5 Hot Composting Mistakes to Avoid
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Date: 2022-07-18
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Comments and reviews: 15
Chi111y
I just started this and mine gets super hot and I dont follow any of these tips. Mine is in a pile on the side of my house and roughly 3 feet diameter and 2 feet high. I add things as they become available including all weeds I pull out my yard, meat, bread, urine, brown sugar, dirt, leaves, etc. I also dump my grass clippings in it. However, I do turn it often because of all the stuff I add. But I'm going to turn less to keep the heat high. My compost pile got rained on recently, so I just covered it. I also included charged biochar, compost starter, and recharge.
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I just started this and mine gets super hot and I dont follow any of these tips. Mine is in a pile on the side of my house and roughly 3 feet diameter and 2 feet high. I add things as they become available including all weeds I pull out my yard, meat, bread, urine, brown sugar, dirt, leaves, etc. I also dump my grass clippings in it. However, I do turn it often because of all the stuff I add. But I'm going to turn less to keep the heat high. My compost pile got rained on recently, so I just covered it. I also included charged biochar, compost starter, and recharge.
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Mason
I built this exact dimension for a compost bin with cedar, which it looks like you used as well. I built with slats in the side too, but wasnt getting quite hot enough. So I tried Charles Dowdings technique of putting cardboard in the sides to help maintain heat and moisture. It also takes way more material than you think to fill these dimensions to the appropriate size to get them cooking. Its taken me a couple of tries, but now am able to get it consistently to 150 Fahrenheit after watching numerous composting videos thank you and Charles for all of your tips!
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I built this exact dimension for a compost bin with cedar, which it looks like you used as well. I built with slats in the side too, but wasnt getting quite hot enough. So I tried Charles Dowdings technique of putting cardboard in the sides to help maintain heat and moisture. It also takes way more material than you think to fill these dimensions to the appropriate size to get them cooking. Its taken me a couple of tries, but now am able to get it consistently to 150 Fahrenheit after watching numerous composting videos thank you and Charles for all of your tips!
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L.
Kevin, Thank you for another great educational and informational video.
1. Where did you get the spiral tool to drill into your pile?
2. I chop everything as small as possible to make it easier to turn every 3 to 4 days with a shovel. (Work)
3 I made a barrel compoeter that is less volume than the bin but
A. it finishes much quicker because I turn it more often.
B. I roll it around in the backyard [very easy turning].
C. I can roll it out-of-sight if necessary.
Please keep making more great videos. 07/15/2021
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Kevin, Thank you for another great educational and informational video.
1. Where did you get the spiral tool to drill into your pile?
2. I chop everything as small as possible to make it easier to turn every 3 to 4 days with a shovel. (Work)
3 I made a barrel compoeter that is less volume than the bin but
A. it finishes much quicker because I turn it more often.
B. I roll it around in the backyard [very easy turning].
C. I can roll it out-of-sight if necessary.
Please keep making more great videos. 07/15/2021
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Sid
I don't turn my pile. I have pvc tubes drilled with holes that i shove horizontally at the base of the pile and 1 or 2 that I have going down into the pile from the top. This allows air to get through the pile. My temps get up to about 176 degrees F, sometimes a little higher. once it starts dropping in temp, around 75-80 degrees, i'll take a look and its usually finished at that point. takes about 14-18 days, depending on the amount I started with. Usually its 3x3x3 but sometimes it gets a little higher than 3 feet
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I don't turn my pile. I have pvc tubes drilled with holes that i shove horizontally at the base of the pile and 1 or 2 that I have going down into the pile from the top. This allows air to get through the pile. My temps get up to about 176 degrees F, sometimes a little higher. once it starts dropping in temp, around 75-80 degrees, i'll take a look and its usually finished at that point. takes about 14-18 days, depending on the amount I started with. Usually its 3x3x3 but sometimes it gets a little higher than 3 feet
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vonries
I see another mistake right there in your pile. Not shredding your materials up small enough. You should buy a cheap leaf shredder. I'm sure a supplier or three will be happy to give you one. Another alternative is to run everything through a garbage disposal dedicated for outdoor use.
PS you might want to add some bio-char to your pile. And yes if that how you show people how to turn a pile we can tell, you ARE really bad at turning yours.
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I see another mistake right there in your pile. Not shredding your materials up small enough. You should buy a cheap leaf shredder. I'm sure a supplier or three will be happy to give you one. Another alternative is to run everything through a garbage disposal dedicated for outdoor use.
PS you might want to add some bio-char to your pile. And yes if that how you show people how to turn a pile we can tell, you ARE really bad at turning yours.
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Shaunenne
Hello I'm a beginner gardener I live in a treatment center so I barley have any room and I have certain rules to follow. So I started a compost in a bin a plastic bin. And I noticed that my compost is started to rot instead of compost. Any tips? I'm gonna try and make some holes into my bin for air holes. And I put some dirt and what not in it to soak up moisture. Andi have no clue what Im doing. Help!
