Composting?

[Scoot]

Just got my compost bin today for nothing off a friend and decided to move the whole compost heap into said bin. As i was moving it in buckets, i decided to take a couple of pictures so i could ask you lovely lot if this looks like it is composting? I've never done it before so I'm not sure. Anyway, here they are...

[muddled]

yep, thats composting nicely...and you've done exactly the right thing, by moving it to the new bin you have effectively 'turned' your compost. That will quick start it to heat up again and finish quicker.
Lovely stuff!

[Scoot]

As far as I'm aware it has never been warm whilst been just in a pile. When I've turned it I've never felt any heat or seen any steam. Strange.

[Penellype]

The amount of heat will depend on several factors including the volume of the heap and the area of exposed compost. A small heap with top and sides open to the air will not get very hot at all, a large covered heap inside solid sides will get very hot, particularly if it contains a good mix of things like grass cuttings, leaves, shredded paper and twigs.

[Scoot]

I see. Does it look like it has already been composting?

I's in my new compost bin now so hopefully things will speed up.

[Bigmallly]

Looks ok Scoot, I'd be tempted to take out any big chunks of wood. As Pene says, the bigger the pile the hotter it will get. Keep your ratios of brown & greens around the same & you won't go far wrong and don't forget the magic ingredient.................liquid gold...........

[Scoot]

Looks ok Scoot, I'd be tempted to take out any big chunks of wood. As Pene says, the bigger the pile the hotter it will get. Keep your ratios of brown & greens around the same & you won't go far wrong and don't forget the magic ingredient.................liquid gold...........

Yeah i try and keep the green material and brown material about the same. Maybe a little extra brown material.

Liquid gold?

[veggiechicken]

[Bacchus]

Liquid gold?

Pee ......

[Scoot]

I've just been reading about that hahahahahaha!!

If it helps I'm doing it. Thanks people.

[lolie]

Yeah i try and keep the green material and brown material about the same. Maybe a little extra brown material.

Liquid gold?

The recommendation for hot composting is usually a lot more brown stuff than for cold composting (20:1 as opposed to the normal 2:1) and preferably brown stuff which breaks down quickly (cardboard and shredded paper are your friends).

Liquid gold is urine. If you don't want to pee on your heap, straw which has been used as bedding for animals is fine. If your pile is hot you won't need to worry about the smell but if it's not don't overdo the urine.

[Scoot]

Compost all in my compost bin for over a week.now and still there seems to be no heat at all. Does anyone else have this problem?

[plam]

It's not a problem that it's not hot, I only get mine to heat up from time to time. And when I do I just worry that it'll set fire to something! Also it's quite cold and wet generally at the moment so that will make it harder to get it heated up. It'll still be composting away whilst cold - just not quite as quickly.

[Scoot]

It's not a problem that it's not hot, I only get mine to heat up from time to time. And when I do I just worry that it'll set fire to something! Also it's quite cold and wet generally at the moment so that will make it harder to get it heated up. It'll still be composting away whilst cold - just not quite as quickly.

Thanks for the reply plam. You've put my mind at rest as I thought I was doing something wrong with it being stone cold.

[Guest]

As has already been said it isn't an issue if it is not hot. However are you just touching the top or the sides as that is not a good indicator. If you are fussed or interested get a probe thermometer. I currently have a pile of horsey poo that doesn't feel warm to the touch, however I probed it this morning and it was 71°C yes that is °C I am not plunging my hand in to check So that also leads to the fact if you would like heat then add some fresh horsey poo