To Those Who Don't Turn Compost

I know there's a few of you that don't turn their compost pile. As much as I would love to, I just can't turn it much without my back hurting. Since I'm not going to use the compost until spring time planting, will the stuff actually compost without being turned?
Before I shut down the compost bin, I was not really turning the pile the way you might think of but just kind of mixing it up with a pitchfork. I was doing that maybe once a week.
When I did mix it up today, I noticed a nasty smell coming from it......it was from the fish scraps I put in(and didn't have browns to add to it). I did add rabbit manure/straw, and alot of chopped leaves today and while I didn't stick my face up to the pile, I didn't smell anything.
It's really a two part question. Will all of the stuff turn into useable compost come spring time without turning? And how quickly does any obnoxious smells go away without turning?

You know....I've seen those compost aerators and often wondered if they actually work or if they're just gimmicky.
The only time I noticed a real bad smell was yesterday when I was mixing it with a pitchfork. It was from the buckets of fish scraps I put in just 2 Mondays ago.
If I just let it go and it "cold composts" over the winter, it will be fine to use in my garden come spring time?
Do you still recommend adding the rabbit food and mixing it in with the aerator? I'll do it in a heartbeat if it will add nutritional value to the compost as well.
I have what I guess you call an "add as you go" compost pile. I've been doing this since the beginning of August and whatever stuff is on the bottom is probably composted already.
My compost bin is just made from T posts with hardware cloth(??) sides.

I'm all about compost. Even if I don't have a SFG yet.

Next year, I'm redoing my composting. I want to have a tumbler and compost a month's worth of compostables at a time.

I'm also thinking of adding a chimney to the compost pile. I'd just get a 6ft long piece of pvc, drill holes in it so it looks like a piece of swiss cheese. I'd put some kind of spike at the end so that when I hammer it through the compost, it'll go through easy and anchor into the ground.

I know a lot of people don't cover their compost but I prefer to keep it covered so I can keep it from getting too wet during rain or snow.

I cover mine in the winter. I just place a small old tarp and then black plastic bag over that to collect some heat.
I would think you could cut the pvc pipe at an angle on one end like /
to help push it in. Or dig a hole in the pile and just rebury.

If I would cut it at an angle, I'd want to cover the cut end so that the compost doesn't fill up the chimney.
Or like you said, I could dig a hole in the pile and stick the chimney in.
Oh yeah....then I'd have to cut a hole in the tarp for the chimney to fit through.

I use pvc pipe with holes drilled in it to aireate the pile. But I put them in horizontally as I build the pile. As I build the pile up, I put three across every foot or so in my 4' x 4' x 4' compost pile. Don't know if it works any better because this is my first pile. I am also turning the pile once a week because I need it to compost quickly because I need it for this spring. I am trying to convert my regular garden to a square foot garden. I am aiming for 512 square feet of additional raised beds this spring. But probably won't get all those built and filled with Mel's Mix for quite some time.

Too Tall, I'm new to composting this year, too. I think, though, that I've read and heard folks here on the forum talking about that fact that cold composts heaps take longer to decompose than do "hot" ones. I'm not really sure that it will be ready for spring - perhaps some of the more experienced composters here will address that issue.

Also, at some point you will have to stop adding to the pile if you want it to be decomposed at a certain time. Everything you add new to it is probably going to lengthen the time it takes to be "ready."

Isn't that true, more experienced composters?

I've seen pics of your garden, Lavender Debs! I'd say your advice is worth quite a bit more than 2 cents! Thanks for replying with your experience!

sherryeo wrote: Thanks for replying with your experience!

I meant to add that you are spot on when it comes to spring through autumn piles.

I'm figuring on starting my tomato garden around mid to late May and if I start turning/aerating the compost pile on a weekly basis at the beginning of March, it should be ready by tomato time.
Even though my compost pile is "hibernating" I still think I'll get one of those aerators and give it an aeration periodically throughout the winter.....as long as I can stick it in the pile.

All of the compost needs to be ready by tomato time, because all of the really good stuff I put in(fish scraps, different manures, shredded leaves) is sort of at the top of the pile.

Oh yeah....and I'm going to Lowes and Home Depot to do some shopping and I'll pick up a piece of pvc for the chimney

You can always use some cornmeal as a quick nitrogen source periodically through the winter to keep it goin. Pretty simple and cheap solution.

isn't there enough nitrogen with all of the manure and fish scraps put in?

I checked the temp of the pile last night before I went to bed and it was just a hair above 120F

The more I think about it the more likely I am to aerate it throughout the winter. I'm not so sure I like this "forget about it" method I thought would be ok.

Is there a quick source of carbon I could add to the pile? Just in case there weren't enough leaves and straw added to it over this past weekend.

From my rural science days a long long time ago I seem to recall that the compost heap needs some of the methane & ammonia produced to feed some sort of beneficial bacteria & produce cellulose destroying/ converting chemicals that helps to break the pile down so be careful of venting the heap too much thus losing that aspect of things .



Here is a link about composting ( are these permitted/ if not can someone who knows how put it into a clickable button please )

www.cyber-north.com/gardening/compost.html

it's a bit long winded but in the main covers composting very well .

sherryeo wrote: I've seen pics of your garden, Lavender Debs! I'd say your advice is worth quite a bit more than 2 cents! Thanks for replying with your experience!

+1

I have read several times that it was not advisable to put meats and animal products into the compost pile. Is that not true for the fish parts?

You wouldn't want to put something like steak into the pile but fish is great. I'm not sure why fish works but it does. Indians used to stick fish in the holes they dug for planting their crops.

About the only reason you wouldn't want fish in a compost pile is because it could possibly attract racoons, cats, etc. Bury the fish underneath a layer of manure and those animals won't be able to smell the fish.

Another reason why you might not want fish in a compost pile is the smell. Wow does that make the pile stinky if you don't add enough "brown" material to help mask the odor. I speak from experience. LOL

check this out!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60JPvWckQiU&feature=related

OMG.....that is just awesome!

southern gardener wrote:check this out!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60JPvWckQiU&feature=related

Fabulous!