let’s be honest—no one wants a stinky compost pile right next to their house, especially if space is tight! Fortunately, there are ways to compost without making your yard smell like a garbage dump. Here’s a friendly guide inspired by some expert homesteaders who have found clever ways to avoid the stink.

Why Does Compost Smell Bad?

Compost can get stinky when it’s not properly balanced. A compost pile needs a mix of “greens” (like food scraps, coffee grounds, or fresh grass clippings) and “browns” (like dry leaves, newspaper, or straw). When there’s too much of one and not enough of the other, it can create odors. Also, adding things like meat or dairy to a regular compost pile can lead to some seriously bad smells!

The Easy Alternative: Trench Composting

David the Good, author of Compost Everything, suggests an out-of-the-box solution for smelly composting problems—trench composting! This method skips the pile entirely. Instead of building a compost pile, you simply dig a hole in the ground and bury your food scraps. Cover it with soil, and nature takes care of the rest!

Here’s why trench composting is great:

• No smell: Once buried, the food scraps are underground and don’t give off any odors.
• Easy to do: No need to turn the pile or worry about carbon-to-nitrogen ratios.
• Great for small spaces: You can do this in any small garden area.
• Fertility boost: After the material breaks down, it enriches the soil right where it’s buried. You can even plant on top of it later!

How to Start Trench Composting

1. Choose a spot: Pick a place in your yard or garden where you don’t mind digging. It can be right in your garden beds or around trees.
2. Dig a hole: Make the hole about 12-24 inches deep.
3. Bury your scraps: Drop in food scraps, old fruits, vegetables, even bones or coffee grounds—just no plastic or non-organic materials!
4. Cover it up: Add soil back on top, pack it down, and let nature do its thing.

After a few months, you can plant directly on top of the trench, and your plants will love the nutrient-rich soil!

Compost Everything: The Good Guide to Extreme Composting

• The Good, David (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 150 Pages – 04/28/2015 (Publication Date) – Castalia House (Publisher)

Check Current Price

Last update on 2025-05-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Compost Only What Doesn’t Stink

If you still want a traditional compost pile but are worried about the smell, you can follow David’s other advice—only compost what doesn’t stink. Things like dry leaves, grass clippings, and vegetable peelings won’t produce the strong odors that meat or dairy might.

Simply:

• Keep a small compost bin for non-smelly items like veggie scraps and coffee grounds.
• Use a separate method for things like meat, dairy, or very smelly leftovers (like the trench composting method mentioned above).

Vermicomposting: The Wormy Solution

Another great way to compost without the stink is vermicomposting, or composting with worms. In this method, worms break down your scraps in a small, enclosed bin. This system is perfect for small yards and even indoor spaces, as long as you manage it correctly.

Here’s what’s great about vermicomposting:

• Low smell: Worm bins are enclosed, and as long as the bin is balanced and managed, the smell is minimal.
• Space-saving: You can keep the bin in a small corner of your yard, garage, or even under the kitchen sink!
• Creates rich compost: Worms produce “worm castings,” which are fantastic for enriching your soil.

To set up a vermicompost bin:

1. Get a bin: A small plastic bin with a lid works well. You can drill a few holes for air circulation.
2. Add bedding: Shredded newspaper or coconut coir works as bedding for the worms.
3. Introduce worms: Red wigglers are the most common type of composting worm.
4. Feed the worms: Give them small amounts of food scraps like fruit and veggie peels, coffee grounds, and eggshells.

The Benefits of Composting in Pits (or “Melon Pits”)

David shares an interesting idea he calls “melon pits,” inspired by traditional gardening techniques. This method is simple: dig a pit in your garden, fill it with anything from kitchen scraps to bones, cover it with soil, and then plant something like melons right on top! The decaying materials underneath provide long-term nutrients to the plants.

The key benefits of this method:

• Super fertility: The buried scraps act as a nutrient-rich layer for plants to grow in.
• No odor: Since everything is buried, there’s no smell to worry about.
• Works for many plants: While David mentions melons, you could plant other heavy feeders like tomatoes or squash on top of these pits.

A Final Tip: Keep it Simple

At the end of the day, composting doesn’t have to be complicated or smelly. Whether you’re trench composting, using a worm bin, or keeping a traditional pile of only non-smelly items, there’s a way to turn kitchen waste into garden gold without bothering your neighbors or filling your yard with bad odors. So go ahead, give these methods a try, and enjoy the benefits of homemade compost without the stink!

To find out more about David The Good check out his website and social media pages:

• Website: http://thesurvivalgardener.com
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/davidtgood
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC208478ECji1rdkDDbB0vHQ
• Get David’s book Compost Everything: The Good Guide to Extreme Composting

Pin It For Later

Listen On YouTube