Lots of Flies

Almost a week into my first composting experience I can't say much for any progress actually producing compost but I've increased the fly population in my yard exponentially. They literally swarm out of the composter when you unscrew the top. I'm hoping as things decompose a little more in there it'll get better. I've got what I believe to be a pretty even mix between greens and browns- fruit/veggie scraps, leaves, grass clippings, and newspaper/cardboard. I've wetted it down as best I can (water just flows out of the seams at the bottom when I dump any more in). It's sitting in the sun. All that's left is time. For now though the only good thing I can say about it is that it doesn't smell. Unfortunately I can't say the same for the plastic containers in the kitchen we've been putting the kitchen scraps into. They smell terrible when you crack the lid on them and actually even sorta reek even with the lid on if you sniff at them. It's a smell I just had not experienced before.

As for more pleasant matters, the three little broccoli seedlings are looking good... as good as a two centimeter tall stalk with a couple leaves can look anyway. There are a few wispy little green shoots in one of the carrot containers that may be carrots. There are none in the other container though, so I don't know. The broccoli I planted for Mom hasn't sprouted either. I've also forgotten what container I planted it in, so I've been peering at all of them and whispering encouraging messages.

The aloe babies I transplanted into old yogurt containers are looking much more greenish than brownish, so I'm taking that as a positive sign that I didn't kill them in the transplant. I'm thinking I either pulled them a bit too early or gave them too much water at the beginning.