Re: TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer

**trolleydriver** 6/19/2017, 5:38 pm

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's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin1-242

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin1-242

**trolleydriver** 6/20/2017, 6:28 pm

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's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin1-243

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin1-243

**trolleydriver** 6/21/2017, 12:49 pm

Bin #1 is down to 113F from 118F yesterday.

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin1-244

**sanderson** 6/22/2017, 1:19 pm

How does it look? Good enough as top dressing when it cools?

**trolleydriver** 6/22/2017, 1:24 pm

sanderson wrote:How does it look? Good enough as top dressing when it cools?

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.

**trolleydriver** 6/22/2017, 2:32 pm

I dug out some of the material in the middle of Bin #1. I am somewhat disappointed that it has not broken down more. sanderson, please let me know what you think about this.

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 IMG_4066_zpseklhw6fn

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 IMG_4066_zpseklhw6fn

Close-up.

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 IMG_4064_zpsbmfrbgki

Temp in Bin #1 is down to 110F.

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin1-210

**trolleydriver** 6/22/2017, 6:57 pm

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's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 IMG_4068_zpsklmtcicr

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 IMG_4068_zpsklmtcicr

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 IMG_4069_zps878o4fo8

**sanderson** 6/23/2017, 2:58 am

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. Wink

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's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Compos10

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Compos10

**trolleydriver** 6/23/2017, 1:12 pm

Bin #1 (3x3x3) - down very slightly to 108F.

Bin #3 (EnviroCycle) - up from 76F at start to 97F today. The current outside temperature is 74F.

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin1-211

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin1-211

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin3-210

CapeCoddess 6/23/2017, 3:17 pm

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.

**trolleydriver** 6/24/2017, 12:26 pm

Bin #1 - 105F

Bin #3 - 110F

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin1-212

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin3-211

**trolleydriver** 6/25/2017, 6:25 pm

Bin #1 - 105F (unchanged)

Bin #3 - 108F (down 2F). After taking the temp I added some kitchen scraps and turned the tumbler three times per the instructions.

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin1-213

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin1-213

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin3-212

**trolleydriver** 6/26/2017, 3:59 pm

Bin #1 - Holding quite steady. Now at 103F which is 2F lower from yesterday.

Bin #3 - Took a big jump up from 108F before tumbling yesterday to 130F today.

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin1-214

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin1-214

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin3-213

**trolleydriver** 6/27/2017, 12:32 pm

Bin #1 - 96F

Bin #3 - 132F

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin1-215

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin3-214

**trolleydriver** 6/28/2017, 12:52 pm

Bin #1 - 94F (down just 2F).

Bin #3 - 115F (down 17F ... wow!). After measuring the temperature I added more leaves and kitchen scraps and I turned the tumbler 3 times. The instructions state to turn it 3 times every 3 days.

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin1-216

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin1-216

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin3-215

**trolleydriver** 6/29/2017, 1:02 pm

Bin #1 - Down another 2 degrees to 92F.

Bin #3 - Rebounded 17 degrees and is back up to 132F since turning yesterday.

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin1-217

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin1-217

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin3-216

**sanderson** 6/30/2017, 12:10 am

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. TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Compos11

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Compos11

**trolleydriver** 6/30/2017, 8:16 am

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.
...

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.

**trolleydriver** 6/30/2017, 2:29 pm

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.

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin1-218

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin1-218

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin3-217

**trolleydriver** 7/1/2017, 3:01 pm

Bin #1 - down to 85F (outside temp today is 75F)

Bin #3 - down to 100F. After taking the temp reading I added kitchen scraps, leaves, shredded paper, coffee filters and coffee grounds.

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin1-219

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin1-219

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin3-218

**trolleydriver** 7/4/2017, 5:05 pm

Three days since the last turning of Bin #3. Today I added more kitchen scraps and turned the bin 3 or 4 times.

Bin #1 - 81F (current outdoor temp is 79F). This will be the last report for Bin #1 until I reload it and start a new batch.

Bin #3 - Before today's turning 117F.

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin1-220

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin1-220

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin3-219

**sanderson** 7/5/2017, 10:21 pm

Yep, Bin #1 looks ready.

**trolleydriver** 7/7/2017, 12:55 pm

Bin #3 - Three day temperatures for July 5 to 7 - 118F, 118F, 110F

I tuned the this tumbler 3 times today per the instructions.

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin3-220

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin3-220

**trolleydriver** 7/10/2017, 4:18 pm

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.

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin3-222

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin3-222

**trolleydriver** 7/13/2017, 12:11 pm

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.

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin3-223

TrolleyDriver's Compost Thermometer - Page 11 Bin3-223

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