The cycle comes to an end and a new beginning will follow.

JC's Garden · Sun Sep 07, 2014 5:55 pm

I started this beast fall of last year. It has been full more times than I can count. I have been feeding it since. Browns in the fall and winter with a little green thrown in. Greens in the spring and summer with some browns thrown in. I've taken some of it out, but not as much as the average person might think. When the balance is right, this stuff really breaks down.

I just tossed this 5 days ago trying to bring the temp up. This is as good as it will get now.

One more toss and it's time to start the new pile. It's a cycle that has been repeated for a number of years now. It always amazes me to see how much it takes to make so little. But then again, it's sooooo good!!!

applestar · Sun Sep 07, 2014 9:15 pm

Looks great! What are the dimensions?

imafan26 · Sun Sep 07, 2014 9:22 pm

I thought turning it would bring the temp down on a pile. It is usually what I do if the pile is staying hot for too long. Granted, that has only happened once. Most of the time the pile does not even reach 140.

applestar · Sun Sep 07, 2014 9:26 pm

Turning also infuses air and helps to increase the microbial activity to "cook" when they have been slugginsh. Kind of like banked fire and blowing air on it to get the fire going.

JC's Garden · Mon Sep 08, 2014 1:40 am

Size: That is a 4' wire fence. Just 6 weeks ago it was full and I had 3 leaf bags of browns waiting to go in.
On top of that I've been adding 10 to 15 gals of greens & fruit scraps each week.
It's been cooking like crazy but it's time to start next years pile.

rot · Fri Sep 12, 2014 4:04 pm

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One way to faster compost is to monitor the temperature and as the temp drifts down after peak, you turn the pile for the oxygen and add moisture as required. Over time peak temperatures reduce and in the long run will go ambient but I typically use the stuff long before it goes ambient.

to sense
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