Sounds like you have a handle on it to me. Expect about 18 cu.ft. for every 1 foot depth of finished compost per unit. Some one else will have to give a shrinkage factor for material into compost.

Curt~

Took temp.this afternoon,One was 158 and other was about 150.Really hot.When should I turn these bins.Do you wait till they cool some? They are full to the top (3').They are smokin' hot.Have a earthy smell.What do I do next? Thanks!!

I just leave it alone as long as it's hot. If I have stuff to add I just throw it on top. When the temp falls, pick up the wire mesh bin and put it next to itself. Fork materials back in, adjusting moisture as you go.

Congrats, you are well on your way.

Karen

You don't need to turn them ... If you have enough material to fill a bibn in a couple of weeks, fill it, keep it moist and let it compost until it's dropped by about 1/2 of the original height. Your finished compost will be in the center of the pile, like the filling in a cream-filled cupcake.

If you can dig in 6-8 inches and see crumbly dark brown stuff, it's ready ... take off the wire, set it up nearby, and peel off the top uncomposted layer. Dump that in the new bin.

Break open the cylinder and fork out the finished stuff - dump any unfinished material into the new bin as a start for the new pile.

Here is a link that might be useful: My Wire Compost Bins: HOW TO

Thanks for the info and link.All I need to do now is be patient.Might build some more. Have unlimited stuff to compost.

If and when to turn hot compost depends on a number of things. I turn when the temp gets around 160F in the core, or two to three days after a optimal compost pile is put together and a composter does not have a compost therometer.

I would suggest you do turn your pile over as often as need be. I infer from your comments that you are interested in getting compost sooner, rather than later.

Don't tire or burn out too quickly. New gardeners or new composters sometimes do this; and you are talking about six largish bins. Stay with two bins and work on getting compost in a matter of months with a min. of effort.

I used to drive six miles to pack 600 pounds of veggies out of a dumpster to keep my seven medium sized mesh bins in material. Now I have larger mesh bins and I try to get all my materials in the neighborhood.

I have just made my first compost bins i picked a home made tumbler one up of side road so i put some grass clippings straw leaves newspaper and rabiit poo in it and some water tumbled it a few times now i wait? Is there anything i can do to help the process along a bit...I also inspired myself to make a open bin type compost heap too lol im going to compair the 2 see what works fatser and best....But i really posted just to get your ideas and any helpfull tips.

I fill my 4 x 4 x 4 bins full and the finished compost that I get is 4 x 4 x 2, so a 50 percent shrinkage is not unusual.
The link below to a very good composting tutorial may be of some help.

Here is a link that might be useful: Compost Tutorial

15 ft. circumference! I would not call that 'largish'. It's huge-ish!!1! All relative though, I guess.

When I had a triple bin, I used to turn my compost twice - from bin 1 to 2 and from 2 to 3. The process took several months on average. I would think if you just started these you'd have finished compost by fall if you turned them once or twice.

You might think about mulching your tomatoes now with either grass/leaves mixture or half-done compost. It will keep the moisture in, weeds down, feed the plants and improve the soil as it continues to decompose.

BUT watch out what you're using for grass clippings! If they are treated with herbicides they need to compost completely before they're safe in the garden. I only put my own untreated grass clippings directly in the garden.

Good luck & don't break your back. :-]

I only use my own clippings.Mowing 4 acres creates lots of trimmings!I have a large garden for this day and time.24 rows spaced 3' by 80'.The soil is a dark sand with little OM.PH is good due to liming.The main goal is to enhance OM with moisture and weed control.Mulching with wheat straw has helped but not a complete fix.Will add drip tapes in spring.The garden has produced well but production decreases as weather heats up.Goal is to divide garden 4 ways and add OM annually. Its large and will take some time and lots of material.Also plan to add several yards of soil conditioner from local nursery.Sorry for being long winded but just wanted everyone to know what I'm trying to acomplish.Thanks

Added another layer due to settling in bins.Checked temps in both bins,still hot.One measured 150 and the other measured 158.Temps took about a foot deep in middle.Headed to the woods to hunt browns.(g)