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Mon, Nov 1, 10 at 21:43
| Just wanted to share with you guys, because I'll know you'll understand (unlike my non-composting friends), what I discovered yesterday: The people who help me with my lawn put the grass clippings and finely-cut leaves by the road (despite me asking them to put it in my pile), so I had to rescue it before it was taken away by the town, and it must have been the most perfect combination because the middle of the pile was super hot after only 5 days! The fabulous mixture is now back by my regular pile (I had to make a new pile since this one was so fabulous), and it's cooking like no one's business! Over the last 4 years that I've been reading all of your tips and building my mediocre composting piles, never have I had heat like this! Sorry to be such a geek, and though it was completely accidental, but it's just so exciting to finally have a result like this!! Thanks to all of you for your motivation....I knew it would happen some day like it has for you folks, so now I'm officially addicted :) |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| "unlike my non-composting friends" Too much N, add C and mix well. Shredding helps but makes one heck of a mess (ask annpat). ;-) Lloyd P.S. Congrats on the heat. A person feels just like Tom Hanks when they get that first hot pile. |
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- Posted by merrygardens z5 MI (My Page) on Tue, Nov 2, 10 at 7:05
| Oh, yes, I remember exclaiming about my first hot compost at a social gathering. (There were people there who understood, but I'm sure there were also people that thought I was slightly nuts.) This past Saturday I spent some time helping my sister-in-law fill her newly-formed compost ring with shredded leaves and grass clippings her husband was mowing. Sunday noon, as we were touring the yard once more before I drove home, we discovered heat in the center of the pile--the first time for her. She was amazed and thrilled--and so was I! It never gets old! |
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| I am too picky about my compost piles to let other folks put stuff in them. Five day heat is fine, but an optimal mix will reach 160 or 165F in two to three days. The neighbors I really love are those who drag out their chipper/shredders, shed all the leaves, then place them in bags at the curb for me to drag off. A very finely chopped oak leaf will compost about as fast as the maple/sweet gum leaves. |
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| LOL-LOL, falling in the floor, LOL. My family knows my passion for all things garden! After the TOM HANK thing & falling in the floor laughing. I got some looks. And no, it never gets old, like huh.. riding a bike. |
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