stored compost

**jimmy cee** 8/13/2013, 11:17 pm

I have seven 5 gallon buckets of finished compost sitting in my shed.
Will they keep till needed or is there a time limit ?
No expiration date on the containers...... stored compost 3170584802

**llama momma** 8/14/2013, 12:11 am

Jimmyc
Ideally, compost in containers should be stirred up from time to time to keep things oxygenated. My compost book says most of us use compost that is curing. Compost can continue to change for 2 years till it is finished or stable. So you can see how stirring it up would add oxygen and prevent anaerobic conditions. My book didn't say what happens after a two year storage period.
My experience well, I didn't stir it and the kitty litter containers sat tightly lidded in the unheated garage all winter. What I found in the spring was nice looking, good smelling compost with big fat wriggling worms all the way in the bottom especially along the bottom edges. I felt guilty for not stirring it but I didn't see any plants suffering either.

bnoles 8/14/2013, 6:09 am

Good info on storage, I only wish I could crank mine out fast enough to have some to store. sunny

Triciasgarden 8/14/2013, 12:37 pm

I agree Bob. It is hard to get the compost pile together. Then someone has to turn it and keep it watered. Then when it's done someone has to move it. It is worth it because homemade compost is great to have, but getting to the end product is a lot of hard work on us older people. I have had several piles going at the same time, in different stages of working, but again that is hard and time consuming work.

Right now I have finished compost and I need to get it into containers but I haven't gotten to it. I had worms in one of my piles but they were grub worms, lol. I wish I had garden worms in it. It sure added to the quality of LMs compost!

**jimmy cee** 8/14/2013, 12:57 pm

Good point on the stirring, I'll only have this batch for a couple of months.
The 2nd batch will be out all winter working.
I presently have to 4x4 bins that I transfer from one to the other when ever
the mood strikes me. As I grow more( MATURE ) I just cut back on my fork capacity.
I am thinking, making compost is every bit of fun as the gardening itself.

bnoles 8/14/2013, 12:59 pm

Hi Tricia,

I think homemade compost is the cat's meow for sure. I have been using it as fast as I can produce it and yes, it is very hard but worthwhile work. Maybe now that I am finished constructing new beds, my needs will go down some and I can start having a little extra. I have one cubic yard that needs a final turning and then a rest for Fall usage and I am about 3/4 finished building a 2nd cubic yard for next spring's use. I love finding all the worms roaming around when I turn a pile.

Triciasgarden 8/14/2013, 2:08 pm

Oh wow, you are doing amazing! See you have kept up on the demand with your hard work. You should get some extra pretty quick it sounds like! I don't understand how you guys are getting the nice worms in your piles. Mine is on the ground also. I do find them in other places. Maybe they hear me coming and hide, lol!

**jimmy cee** 8/14/2013, 8:42 pm

Tricia
I had no worms at all in past years.
This spring I went to a friends farm and took home 12 five gallon buckets of fresh cow manure.
A few weeks later when I turned it I had a zillion lovely red colored worms.
Now their in all my compost zones
Try contacting a farmer with cows.

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