Bob Tresach

Wyatt, thanks for all the input!

I may very well use too much soap. Going to cease and desist on that for a month and see what happens.

Also yes, varied depths.

Thanks for the help!

Bout two buckets go in weekly, and dawn dish soap. Any clues there?

No kitchen compost, just urine, tp, sawdust, and feces.

Ok, more info:

About a third full (four months @ two adults and a cat), in the shade, temps anywhere this last month from 30°f to 70°f.

Max pile temp: 75°

Is the pile just too "young" at this point? Or should I be concerned?

Wyatt: was your pile in the sun? What part of the country are you in?

I think I'm just going to stop worrying until next summer, and if it hasn't reached a high temp by then maybe I will turn it and add some starter.

I'll try pulling the thermometer out a bit abd report back.

Moisture wise I'm pretty sur I'm good. I, too, am liberal with the rinse water.

To the hilt.

20" compost thermometer, center of the now ~12" high by 30" in diameter pile (in a 4'x4' bin lined on all sides with straw.

I'm new to the forum and new to composting toilets. I'm sure this is a question that has been asked before, so I'm sorry in advance.

I started my first pile, using the Joseph Jenkins system, on June 20 of this year. I use fine sawdust from my local sawmill, do not separate urine, and the pile is located in the shade on my property in New York State.

The temperature has spiked a few times, mostly after new additions, to around 100°F. Other than these few times, the temperature has remained around 70 or 80°F.

I know I am only three months in to a 24 month cycle, but I'm nervous and just wondering if someone can reassure me that the temperature will rise and things will no longer look like poop and sawdust?