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Hello I'm a beginner gardener I live in a treatment center so I barley have any room and I have certain rules to follow. So I started a compost in a bin a plastic bin. And I noticed that my compost is started to rot instead of compost. Any tips? I'm gonna try and make some holes into my bin for air holes. And I put some dirt and what not in it to soak up moisture. Andi have no clue what Im doing. Help!
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Urban
It's better to go tall and skinny, than shorter and fatter. Heat rises, so the taller you can go, the more heat will be utilized in the chimney effect. This is why the top of your pile is always hotter than the bottom. I just make tall and skinny piles, but if you make bays like this, going twice as high for the diameter will do wonders for keeping your pile hotter and more efficient.
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It's better to go tall and skinny, than shorter and fatter. Heat rises, so the taller you can go, the more heat will be utilized in the chimney effect. This is why the top of your pile is always hotter than the bottom. I just make tall and skinny piles, but if you make bays like this, going twice as high for the diameter will do wonders for keeping your pile hotter and more efficient.
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ferrous719
I got tired of vermin getting into my pile, so I bought some 32 gal black trash cans, drilled a bunch of holes in the bottom edges, and kick-started it with cheap store bought compost. The black absorbs heat and helps it faster, and the trash can lid keeps out vermin and in water. It also blocks sunlight for winter sprouting seeds.
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I got tired of vermin getting into my pile, so I bought some 32 gal black trash cans, drilled a bunch of holes in the bottom edges, and kick-started it with cheap store bought compost. The black absorbs heat and helps it faster, and the trash can lid keeps out vermin and in water. It also blocks sunlight for winter sprouting seeds.
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Kerry
Hi, if the existing compost frame is concrete brick, with holes. am I best to pull out all the pile and lay on a tarp for easy turning, or leave it in there and sorta turn. It's very awkward position and unev3n base. I'm new to composting. Sure eventually I'd like to build a nice wooden box like yours. But now__what is best to do?
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Hi, if the existing compost frame is concrete brick, with holes. am I best to pull out all the pile and lay on a tarp for easy turning, or leave it in there and sorta turn. It's very awkward position and unev3n base. I'm new to composting. Sure eventually I'd like to build a nice wooden box like yours. But now__what is best to do?
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Randall
Here's what I do:
Get 4, 4 foot 2x2 stakes and stake them about 4ft away from each other in a square. Use horseshoe nails or staples to attach chicken wire to 3 sides. Now you have a pile that's aerated, and easy to access. I also use a pitchfork for turning and aerating; it's easier than a shovel.
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Here's what I do:
Get 4, 4 foot 2x2 stakes and stake them about 4ft away from each other in a square. Use horseshoe nails or staples to attach chicken wire to 3 sides. Now you have a pile that's aerated, and easy to access. I also use a pitchfork for turning and aerating; it's easier than a shovel.
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Luke
Hey theyre just started composting and a strong source of green for me is my works since Im at a sub shop so lots of lettuce and tomatoes. But I was wondering, since we dont necessarily use the most organic veggies do I have to be worried about pesticides or any other nasty chemicals screwing up my pile?
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Hey theyre just started composting and a strong source of green for me is my works since Im at a sub shop so lots of lettuce and tomatoes. But I was wondering, since we dont necessarily use the most organic veggies do I have to be worried about pesticides or any other nasty chemicals screwing up my pile?
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umiluv
I failed at hot composting but was able to get two garlic plants growing from my cold pile so I replanted them. Theyre doing fantastic right now lol. It looks like I have a sweet potato growing out of my compost pile too. I will likely plant that then haha. Maybe cold composting isnt so bad. Haha
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I failed at hot composting but was able to get two garlic plants growing from my cold pile so I replanted them. Theyre doing fantastic right now lol. It looks like I have a sweet potato growing out of my compost pile too. I will likely plant that then haha. Maybe cold composting isnt so bad. Haha
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Michael
I recently built a double bin compost bin with pallets and it came out great. It's super efficient to use a pitchfork and move the compost to the adjoining bin which is same as turning. However I now realize I need 4 bins so I can always have a finished compost ready while making a new.
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I recently built a double bin compost bin with pallets and it came out great. It's super efficient to use a pitchfork and move the compost to the adjoining bin which is same as turning. However I now realize I need 4 bins so I can always have a finished compost ready while making a new.
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Chris
Charles Dowding recommends not turning it. I know he moves his compost throughout the year but other than than he doesn't turn it. He also says he doesn't water his piles which is why he has a roof on top off the compost. He claims the green has enough water in them to keep it wet.
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Charles Dowding recommends not turning it. I know he moves his compost throughout the year but other than than he doesn't turn it. He also says he doesn't water his piles which is why he has a roof on top off the compost. He claims the green has enough water in them to keep it wet.
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David
It looks like your design would make it hard to get oxygen at the bottom of the pile. Is that problem for you? I use a pallet system with a door that opens all the way so I can easily get to everything. By the way thanks for all the info. I've learned a lot from your videos.
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It looks like your design would make it hard to get oxygen at the bottom of the pile. Is that problem for you? I use a pallet system with a door that opens all the way so I can easily get to everything. By the way thanks for all the info. I've learned a lot from your videos.
reply
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