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TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer
+13
Mimi2
newbeone
Robbomb116
CapeCoddess
floyd1440
plantoid
Zmoore
Kelejan
audrey.jeanne.roberts
dstack
jimmy cee
yolos
sanderson
17 posters
Page 11 of 13
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Re: TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer
Been away for a few days so there have been no temp readings for the past 5 days. Today Bin #1 is at 118F which means it is still in the "active" composting range.
trolleydriver
Forum Moderator- Posts : 5395
Join date : 2015-05-04
Age : 76
Location : Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Re: TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer
Temp in Bin #1 is 118F which is unchanged from the previous day. After taking the temperature reading, I poked holes from the top down in the composting material and stirred the material in the holes.
trolleydriver
Forum Moderator- Posts : 5395
Join date : 2015-05-04
Age : 76
Location : Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
trolleydriver
Forum Moderator- Posts : 5395
Join date : 2015-05-04
Age : 76
Location : Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Re: TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer
It still seems to be quite chunky but I have not dug down into the middle. I'll let it cool a bit and then screen it. I would like to get a new batch started soon. As well my SoilSaver bin is just about empty and my Envirocycle bin is empty. All need to be started.sanderson wrote:How does it look? Good enough as top dressing when it cools?
trolleydriver
Forum Moderator- Posts : 5395
Join date : 2015-05-04
Age : 76
Location : Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
trolleydriver
Forum Moderator- Posts : 5395
Join date : 2015-05-04
Age : 76
Location : Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Re: TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer
I got the EnviroCycle Compost Tumbler set up this afternoon. They recommend filling it up but I fell short since I don't have enough greens. I put in semi-dried grass clippings from the lawn mowing earlier today, coffee grounds and filters, stored kitchen scraps, today's kitchen scraps, and leaves from last Fall. I'll have to add more greens and browns and adjust the ratios over the next few days as I fill it up. I should note that I do not find it all that easy to turn. The starting temperature is at 76F which is the ambient outdoor temperature today. I'll call this Bin #3.
trolleydriver
Forum Moderator- Posts : 5395
Join date : 2015-05-04
Age : 76
Location : Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Re: TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer
Bin #1 compost looks like mine. I used about half of it so far as top dressing/mulch. The Red Wigglers are loving it. They are flocking the the interface zone between the MM and the compost. Also, the compost gets really wet when I water.
I know Jimmy Cee has a composter like #3 but I think he called it just a toy (??) as he has that great 3-section compost bin. I can see your point about this model being hard to turn. It's low to the ground and the finger grips are shallow. It looks like it would be easier to just roll it around on the ground.
The used model I bought is higher with deep finger grips so I turn it using the triceps (bat wings) and my weight. Easy on the back. Also, it is set up in the flower bed about 5" higher still.
I know Jimmy Cee has a composter like #3 but I think he called it just a toy (??) as he has that great 3-section compost bin. I can see your point about this model being hard to turn. It's low to the ground and the finger grips are shallow. It looks like it would be easier to just roll it around on the ground.
The used model I bought is higher with deep finger grips so I turn it using the triceps (bat wings) and my weight. Easy on the back. Also, it is set up in the flower bed about 5" higher still.
trolleydriver
Forum Moderator- Posts : 5395
Join date : 2015-05-04
Age : 76
Location : Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Re: TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer
sanderson wrote:
#3 ... It looks like it would be easier to just roll it around on the ground.
That's what I was thinking. And a great way to mix MM when you need some.
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6824
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 68
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
trolleydriver
Forum Moderator- Posts : 5395
Join date : 2015-05-04
Age : 76
Location : Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
trolleydriver
Forum Moderator- Posts : 5395
Join date : 2015-05-04
Age : 76
Location : Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
trolleydriver
Forum Moderator- Posts : 5395
Join date : 2015-05-04
Age : 76
Location : Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
trolleydriver
Forum Moderator- Posts : 5395
Join date : 2015-05-04
Age : 76
Location : Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
trolleydriver
Forum Moderator- Posts : 5395
Join date : 2015-05-04
Age : 76
Location : Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
trolleydriver
Forum Moderator- Posts : 5395
Join date : 2015-05-04
Age : 76
Location : Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Re: TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer
Mine is 80-95*F. Did you fill yours pretty full and it just naturally shrunk? I would like to build one Sat morning (after the Friday night farmer markets). Chopped straw, chopped produce, leaves and horse manure.
The material currently in the tumbler is "moldy" looking. I will place it in the plastic rolling garbage can (photo posted in https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t20782p25-tips-for-compost-tumbler#268948) and let the worms help. Ken made a new door for it.
The material currently in the tumbler is "moldy" looking. I will place it in the plastic rolling garbage can (photo posted in https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t20782p25-tips-for-compost-tumbler#268948) and let the worms help. Ken made a new door for it.
Re: TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer
At the start I did not have enough greens available to fill my tumbler completely. I started with leaves, grass clippings, and coffee grounds. Since then I have added additional leaves and kitchen scraps a couple of times but it is still not full.sanderson wrote:Mine is 80-95*F. Did you fill yours pretty full and it just naturally shrunk? I would like to build one Sat morning (after the Friday night farmer markets). Chopped straw, chopped produce, leaves and horse manure.
...
trolleydriver
Forum Moderator- Posts : 5395
Join date : 2015-05-04
Age : 76
Location : Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Re: TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer
The temps in both bins are down.
Bin #1 - 88F
Bin 33 - 115F. This bin has yo-yo temps. I think it is too small to generate and hold good heat.
Bin #1 - 88F
Bin 33 - 115F. This bin has yo-yo temps. I think it is too small to generate and hold good heat.
trolleydriver
Forum Moderator- Posts : 5395
Join date : 2015-05-04
Age : 76
Location : Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
trolleydriver
Forum Moderator- Posts : 5395
Join date : 2015-05-04
Age : 76
Location : Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
trolleydriver
Forum Moderator- Posts : 5395
Join date : 2015-05-04
Age : 76
Location : Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Re: TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer
Bin #3 - Three day temperatures for July 5 to 7 - 118F, 118F, 110F
I tuned the this tumbler 3 times today per the instructions.
I tuned the this tumbler 3 times today per the instructions.
trolleydriver
Forum Moderator- Posts : 5395
Join date : 2015-05-04
Age : 76
Location : Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Re: TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer
Bin #3 - Three day temperatures for July 8 to 10 - 116F, 112F, 106F
I turned this tumbler bin 5 times today. That is 2 times more than stated in the instructions but I was trying to loosen up the material more than I got with 3 turns.
I'm thinking this bin is not going to produce good compost. Maybe I didn't get the right amounts/ratio of greens and browns.
I turned this tumbler bin 5 times today. That is 2 times more than stated in the instructions but I was trying to loosen up the material more than I got with 3 turns.
I'm thinking this bin is not going to produce good compost. Maybe I didn't get the right amounts/ratio of greens and browns.
trolleydriver
Forum Moderator- Posts : 5395
Join date : 2015-05-04
Age : 76
Location : Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Re: TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer
Bin #3 - Three day temperatures for July 11 to 13 - 108F, 108F, 98F
Contents are very wet probably due to the excessive rainfall and the fact that the tumbler is not watertight. Today was turning day after taking the temperature reading.
Contents are very wet probably due to the excessive rainfall and the fact that the tumbler is not watertight. Today was turning day after taking the temperature reading.
trolleydriver
Forum Moderator- Posts : 5395
Join date : 2015-05-04
Age : 76
Location : Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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