My compost pile is finally hot!

[HunkieDorie23]

I am so excited, I went to turn my compost pile two days ago and it was steaming. I have been reading about composting all day and found a pretty good site.
www.composting101.com. My compost temp tonight is 145 degrees. Awesome, I have always had cold piles, mostly because my chickens have always scattered them about. Planning on adding it to my fall garlic.

 

[digitS']

Dorie, this is the best time to finish up a compost pile - in my experience.

Why not take advantage of the July HEAT!??

It has been the only time of the year when I've had truly hot compost.

Steve

 

[lesa]

Excellent! Your garlic will surely appreciate all the nutrients! Happy Composting!

 

[NwMtGardener]

Hmmm, makes me want to go poke at mine with my pitchfork! And if it feels hot i'm definitely going to be searching for a thermometer to stick in there...wonder if i should use the meat thermometer or the candy one... Haha!

 

[wsmoak]

I have an 8x8 bin of horse manure and wood shavings that is super hot. It's also breaking down fast enough that although I keep adding to it, I can't get the bin to fill up! (A good thing, because we have not yet built a second bin...) Can't wait to spread it on the garden when it cools off later this year!

-Wendy

 

[HunkieDorie23]

Hmmm, makes me want to go poke at mine with my pitchfork! And if it feels hot i'm definitely going to be searching for a thermometer to stick in there...wonder if i should use the meat thermometer or the candy one... Haha!

I know it is funny. I couldn't believe it when I read it but I had an extra thermometer (meat) and I thought what the heck. Now I know how hot it is and if I need to add more greens or browns or if it's time to turn.

I have a new pile that is about 1 1/2 weeks old and I am going to start a new one tonight. I am sure the chickens will appreciate, they love to have a clean coop.

 

[HunkieDorie23]

OK, after reading Veggie Pak's compost blog I have made some changes to my piles. I have finished off my first pile that was the orginal pile that I started this thread about. I am still turning it be that is it until August, then I am letting it rest. I had started two more piles because I was so excited that I could actually make compost. The second was heating up really well and I started the third pile yesterday (which was getting hot already). After re-reading VP's blog again today I moved the smaller third pile into the second and now it's a mega pile (at least for me) at a generous 4x4x4. I am going to be so sore tomorrow after turning them, but I won't have to do aerobics till fall.

If you haven't seen his blog here is the link. It was very helpful for me. Thanks VP. http://backyardorganicvegetables.blogsp -area.html

 

[HunkieDorie23]

Sorry storm hit and I hit refresh and it posted twice.

 

[hoodat]

I hate to say it but I've about given up on a hot pile. I never seem to be able to get one going. I just pile it up, turn it when it begins to shrink and sort of ignore it the rest of the time. Sooner or later it does its thing and I'm in no hurry. I always have more things to compost. I could probably get it hot if i put my rabbit manure in there but that all goes straight onto the garden without composting.

 

[HunkieDorie23]

Really, I thought you had to cool manure or it would burn your plants. I add some of my chicken litter to my compost as an activator but I have always done that ever since I started composting. I would do it the way you do just throw it in and hope for the best. I would clean my chicken coop in the fall and that would be the last adding for the year and then the next time I would clean my chicken coop it would have to start a new pile. But I am really enjoying having a hot pile. It is very empowering. A lot of what happens in your garden is at the whim at the environment.

Veggie Pak has hot compost in Feb. that's impressive.