For years, my compost smelled bad, stayed wet, and never broke down. Flies were everywhere, and I was about to give up. A community gardener told me, “You’re making a swamp, not compost.” He taught me the 3:1 brown-to-green ratio: 3 parts brown (dry leaves, cardboard) 1 part green (kitchen scraps) Mix weekly and add a handful of soil Within a month, the pile heated up and smelled earthy. By summer, I had dark, fluffy compost ready for my beds. Tomatoes, peppers, and herbs responded immediately — stronger stems, deeper green, faster growth. Composting isn’t magic. It’s simple ratios, patience, and letting nature do the work. #Gardening #Composting