here are some question i have and concerns. please answer all you can and label by number.

1. my bin is made out of old screened windows it's something we had laying around and it was already made but the problem is when i air out the bin it just pokes holes into the screen and stuff just keeps falling onto the ground and wasting away.

so i was wondering first of all should i just scrap this bin go with a cheaper design? im looking to make one of those circular bins out of some plastic fencing material we have laying around and doesn't seem to be getting used at all.

2. does it really matter how tall the pile is? this fencing im planning on using isn't extremely tall it's most likely shorter then my existing pile.

3. does it matter if the finished compost lands on the dirt? i mean would all the nutrients be wasted going into the ground when i water my compost pile? if so how can i prevent this besides harvesting?

4. how often should one turn a big pile? i turn my small pile once a week seems to have done fine. i don't have a compost thermometer

5. does layering the compost a good idea? i did it with my smaller pile and got it to heat up but my bigger pile outside i just threw w.e i had and nothing. does it really make a difference weather you layer it from the start or not? like carbon, nitrogen, carbon, nitrogen, etc..

1. Unsupported window screens doesn't strike me as strong enough. It's not the screen but the frames. I nailed window screen to pallet bins to keep the rodents out. That finally worked when I used pet proof window screen.

2. The minimum size everyone hangs on to for hot composting is 27 cu ft or 3 ft x 3 ft x 3ft. I've done OK at 17 cu ft with a round bin 30 inches high. I don't like going smaller than that for a hot compost deal. I would expect 2 ft x 4 ft x 4 ft to work fine.

3. It probably works better if the compost, compost bin sits on the dirt. That allows soil microbes and worms to get into the bin. The loss as the process matures is inconsequential.

4. I'm sure once a week is plenty. If it's a really big bin and it amounts to too much work, I'm sure a monthly turn will serve you fine. It will just take longer. The more energy you put into the process, like turning the pile, the quicker it will mature.

5. I like to mix ingredients rather than layer but if you're turning once a week, it will mix soon enough. I use shredded paper and grass clippings a lot. Each will clump up by themselves and once you get clumps of grass clippings or clumps of shredded paper, the whole thing slows down. Mixing or blending the two together keeps them from clumping.

That's what works for me. What works best is what works for you. If layering and short bins work for you, there's a lot to suggest that's what will work best for you.

to sense
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but i will just leave it as is and continue composting it while i have an indoor compost as well. more yield and faster yield in the future

2. If you want maximum heat generated by termophiles bacteria which is optional for a good pile, size does matter. The minimum size of your pile to achieve 160 degree is not less than 1 cubic yard, i think. The bigger the pile the faster it reaches that temp, provided that you give enough water,air and correct carbon ratio as well.