HELP! HELP!
I’m very new at organic gardening. I read information for approximately 1 year before I attempted to start. However, on March 31, 2008 I started for very first compost pile (or in my case compost box). I purchased a 55 gallon plastic trash canister from Wal-Mart. I started with put approx. 25% grass clippings; rain water; 10% weeds; 10% old molded bread; 20% old fruit and vegetables; 5% Chihuahua pooh-poo. Now the problem. At first it had a foul, stinky odor that was so bad my children threatened to leave home. Let me mention that it is outside in my back yard. 1 week ago in added ½ cup of dry molasses. Now it does not smell as bad; but now, it is full of maggots. Yes fly-maggots. Have I created some monstrosity? Will the compost-police come and get me? Will I be banded from composting for life?

Prior to the maggots, I had notice that every fly in DeSoto had taken residence in my backyard lurking around my compost canister. At first I had the top off because I read that it is supposed to get lots of air. Then after the flies I put the top on for two days. Now it is full of fly-maggots. What should I do now? It this stuff supposed to do this? Should I dump it somewhere and never start over? HELP.

You need more "browns" (i.e. carbon based materials) in your compost pile. My favorites are dry leaves, hay, straw, or white shredded paper.

A good compost pile should start with at least 2-3 times more carbon materials than nitrogen materials. It takes carbon to make humus in the soil.

Also with the above amounts, plus constant aeration and moisturization, you should not have any funhky smells nor gross maggots appearing on the top of the compost pile. (i.e. assuming some carbon materials are on top covering the compost pile).

Happy Gardening!

Maggots are just part of the decomposition process. I get them too, when the pile has more moisture in it.

If we did not have things such as microbes, maggots, and termites, the earth would be miles high in dead things. (Malcolm Beck brought this fact to my attention. I find it an interesting idea to envisage).