It's Warm!!!

15 years ago

OK, I just had to tell somebody...

I just went out to turn the compost, and it's warm! I have been attempting to do some limited composting, and was resigned to only having cold piles and limited success due to my limited materials and no time to "mess" with it.

Friday I finally added more grass clippings, chopped limes, partially decomposed bark, coffee grounds, freezer burned veggies etc., then turned it with the assorted leaves and trimmings that have been sitting there since November. Watered each layer as I went. My Biostack is now pretty full. Tonight I went out to put in a few scraps, and when I opened the lid, I felt heat! Wow. So I grabbed a shovel and stirred a little and yup, it's cooking!

Just had to tell someone - I knew you guys would understand :)

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Comments (6)

takadi
15 years ago
You know you're a compost whacko when "feeling the burn" has a totally different meaning, but same pleasure :)
Lloyd
15 years ago
compost whacko enthusiast

:-)
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Hi Lisa, my opinion is that there's as many "things to do" with it now, as there are people who compost. Try something, see what happens, see if you like what happens, and if not, try something different next time, and if you do like it, keep doing it! :) If it were my pile I would: 1. keep adding adding adding until it gets to critical mass or more, and 2. turn it every few days. Of course others will/may disagree w/me - but that's how I like to do it. Sometimes I decide to "fill up" my pile all at once & add nothing more until it is "finished" - and just turn it to add oxygen (which it needs more of b/c it's in a rubbermaid), and sometimes I decide to just keep adding on a daily basis, even when it's full, b/c as stuff disintegrates there's room for more & more stuff (usually browns) still need to decompose. All depends what's going on in my home/garden/area & what I "feel" like doing, that helps me decide which path to take. And personally, I fall into the category of "love to turn" - again in part due to the container issue - and in part, b/c that's how I've had success & thus "bonded" w/the "art of composting." So, try something, and let us know how it goes, and soon you'll develope your own favorite ways! :) All the Best, Tree
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kqcrna
15 years ago
Cal Dreamer: Congratulations! A sure sign that your efforts will be a success.

I have 2 Biostacks and love them. Be sure to use them to their full potential, restacking and turning the whole load occasionally. It will really aerate every part well and is the perfect time to correct moisture in there. It takes me about 10 or 15 minutes to flip one of them.

Karen
cal_dreamer
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for all the encouragement and nice replies. I think wacko is right, since I went out this morning in my business clothes to dig in the pile to see how hot the pile is - it's cooking!

My biostack tends to get very dry with too many browns. DH tends to throw all the greenwaste into the city recycling can, we definitely don't eat enough greenery and my yard is filled with hard to compost stuff. (Magnolia leaves, ivy, citrus, bamboo leaves, bottle tree pods, etc.)

I've made more of an effort recently to confiscate the grass clippings from the greenwaste can when I remember :)

I wish I had another Biostack - When I got home today DH's worker had weeded the back yard and there is a pile of weeds/dirt/leaves/pods in my backyard. Will try to "borrow" one of DH's plastic trash cans and "hold" part of the pile until my batch is more done.

Wish me luck, and thanks for your encouragement!
ice_worm
15 years ago
Congratulations!!! A working compost pile is a beautiful thing!
val_s
15 years ago
compost whacko enthusiast

I think you're fighting a losing battle with this one. Whacko is just easier to spell. :-)

Val

It's Warm!!!

Comments (6)

takadi

Lloyd

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It's Warm!!!

Comments (6)

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