The new HOT pile

[boggybranch]

Was over at the neighbor's place yesterday, when I noticed that he had three pallets laid on top of his burn pile. Nope...can't have that happen. He gave them to me and this morning I built a new HOT compost pile. I had loads of "browns", so I went into the big metropolis of Ashford, Alabama, (they have two stop lights, now) and hit the motherload of "greens" at the church in town (note to self....visit church every Friday for loads of grass clippings). My neighbor gets pallets every Tuesday and said that I was welcome to them. Gonna be "wall to wall" compost heaps before long. If there's one thing I love to do more that garden....it's making compost. And it's always best when you have all the necessary ingredients to build a pile at one time.

 

[Greenthumb18]

Oh that's good, more compost equals more plants .
I doubt that this compost you have going on right now will be ready to use for this growing season, maybe ready by next fall?

 

[boggybranch]

Oh that's good, more compost equals more plants .
I doubt that this compost you have going on right now will be ready to use for this growing season, maybe ready by next fall?

Nope...this here is a, seriously, HOT pile. Should be ready to use in 6 weeks or so.....give or take.

 

[Greenthumb18]

Oh that's good, more compost equals more plants .
I doubt that this compost you have going on right now will be ready to use for this growing season, maybe ready by next fall?

Nope...this here is a, seriously, HOT pile. Should be ready to use in 6 weeks or so.....give or take.

Oh thats good, so you should be able to use it this season then.

 

[boggybranch]

Just went out to the garden and stopped by the new "pile", put my hand on top of the pile and could, already feel the heat that was being generated inside of it. Bet that it will start "collapsing" in the next 3 or 4 days.

 

[boggybranch]

Yesterday was "pallet day" at the neighbor's. Went into "town" this morning, made 1 stop and picked up 1/3 truck load of grass clippings, came home.....and now there are two. God knows.....I LOVE composting.

 

[ducks4you]

What a work of art!
I NEVER would have thought of that--thanks for sharing.

 

[Grow 4 Food]

what are you doing to the pile that will compost it that quick?

 

[boggybranch]

I start with a thick layer of chopped leaves, topped with a layer (about half as thick as the leaf layer) of fresh grass clippings (scavenged in town at residences)....and keep repeating till it's about 3' X 3' X 3'. I wet each layer (damp, not soggy). I toss in a handful or 2 of garden soil between every third or fourth layer.......Then comes the REAL trick........I use urine (I know...eeww) as an acelerating activator.
Just went out to the "newest" pile to add some more urine and stuck my hand into the pile (yea...before adding the urine LOL) and it was already VERY hot.
It REALLY helps if you can have enough material to build the pile, all at one time, too (but not necessary).

 

[boggybranch]

Left something out.....When the pile starts cooling down, I go get another load of grass clippings and, as I turn the pile, I incorporate the grass clippings....not necessarily in layer fashion....more in a "devil may care" fashion. And NEVER let the pile dry out as this will stop the heating process.