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I found this very helpful website.But so far I heard that you need to turn compost.They said don't.What's up with that?
http://www.avant-gardening.com/composting.html
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Everybody has their own technique, that they swear by (or at).
I have been composting for different gardens/orchards/climates since the early 70's and have always turned my piles, moving them to a secondary pen and than a third and final pen during each turn over. The first pen is always getting new material.
The centre of the pile will get extremely hot (from the manure and grass clippings).I use a thick wood dowel in the center of the pile as my "thermometer" ... and pull it out occasionally, whens its cool I know the pile is ready to turn....enjoy.
riverwolf
riverwolf
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Thanks,riverwolf.We started our pile about a year ago,not ready yet.
I think too little soil added .How much soil do you add?
About a thermometer - I was wondering how long it will last in our weather.But yours is weather proof ):
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I guess don't turn means don't add new stuff-make a new pile?
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Your pile will eventually decompose without turning, but as it sits there, the rain is carrying away soluable minerals that maybe you want in your vegetable patch.
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our unturned compost turns to soil in about 8 weeks down here. (It is not my preference to not turn it, I just forget, and even so ***Poof*** it is soil! )
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How much soil you put in and how big the pile was?
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I don't put any soil in my pile at all. The pile should be at least 4x4x4 feet in order to effectively burn in the center.
Andrew
quote:
Originally posted by Alex
How much soil you put in and how big the pile was?
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Thanks,Andrew.Didn't know about the size.
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It was always my thought that the reason for turning was to allow the micro organisms that cause the heating to work their majic on all the material. Obviously, the outsides don't get a chance at action enough to cause them heating, so you turn it periodically. Is that a factor?