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Soil, Compost & Mulch

pile dun cooled down

17 years ago

my first compost pile cooled down. hasn't heated up after this last turning, it looks pretty much done. just really wanted to say that I have my first finished compost pile and wanting to start another in a few days. I wish that I could get all those materials you other guys can get a hold of, like those truck fulls of groceries, leaves and manure. Ahh well one day maybe... anyway thanks all of you have given me valuable pointers and insight and hope my next batch will be more productive and diverse

OBTW I am saving some to kick start my next pile.

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Comments (2)

brdldystlu
17 years ago
congrats on your first round. Have fun spreading it out over your garden beds. They will thank you for it, as will the worms.
You don't really need to save any for your next pile. Unless you plan on totally cleaning out your bin and power washing the sides. What sticks to the sides of your bins will be enough to kick start your pile. The right amount of greens will also kick start it. Maybe save a cup full and put it into an old sock and then soak that in a bucket full of water then pour that water over your pile as you bild it. That will really kick start it.
I have faith that in time you will be just like the rest of us and getting truck loads-well van loads in my world-of leaves. Ok today I am using the trucks for the horse manure. Glad I have a son that is willing to help drive one of the trucks, LOL should smell like a horse farm here by the end of today.
Sandy
ixnod
Original Author
17 years ago
whoo!! just got done spreading all that compost over my garden bed. Six wheelbarrows full!! may be I was a bit over zealous with my composting?.. it was kinda light when I was putting it in the barrel but lugging it from the back to the front yard was a chore and a half, kinda like moving out of a home or something. well next batch may be ready about 6 months for now heh heh:)
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You should expect that your pile will cool down eventually. It's also tricky to get your compost finished if you're regularly adding things after the bulk of the material is broken down. If you still have recognizable things in the pile, then it's not quite done. I would guess that if you still have oak leaves that aren't broken down, you may need yet more greens to get those going...but you may never see heavy cooking again if most of the stuff is pretty much done. I might stop adding things to this pile (start another one, or start stockpiling), but keep turning now and again and see if the remainder will break down. If the other not-yet-broken-down stuff is mostly greens, I would definitely take this approach. If it's not 100% done when you're ready to use it, you could sift it or pick through it to remove the incomplete stuff. Or you could just keep waiting. Certain items are just tough to break down.
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If the Nitrogen has been consumed by the bacteria doing the digesting, and they have too little to keep them working, they slow down and the heat they generate will not be there. If, when you turned the pile, you added water you may have gotten the material too wet and that will exclude oxygen which will slow the aerobic bacteria down so they do not generate the heat. If most of the Carbons have been digested the bacteria that digest them have little to eat and so they rest and vey little heat is generated.
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Right now as I write there is a hurricane Fay brewing outside and I fear for my bins, but y'day I inspected mycompost bin and thought it was ready:dark brown,"like a wrung out sponge",but very heavy looking in texture, no original pieces in sight.I said OK, mb ready,then I spied little wriggling critters. Pin width, 1/4" long. I thought they wd have died by now that process is done? Suppose I add to plant media, will they harm the veggies. Will they wiggle up into the potatoes and corn? Why are they still alive. The bins have lids, and have holes drilled all over them. Whenever I turn I leave lids off while doing so, flies come buzzing around, but I shoo them away, close when I am done. Maybe some of them got in, but they shd be dead by now, right. And suppose I put unfinished compost on soil, will it burn the roots? The hurricane winds are making a racket outside. Hope it will be over by t'morro. My plants are soaked!! I havae been working those bins for months. They are sitting in the hot sun all day, I turn once or twice p/week. Use veggie scraps, brown leaves, shredded paper from office, and some organic soil.
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There are so many nice ones here that I can't pick a favorite. Belle Cook is showing exquisite pink color and form. Clarity of Vision has one of my favorite color combinations. Krakatoa Lava is bright, beautiful, and nicely budded. It must like being next to the compost pile. Victorian Lace and Snowflake Empress are impressive near whites. I love the look of the Be Thine Now clump, but I'm wondering about the name. Be Thine is lavender, and this flower is yellow. Could it be Be Here Now? Jeanne Deaver's Dream looks great to me. How is it not picture perfect? Symphony of Praise looks lovely. I am glad to see you added it. Debra
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