• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Nancy Reading
  • Carla Burke
  • r ranson
  • John F Dean
  • paul wheaton
  • Pearl Sutton
stewards:
  • Jay Angler
  • Liv Smith
  • Leigh Tate
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
  • Timothy Norton
gardeners:
  • thomas rubino
  • Jeremy VanGelder
  • Maieshe Ljin

How much is too much? Turning a compost pile

 
pioneer
Posts: 284
62
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I've had my compost pile in the same spot for several years. Rarely have I taken any out. If I were to hazard a guess I'd say, all told, if I had all the grass and stuff I've piled up on it green, it would be over thirty feet tall. It's down to a healthy 4 feet tall now. There are a ton of red headed earth worms in it and I've started turning the pile about every other day gathering worms for my bin. I've only rolled it 4 or 5 times over the course of 2 weeks, but I've noticed some changes.
It's still good and warm in the center, but not as hot as it was at first. I think if I left it, it would heat back up again. It's good and moist throughout. The top is flat so the rain will soak right through without running off. We've had over 3" of rain this past week alone so it's good and moist. I haven't seen any mold or mushrooms. Along one side is about 200 squash plants from the heirloom Crooknecks I threw in last fall. I'm letting them be for now in hopes they'll produce something for the farmers market. If I don't see some blossoms soon I'll turn them under.
It smells wonderful, just like it should. All in all I'm pleased with it, but don't want to shut it down by turning it too much. So my question is, can turning my compost pile every other day or so shut it down? The picture shows it after I raided it for worms this morning.
Compost-pile-with-squash.jpg
[Thumbnail for Compost-pile-with-squash.jpg]
 
Goodbye moon men. Hello tiny ad:
Back the BEL - Invest in the Permaculture Bootcamp
https://permies.com/w/bel-fundraiser
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic