Find a helpful next step.
Explore six common compost problems with practical guidance for ordinary outdoor heaps and bins. Read the possibilities before deciding what to change.
A FREE TOOL FOR YOUR COMPOST PILE
Less guesswork.
More life
in your soil.
A pile that smells. A bin that stays wet. Scraps that seem to sit there forever. Compost Companion helps you look at what’s happening and choose a practical next step.
Free to use in your browser. No subscription or payment details.
COMPOST COMPANIONFIELD NOTE 01
What’s happening
in your pile?
Too wetToo dryUnpleasant smell
Observe before you adjust.
A cool pile can still be composting. Heat is not the only sign of progress.
NOTICE WHAT’S CHANGINGMAKE A SMALL ADJUSTMENTCOME BACK AND OBSERVE
WORK WITH THE PROCESS
You don’t need
a perfect pile.
You need a way to understand it. Start with a symptom, get some context and keep a short record of what you change. Compost Companion is a small tool for building that habit.
Keep a pile journal.
Name your piles and save dated observations. Keep track of what you noticed and what you tried, without relying on memory.
Check back with purpose.
Choose a next-check date and revisit your observations. A simple field guide introduces browns, greens, moisture and air.
SMALL TOOL. USEFUL HABIT.
From kitchen scraps
to understanding.
Composting is a practical place to begin noticing the relationships that matter in a garden: materials, moisture, air and the living organisms doing the work.
You can use the tool on its own. When you want to explore how those relationships fit into a wider design, our free permaculture mini-course is a next step.
Start the free permaculture mini-course ↗BEFORE YOU START
A few useful details.
Is it really free?
Yes. Compost Companion is free to use. There is no subscription or payment requirement.
What kind of composting is it for?
Ordinary outdoor heaps and compost bins. It is not designed for worm bins, bokashi or industrial systems. The guidance suggests things to check, rather than diagnosing your pile or promising a fixed finishing date.
Where are my journal notes saved?
In the browser on the device you use. There is no cloud sync. Export a backup before clearing browser data or switching devices. Use the app’s export and import tools to keep a backup and move your journal.
Will it remind me to check my pile?
You can save a next-check date in your journal. The current version does not send push notifications, emails or automatic reminders.
Can I download it from the App Store?
Not yet. This is a web app. An iPhone app is a possible next stage, subject to development, testing and Apple’s review.
START WITH WHAT YOU NOTICE
What is your pile
telling you?
Take a look. Make a note. Try the next helpful step.
Open Compost Companion ↗Open it on your phone, tablet or computer. Your journal stays in the browser you use.