This is an open air pile, correct? If so then there is no ironclad rule on turning. You can do it whenever the mood strikes and as often or an infrequently as you wish. ;) Turning will cool the pile so you don't want to defeat the cooking purpose by doing it too often. Additions can continue as long as you wish but if you keep adding well past the recommended size (3x3x3'to 4x4x4') you may slow the process down so many just start a second pile.

Be sure to check out all the FAQ's here for all the basics and more.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Composting FAQ's

Agreed, whenever you like. But if you want good compost in a hurry, turn it once a week, because a perking pile will burn up oxygen that fast. That done, you will have compost in 6 to 8 weeks. If you follow this regime, then you would be wise to save up any new compostables for a second pile in order to avoid incomplete decomposition. Regards, Peter.

Thanks Dave. I have checked out the FAQ's and read through a ton of posts. I've been lurking for a while - very helpful. I just didn't see anything about how soon to turn. I think I'll let it sit for a week or so.

Open air pile? Actually I built myself a bin using oversized shutters (a bit bigger than a pallet bin). I lined it with metal hardware mesh. Measures 4' x 4' by about 3.5' tall and it's less than 1/2 full. I have access to tons of leaves so it's a matter of getting my greens right. It was funny - I only loaded it up yesterday and last night a neighbor showed up with their kitchen scraps from dinner! I'm not even sure how she knew I had started it! Word travels fast in these little neighborhoods. lol

Thanks so much for your input - I appreciate it.

Maureen

Open air as opposed to a closed system like a tumbler. Big difference in use. ;) Bins are open air.

Dave

Get a compost thermometer. When the pile gets cool, turn and water. Check to make sure it heats up again......repeat as needed.

You can add whenever just try not to add to many of either C or N and get it too out of whack.

Thanks Peter. "Every week" it will be.

I will save compostables. Browns are just about an endless supply here due to "lay of the land" - I have a creek that cuts through my yard and there is a little bridge that crosses over to the "foresty" part where there are tons of trees and we don't rake over on that side. I located my bin just over the bridge to be close to the browns. The greens will be saved. I am so excited to finally have a bin! (I can see me joining the "You know you're a compost whacko..." post before long. lol

Thanks again,
Maureen

I read an article about commercial composting and some of them use the moving pile method. You take from one end of the pile and move the partially composted compost to the other end. You keep doing this everyday and effectively the pile moves from one place to another until its finally completely composted. This lends itself to huge piles containig hundred of cubic yards of compost that is handled by big machines.

Just when to turn a compost pile depends on many factors, and a thermometer is an unnecessary expense, unneeded. If the material was piled up so the ratio of Carbon to Nitrogen is the optimal 30:1, and the moisture level is relatively close to just moist, then the bacteria will get to work on that material and could have most of the stuff in the center digested in about 5 days and that is the time to turn that pile, just as the temperature in the center of the pile starts to drop. The reason you turn compost is to put the undigested material from the outside of the pile into the center of the pile where the bacteria are most active.
You could just turn that pile every 5 to 7 days without paying much attention to what is going on and that would work as well as anything else.