Can I see pictures of your compost bin or pile?

That's another possibility. I just finished turning the compost and it was already as damp as a wrung out sponge. Most of the greens I added were the leaves of the Apple tree that I removed. I am a little confused though. I have herd many times that the way to get compost to heat up, is to add greens. I have also herd that you shouldn't add anything after a pile is started. That it should just be turned periodically as in the three bin method. I understand that as long as the compost is decomposing it is working. But, will a pile heat up without adding anything, with just turning and adding water if needed? Is there a point where I could add too many greens? There are still many roots that I dug up (that I imagine are browns) that look as if they need to break down more. All I want is some finished compost for next spring. My son wants me to say we are going to put it in the garden. He liked the worms in my old vermicomposting bin. I think I'm well on my way.
Sorry about the rambling.

David and Aidan

If you add too many greens, it will get really soggy and develop a foul, sour smell. (Don't ask me how I know this. LOL) It seems that if my pile starts to slow down, if I turn it and redistribute the parts that haven't broken down, and give it a good drink, it heats up again. If I have a high proportion of browns, and it doesn't seem to be doing much or heating up, I'll sometimes put the bagger on the mower and add one bag of grass clippings, and that seems to get it going again. I usually just let the mulching mower put the clippings back on the lawn, though.

I continually add to my piles. I have two bins, and my initial plan was to fill one, and let it finish while I filled the other, so I always had one newer one, and one "finishing" one. Somehow that hasn't been how it worked out, and I have two at about the same level of progress. I have the Miracle Grow Bio-Stack bins, and I take the top couple of levels off of one and add to the other, and keep forking the materials over and mixing them up until I get to the lower layer, where the compost is more finished. I remove the finished layer, then start putting the layers of BioStack back on the original, and forking the materials back into it, then do the same for the second one. Everything gets mixed and turned in the process, and it is relatively easy to do. I just don't do it nearly enough! I need to get out there and turn it again, as my 12 year old just added about 4 bags of grass clippings without telling me, and the bins are now overflowing. I need to get the greens mixed throughout so it will really heat up again!

Hope that helped a little.

Angie

I had a problem with my first ever pile heating up until I built up to the 3'x3'x3' size. My second pile did much better and it was closer to 4'x4'x4'. Something about the critical mass that allows the bacteria to really replicate.

Well I have the results from my experiment. I added more greens to my pile two days ago, (without adding any water because it already felt like a wrung out sponge,to me at least) and it still hasn't heated up at all. I guess I wring out sponges so there dryer than others. Or all the browns are used up. I'll add some water today and see what that does. If that doesn't work I have about four gallons of bark dust that I'll add.
Perry wanted to say "hi"

Dave, your pile might not be big enough. Smaller piles can't retain enough heat to get truly "hot." They'll still decompose, though.

My theory is "don't add big or hard things" once a pile has started. Since they take forever and a day to break down, they just delay things.

But I would add soft green stuff anytime. Grass clippings seem to break down very quickly, unless it all packs down so tight there is no air.

Someone suggested a way around the "big pieces" problem: chop up anything hard BEFORE you put it into the pile. Consider chopping it twice! You might have to wait years for a pencil-thick branch of green wood to decompose, but shredded toothpicks will soften and disintegrate somewhat in MUCH less time.

I agree about "critical mass" or critical size. Maybe the outermost 12-18 inchs is more like insulation than "reactor", and only the inner part retains much heat and humidity. My outer layers are always dry and clearly not doing much. The action is only in the core.

Maybe you have to get the pile to be more than 36" across before there is an accelerating, "hot" chain reaction.

Stars work that way! The outer layers (90% in many stars) mostly serve as insulation and weight to compress the inner core. Fusion only occurs in the center of the star. If the star isn't big enough to compress and insulate the core enough, there is no fusion and it's just a "brown dwarf".

Size matters, and for compost heaps there seems to be a size (3-4 feet accross) above which there is an accellerating reaction.

But even small compost heaps will decay - eventually. The first symptom of that in a small heap I had was that "any" black compost appeared. If you have "any", you know it's working. You really can't judge it by whether the big pieces have disintegrated yet: that might take years. Expect to rake them out and demote them to your seocnd pile, when you're ready to harvest whatever has decomposed.

(Someone asked what Beethoven and Bach were doing in their graves. "Decomposing".)

I wonder if the enclosed compost "systems" like tumblers and cylinders mainly provide that insulation and mositure retention? If so, maybe they can make a 1-cubic-foot pile work more like a 3 or 4 foot diameter pile.)

Corey

Corey, that makes sense. My outer edges, especially the corners, are always dry and not doing much. It is the center that is hot and actively breaking down. Every time it slows and cools, if I stir it all up and get those edge materials incorporated in, it usually gets it cooking again.

ROFL

I agree with everything the several experienced posters here are saying.

And Perry is handsome!

I think you Corey are a brilliant man who looks into all corners of our being. We are so blessed to know some of the miracles of this creation. Your humor is ideal and poignant and the delivery is superb. Thank you for posting. I would like to sit in a chair for a week and discuss the aspects of your knowledge, experience, and most importantly observations you have made. I enjoy your press.
I feel that carbon is the only thing you cannot add without proper placement. I dig holes in my compost while cooking to place the kitchen scraps during the composting and place them there. I always add nitrogen to catch them up to the rest of the pile, up to a point of harvest.

LOL PuddlePirate. That made me laugh! My kids wandered over to see what was so funny, and to my surprise, they actually got it! I guess they must have been listening when I lectured on why you can't fill the whole bin with fresh grass clippings. . .

Angie

Flatterer! I would also love to sit and chat with you most importantly observations for a few hours or days. With plenty of beer and cigars at hand.

>> most importantly observations

That, I agree with. Of gardening "knowledge" I claim little or none. My plentifull opinions are dubious at best, especially where I have a long-term preference for "doing it my way", as in turning new soil and composting rather than lasagna-ing.

But as with everyone, the most useful and truest thing I can offer is an observation: "I did this and saw that".

But even those fail to communiucate sufficiently when I forget to add (or know) all the relevant circumstances ... like ...
... because I'm too cheap to buy enough compost
... because most of my soil is as well-drained and aerated as over-cooked oatmeal

Thanks again for the kind words. I also value and believe your reports and respect your attitudes towards life and nature.

That chat would be extra-enjoyable for its non-PC nature. Which rmeinds me, you have Dmail!

Corey

PuddlePirate,

"Ahh dunno if she'll TAKE it, Cap'n! "
"Warp Core breach imminent!"

Corey