hot compost - 60-160F inside 24 hrs

[JRinPA]

I shredded and made a hot pile of all the comm garden waste that piled up this summer.

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160F- yep that is a hot pile all right!

[Paulf]

Congratulations!! Not many are able to get a hot compost pile. You do things right.

[JRinPA]

Built Thurs 60F
Fri 160F
been covered fairly well in the 4-1/2"+ of rain (5" rain gauge overfilled) since then
Wed 148F.

I enjoy the heck out of shredding and composting, personally. We re-structured that compost area at the comm garden this spring. I'm hoping we get a big collection of leaves to shred and fill up a whole bin.

[JRinPA]

PaulF that is a compliment coming from you, appreciate it. It doesn't always work out, but I try to do things right. This is the first year, since I've been there, that we have a functional compost area at the comm garden. My sixth year there, I'm pretty sure. Previously it had just been 3 long dump piles. Free for all, pile it anywhere. I was composting my own stuff in small piles on my plot. This spring we split the 3 long bins into 6 more manageable bins. I guess I am sort of in charge of it now. Still need signs, but I have it as
1 sticks/bulk/trash can
2 green collection
3 brown collection (including cardboard etc)
4 mix1 (shown)
5 mix2
6 finished

Friday 10/14, down to 106F, thermometer at same spot unmoved. A little over 2 weeks old. I guess it is about time to turn it on itself, try to get it to reheat.

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[JRinPA]

I ended up labeling the bins this past week. There must have been some confusion...since someone put many dozens of eggshells from a fundraiser breakfast on top of the finished bin, instead of the green bin. After painting I got some drop fence doors cut out and tarps cut to size and in place.
The layout from this POV is
321
654

1 green pile
2 brown pile
3 finished
4 utility/trash can
5 1st mix
6 2nd mix

One of the garter snakes was still around from last year when I shoveled the 1st mix from Oct last year over to the 2nd mix. It had been covered somewhat with a tarp all winter and is absolutely loaded with worms - I had seeded it with some of my worms that are supposed to be "euros" but I've never been sure. I will say they are pretty fat and happy.

just moved over and tarp system and drop doors added

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this was shredded and kicked off in mid-October

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dug down another 6 inches

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After 1st mix bin was clear I started another hot pile there. I shredded what was dried up in the "greens" collections from last year, and layered it with grass clippings, some water, and some shovel fulls of that October compost back in to kick it off. It was steaming after 1 day but I forgot my thermometer.

I don't know what comes in bags that are called compost, but I took some of this 6 mo old and some from the Finished pile, mixed it together and sifted it to use for planting my cole crops last night. Each hole got about a 2-3 cups, and there is no worry about it touching the stems.

[bower]

That is some excellent dirt you're making JRinPA. I bet your cole crops are happy as clams!

[JRinPA]

The week old stuff is down to 125f, but I don't know what it peaked at. It is a not a huge pile, but has been covered. I just started an Earth Machine here at the house, and after two days I checked and it was pegged right around 150f. That had fresh grass clippings mixed in to shredded browns - a guaranteed hot pile.

[JRinPA]

It is a pretty functional setup at the comm garden now.

I have been doing two big shreddings each year, I guess. That April 2023 1st mix would have been turned over to the 2nd mix during the summer. Just yesterday I shoveled that overwintered 2nd mix to the Finished pile. It looked great, but was too dark to reset the cover. One day uncovered really dried the top out.

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I'd like to improve the doors. Drop in wood slats held with steel holders would be nice. But the fencing was recycled (read free) and works pretty well. I just need to get more big cardboard down at the appliance store to put between the pile and the fence door.