Hi, all, I began a layered compost area August 2015 with the hope to plant into it by spring of 2016. I layered cardboard, veggie-only kitchen scraps, rabbit manure, blood meal, bone meal, and topped with fresh wheat straw. Over the winter it was watered, worms were added, and it was lightly turned with a pitch fork. Recently I've had to remove more and more spots of what looks like a bad growths, and if I wait too long before removing them, they grow spores. Have I made a accurate diagnosis? I really valued this south facing bed as I've built it to 1,394 sq ft and was counting on time and patience to season it into an great spring-summer growing bed. Now I"m really worried! Your advice is very much appreciated!! Thanks so very much. We are in south Georgia, USA.

Hi, Steve and/or Jeannie! Could you maybe post a photo of the growths? It sounds to me like your area is just doing what it should do, which is "rot." I think your area is going to be fine, but I expect someone with more experience with making lasagna-type beds will be checking in here soon

I agree, it sounds like the ingredients are breaking down and composting. Fungi are nature's way of breaking organic waste down into usable components. This link has some pretty good info.

http://www.gmushrooms.com/Mush...

Thank you girls- here are recent photos. There is no odor at all to these.

Holy moly -- I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like that...

@Moonhowl / Jean -- is this a "vomit fungus" ?

It is Dog Vomit Fungus which is actually a slime mold. Although disgusting looking, it proves your compost pile is doing its job.

I really have never seen that before... and my first thought when I saw the photo was that it looked an awful lot like my dog had ralphed up his dinner! Really have to admire whoever named it

Thank you so much Daisy. I found lots of info on slime mold now that you mentioned its name. This is a funny history of slime mold re: inspiring a sci-fi movie! http://archives.microbeworld.o...

I think Texas can take credit for the largest slime molds too. I was a little kid when that movie came out. It was terrifying!

Daisy

This is much ado about little. Stir it back in and it too will pass.

Your job as a composter is to hasten decay.

Party Pooper!

Besides, slime molds are fun! Read on:

http://www.personal.psu.edu/sa...