I started my first compost pile last July, and early this spring, I sifted the pile. I got some great compost from it, but I was hoping to get some more from it later this year by letting it sit longer. So I left it by itself and started a new pile, thinking if I add to the old pile, I'd get no more compost from it this year.
Was this a good idea, or would it have been better for me to take the leftovers from last year and combine it with new materials all in one pile?
Thanks!
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Should I combine the leftover old pile with the new pile?
Last edited by stephenabney on Wed May 05, 2010 4:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- rainbowgardener
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I generally take the top half (unfinished part) of my pile to be the bottom of a new pile and just add new stuff on top
It's finished when you can't see any of the original ingredients (except perhaps a bit of eggshell if you put that in); it is all a uniform dark brown color and crumbly texture. It should smell only fresh and earthy. There will be a few earthworms left, but not tons, and few other compost critters; the worms and bugs migrate to where the most food/ freshest stuff is.
It's finished when you can't see any of the original ingredients (except perhaps a bit of eggshell if you put that in); it is all a uniform dark brown color and crumbly texture. It should smell only fresh and earthy. There will be a few earthworms left, but not tons, and few other compost critters; the worms and bugs migrate to where the most food/ freshest stuff is.