The alfalfa pellets probably added some much-needed nitrogen that allowed it to heat up, but getting the proper moisture ratio never hurts.

I've considered similar approaches, but I'm always reluctant to buy things to add to my otherwise-free bins. It certainly does work, though.

I also wouldn't worry about only tending the pile on weekends. I consider weekly turning to be my optimal goal, and I rarely achieve it. I still get compost, though.

I was reluctant too, but 50 lbs were $15, and I was getting desperate! Besides, I just shelled out to build the compost pile.

If you can wait 'till spring before you remove finished compost from your pile, then there is no need to add alfalfa pellets to heat it up. But, if you have a more immediate need for finished compost, then I guess you are on the right track. Other sources of nitrogen would be urine, and urea pellets.

WOOPEE! I'm happy for you. My new (all leaves and grass) is cooking too!
Last spring I used alfalfa pellets to reheat a stalled pile. No shame in that!
:)Laura

Well you see what worries me is that winter is fast coming here in the Catskills, and I don't see stuff rotting in the cold.

Congratulations on the hot compost.

I'm too cheap to buy stuff for compost, too. Mine is all waste.

Good greens for heating up a pile include grass clippings (soon to be gone for many of us) and coffee grounds. If you can get the UCGs from a coffee shop, you'll most likely get a hot pile. And many people in cold winter climates do maintain hot compost during freezing-cold winters. I'm not one of those folks- I'm a wimp to cold. But just adding grounds from the coffee shop and leaves seems to keep it at least warm enough that it doesn't stay frozen.

Karen

When you build a pile just right, trying to get a hot core, you know everything is just right when core temp get to 150 to 165F in two to three days.

But when all is right, the air and water need resupply quicker too.

Even a cold pile will decompose as fall comes on, until it eventually freezes up for awhile. In spring it will slowly ramp up. By the time you can get out there to mess with it (March or so), there will be compost.

Keep adding your kitchen scraps on top all winter and layer on some leaves with each addition to cover. You'll have some compost come spring. What didn't break down will go into the next pile.

Good for you to get that compost pile heating, however you did it! I've used alfalfa pellets in the compost, as lawn fertilizer, for alfalfa tea, and mixed with wood shavings for a really nice mulch. Good garden amendment IMO. Not organic but close enough for me.

If you plan to use it again you might check around for a better price. I had always bought it at the nearest ag feed store but went to another and their price was waaay cheaper.

Here is a link to a great compost calculator, input your ingredients and obtain the C:N ratio.

C:N should be 25-35:1 with 30 your goal. You really need the mix of carbon (brown stuff) and nitrogen (green stuff) for development of the decomposing organisms. The minimum size of a 'hot' pile is 3' x 3' x 3' which offers the proportion of materials to support the organisms and maintain moisture and temperature. Greater the 5' x 5' x5' should be the limit since it require more management action; beside being a heavy task in turning. ha ha

C:N is the simplest means. The pile does need turning when a drop in temperature suggests. Turning mixes the ingredients to ensure all is exposed to decomposition.

Your best resources are those available free. Grass clippings, kitchen wastes, garden wastes, manures, leaves, and straw are the easiest to work with without problems of odor and pests.

A slowly built pile will not heat so well. Try building an entire pile with a proper 25-35:1 C:N ratio. You will see it heating up in days and shrinking in volume by the end of the week. Work the pile without further additions until finished. Monitor the heat, moisture and possible odors.

Good composting. Dan

Here is a link that might be useful: Compost Calculator