yet another backyard compost experiment

this is just for fun.

ingredients:
fresh yard clippings
shredded leaves
city water (:-/)

fully mixed / moistened / drained / aerated
total volume, weight and ratios not quantified
all compressed into a confined space with indirect body weight (<200lbs), covered with a few inches of dry shredded leaves, & capped with more sheet metal.

if anyone has documentation of enclosed compost experiments of various scales & type, that could be highly entertaining.

Interesting. It looks like a combo of both composting and solarization. The black metal siding and top sheet will absorb lots of heat in the sun. Keep us posted on the temperature change if possible. I am wondering if it's windy, is it going to lose the heat through the bottom too quickly compared to the piles on ground though.

May Lotito wrote:solarization.

this one is mostly in deep shade, but a fast solar composting sauna could be a future option.

i know fast composters turn daily, so today i checked the experiment's progress and gave the composting puck CPR. after removing the insulation i just pushed the yard material down repeatedly, hoping that will provide enough aeration for further heat generation.

I remember CAT (Centre for Alternative Technology) in Wales UK were doing some experiments in hot composting using discarded chest freezers. The logic was that the insulation of the freezer would help gain a good hot temperature without turning.
I found a factsheet for it here
It looks like you're thought about things there, so I'm interested to see how you get on.

Nancy Reading wrote:factsheet

that's awesome, and i also just missed the neighbor's discarded fridge which could've been laid down for similar effect.

core temp is still trending upward, so i won't add any efforts now.

temps continue to rise, so i am just kicking back. for more context i'm partially investigating enclosed composting for actually bringing the compost pile inside the house or under a tent. i reckon people could lounge or sleep on top of an appropriately encased and regulated pile.

How is it aerated?

Ben Zumeta wrote:How is it aerated?

passively via the thermosiphon and i've been elbow dropping it for good measure. if things get too ugly i may consider my options.

the compost fun continues. i've been impressed with everything so far, maybe because i've never studied compost.
the 1st peak was definitely not ideal, for the starting and finishing conditions. as temps fell i went ahead and did a reset (re-mixing, re-aerating, re-compacting).
the 2nd peak was mostly a repeat of the 1st, but i left it alone more and the >90F period lasted longer.
i'm seeing moisture retention is perhaps too good.
for the 3rd peak i'll be trying less compaction & slightly more ventilation.
if i could bring the whole operation into a closed room of stable temperature (like an underground room), that would help with gauging total heat output.

Ben Zumeta wrote:How

my conscience is telling me my response to ben zumeta was not in the correct ballpark. sorry ben, i hope you're not discouraged or seared. i have to say your question in the context of this thread blew my mind, but i shouldn't be too inclined to go kooky & potentially alienate. i'm still trying to not be an infant.

as to your question of how is it aerated, i can say the goal in this experiment is not aeration, until it has to be. my thinking was that aeration can occur prior to compaction. while my setup is not air tight, one of my questions was how long can enclosed compost go without breathing assistance? how hot can it get? another question was what wacky techniques can be used to assist the process? will "elbow dropping" do anything? can i create a compost punching bag? as results come in i can consider new weird options to pursue better results. it's all fun and games.

this whole experiment was inspired by a bale of wet hay that goes thermal. my prior experience with compost is just making big mixed up piles and mostly leaving them alone for years. my education is minimal.

this is a related thread i've found in the meantime with some likely more immediately helpful thinking: https://permies.com/t/190818/Composter-heating