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New to composting after 15 years.... ?'s
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Posted by castarter Z9 OC, CA (My Page) on Sun, Feb 7, 10 at 10:28
| Hi dirt geeks, so i am again excited about composting after not doing it for 15 years. As well i was a lazy composter and want to be the "hot composter" now. I gathered leaves, grass clippings,kitchen scraps, ucgs, etc and made my pile.
After a week it was 148 degrees and i turned it. All is well....so the following week, today, i looked and it is only 69 degrees...why?
I have a torrified wooden bin that is 32x32x32 big enough. It was hot, and now isnt and i dont know why. I have added scraps from kitchen to middle of pile last couple of weeks and added a bit water when i turned it but that was it. I am in the process of ordering another bin as i realized i need it so i can save my waste while the hot pile is working. That will be a slow pile so i can keep waste at home for my yard.
Last, i noticed some ants on pile, normal i assume but if not let me know.
Id appreciate any help. Thanks..... |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: New to composting after 15 years.... ?'s
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| How long ago did you turn it? Sometimes it takes my piles several days before they heat up after turning. My bins are at least 36" on a side, usually bigger. I have been using cardboard to line my wooden pallet bins to help keep heat in. BTW, I don't turn my piles until they cool off or if they get too hot. 148 is on the warm side. |
RE: New to composting after 15 years.... ?'s
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| .. Ideally turning occurs just after the temperature starts dropping from the peak temperature. As the process progresses the peak temperatures decline. I can't always follow the temperature trends and just turn once a week. Other variables may also be a factor. The mix of the ingredients in terms of greens vs browns. Clumping. Too much water. Not enough water. Ambient temperature - don't turn overnight during the winter. Turn and look and see what you're getting. If the dry woody stuff is sticking around and the wet green stuff seems to be gone then you have cause to add greens. Clumping just means you need to rough the stuff up as you turn. If it's dry add water. If it's too wet back off on the water. Worst case scenario you will have a slow pile. Not a major disaster. to sense .. |
RE: New to composting after 15 years.... ?'s
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| Don't order 'another bin', especially if it is the same dimensions as the first. A pile of 4' deep by 4' wide by 2.5-3.5' high is optimal in my opinion. A pile with these dimensions does not create heat, it merely saves what is created by your mix. And if you do not have a good mix, or C:N ratio to begin with, no pile or bin will provide high temp. numbers under any conditions. SAMM
1) Size of bin (I use round mesh bin of hardware cloth 4' in diameter; and 2 to 3' high). Twenty bucks..
2) Air and Moisture as needed
3) good material Mix (called good C:N ratio, or mix of greens to browns. |
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