The new HOT pile

[astevn816]

Do you leave a thick layer for aeration.

 

[boggybranch]

About every 3 to 5 days (after it really gets to cookin), I'll take my pitch fork and lift up the pile in several places...just enought to get a little "air" to the middle of the pile.
I have stuck lengths of pvc pipe, with holes drilled in them, through the sides of the pile to allow air circulation. too.

 

[vfem]

From this thread I have learned I do not turn my pile enough!

In fact, I think I've only turned it once in the last 2 weeks. I must get to turning more often. Though, its more of an I forget then I just don't know better.

Thanks Boggy!

 

[boggybranch]

It's easy to forget, v.......I, usually, only turn my pile after it start cooling down. I "hand into the pile" check my pile every 3 or 4 days and when I can tell it's starting to cool down.....it gets turned, with more "green" added, to get the heat back up.

 

[boggybranch]

....and, if you have an open style bin, like I use....be sure it's covered during rainy weather to keep it from getting soaked and cooled down.

 

[HunkieDorie23]

OK, this is an awesome thread and I'm signing off and going out to work on my new compost pile.

thanks for all the ideas.

 

[boggybranch]

I checked the temp in both piles and they were at 150*F. The newest pile (1 week old) was at 150* until you went about 3/4 way down and it had cooled, considerably...so, it was time to turn it.
I found this, used to be brown, leaf in the pile and thought it showed, pretty well, what was going on inside a compost pile.....and like I said, the pile is only 7 days old.