Are you a hottie?

GWN wrote:so Camprn
Does that work out to be about a week??

hmm, it could. When the pile is still warm like that it is decomposing, you know, doing what it's supposed to. If it stays warm like that, this is desirable.The time will vary for various reasons; I am guessing that if it remains warm when there is plenty of O2 to do the job. The real reason for turning a pile is to aerate it.

Yes, mine seems to go through about 3 hot days after rebuilding, then down to 120 for a few days and then down to 100 for a few days and it all seems to take about a week.

I've been gone for about a week. It has been hot & dry here and today was up to 106. My compost pile that I built July 6th was still up close to 120 degrees. I watered it well this morning so it was a little cooler this evening. Today is one month from when I built it. If it reheats I will leave it for a while longer before turning it.

This morning it is back up to 145 in one spot and over 120 in others. I watered it by pushing the hose down into the pile and letting is run for maybe 10-15 seconds about 5 or 6 times. It apparently just needed water and maybe air.

Woo, good to hear, Lindacol! I never thought to stick the hose into the pile, but I guess that's the best way to get the middle, huh?

I started a brand new pile yesterday. It's about 1 part grass clippings and weeds, 1 part chunky stuff from my old pile, 1 part dehydrated manure, 1 part kitchen scraps, and 2 parts straw. I mulched everything with my lawn mower before putting it in the pile (I bet the neighbors think I'm nuts!), and everything's very small. I went out this morning and got 135 degree reading in the center top of the pile! And between 100-120 in the side parts. I plan on putting a bunch more straw and grass next weekend after hubby mows, because the pile's only 2 feet tall at the moment.

It was pretty cool taking the pile's temp! I was at a kitchen collection store this weekend and saw what they called a deep fryer and candy thermometer, but I instantly saw it as a compost thermometer because it was so long! It's only a foot long, but I figured I only paid a little bit for it and it's 10 times better than what I was doing (digging a hole in the compost and putting a window thermometer in the hole, lol).

littlesapphire wrote: it's 10 times better than what I was doing (digging a hole in the compost and putting a window thermometer in the hole, lol).

I do that!

CC

Perhaps buy yourselves an ebay $ 5.00 digital thermometer with a yard long probe wire & sensor head and slip it into a yard length of copper pipe that has the bottom end flattened out for the first inch or so .

Push the tube down deep in the heap first , then slide the probe & wire in

Hey, that's a really cool idea, Plantoid! I bet I could do something similar with the one I have already, hmmm... It would be nice to be able to read the very center of the pile.

OMG I just have to share this with everyone because I'm so excited! The new compost pile I made two days ago is 155 degrees today! Woo! But now I'm concerned a little bit. How hot is too hot?

Ooooo...bet the center is SMOKIN'!


CC

Since I have am planning to just let mine sit over the winter, do I have to be concerned with the temperature? I have been putting stuff in it since I got it a few weeks ago and it is about a half full.

I also do not have the strength to turn it and this is not something hubby is willing to engage in, so I thought the 'let it sit for months and hope' method is my best bet.

If I fill it before the winter, will it be 'ready' by the April or May?

@ cpl100 .....
No need to bother with it unless you are well into hot composting or just plain old nosey like me

My hot pile that I built July 6th dropped again to about 120 yesterday so I watered it down like I did about a week ago and the temperature shot back up to 145+ tonight.

I watered it by pushing the hose down into the pile and letting is run for maybe 10-15 seconds about 5 or 6 times. I also sprinkle the outside every couple of days. I figure this helps aerate and water it. I don't think I will turn it til it stays lower than 120. It has been too hot to even think of turning it this week - eveyday 105 or higher. And no rain for months.

This morning I opened my compost tumbler and it was actually steaming! I've never seen that before. I'd say that's pretty hot!

songstriss wrote:This morning I opened my compost tumbler and it was actually steaming! I've never seen that before. I'd say that's pretty hot!

@plantiod or anyone

I turned my pile last Friday and there has been no increase in temperature. My pile started in April and has reduced to 25% of it's original size so am wondering if it is done. There are still so clumps and pine needles but it is very dark looking so wonder if I could just top off my garden this fall with it?

floydd, I think iot will be useable for fall, just screen it and take out any large lumps to add to your new pile.
Anyone
Perhaps Plantoid will confirm it

As long as the compost smells nice and earthy and not like ammonia or has sewer/poo smell, it should be good. Pine needles/small twigs, shavings etc. take awhile to compost. I gave up sifting my compost. I remove twigs and pine needles by hand if need be, but have gotten to where I could care less about the clumps. Seems like after a good watering or two the clumps are gone anyway and I've saved myself lots of time by not sifting and my vegetables don't seem to mind either.
I don't see why you couldn't top your beds off in the fall with the compost. It would for sure be done by spring when you get ready to plant.

I agree with Rooster, but I do screen some of my compost. I use it a top dressing when I plant small seeds, carrots, radish etc.

+1 Rooster. If the compost is done and cool, adding it to your garden is kind of like mixing pancake batter, the lumps take care of themselves. :-)

Boz wrote:I agree with Rooster, but I do screen some of my compost. I use it a top dressing when I plant small seeds, carrots, radish etc.

I called a local Starbucks today here in town to see if they participate in the coffee grounds recycling program. Score! They do so I'll be hitting them up for my next pile. Thanks to who'ever mentioned this! Camp perhaps?? They'll come in very handy.
Boz, if you're interested it's the Starbucks by King Soopers on Eagle Dr. That was the only one I checked locally.

Rooster
All three Starbucks in town will give you grounds. The best time I have found is between 10:30 and 11 AM. In the winter I can get about 50 lbs a day. The store on the North end is usually the best one. I also hit the local Wendy's for their salad scraps, mostly lettuce. Unfortunately their are other people that that hit these places and then I come up dry darn it.

RoOsTeR wrote:As long as the compost smells nice and earthy and not like ammonia or has sewer/poo smell, it should be good. Pine needles/small twigs, shavings etc. take awhile to compost. I gave up sifting my compost. I remove twigs and pine needles by hand if need be, but have gotten to where I could care less about the clumps. Seems like after a good watering or two the clumps are gone anyway and I've saved myself lots of time by not sifting and my vegetables don't seem to mind either.
I don't see why you couldn't top your beds off in the fall with the compost. It would for sure be done by spring when you get ready to plant.

Thanks..I think I may sift my pile but will only remove the twigs or other material that will not break down, the clumps of leaves I will just toss in the garden as I hope they will break down by spring.

Do have a timing issue though as my fall crops will not be done before I will be collecting leaves, etc. for my two bins so what do others do? Make a new bin for the finished compost?

One last question; my pile started 4 foot high and now is only about 2 foot high. Is that about right to have finished compost at 25% of the original stack?

Although the temp has been ambient for the last few weeks, there are a LOT of bugs in my compost; is this normal?

I think the answer is Yes! floydd.

Kelegan

Thanks for the OK with my compost but have a question. How much does an original compost pile reduce from start to completion. Never done this before this year and need to know how much, or big a pile, I will need to produce enough compost for next year.

My guess is that it depends on the components and how much they are shreaded but can you give me a ball park figure?