Comments on: Nine Steps to Hot Composting

By: Grant Livingston

Grant Livingston — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:41:28 +0000

I just skimmed through your article. It seems really great. I have been experimenting with composting for some time, and I have had a lot of success at getting hot piles. I will build the pile all at once, and then keep in under a tarp to keep the moisture content right. It seems to get enough airation from the rodent holes in the tarp because it doesn’t smell.

Anyways, I was wondering what is the smallest compost pile that you have made and been able to get hot?

By: Frank

Frank — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:51:37 +0000

After studying this guide several times, I put my first “batch” in last night and, just like Jim McNelly predicted, within a day the temperature of the pile is 143 degrees. I followed his directions to the letter, mixing the ingredients outside of the bin, slightly watering it, then putting it in.

After reading this information and other literature, I built a 3 bin compost system. It has two lids, a fiberglass lid and a wire lid. There is space between the lids to allow air circulation. The bin is rodent proof, completely enclosed with 1/4 inch wire mesh – inside and out. I live in an area where there are raccoons, mice, dogs, etc, so I did not want to take any chances. For additional ventilation, door knob size holes were drilled into the removable slats. These holes are also covered with the 1/4 inch mesh. The slats in the front and side are removable, in order to make turning the pile easier. I also put a removable wire frame on top of bricks on the floor of the bin to allow air circulation from underneath.

It a lot of work, probably at least 50 hours of work, but for the most part, it was a lot of fun designing and putting it together. I am not a carpenter, so I am sure that someone else could have done this is 1/2 the time.

I will continue to reference this guide, very useful information and thanks for posting it!

By: Annette

Annette — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:27:07 +0000

Thanks for ALL the info…a great deal to ponder and exactly what I was looking for. We mow 1/4 acre and have a vegetable garden on 1/4 acre with another 1/2 acre in house, out buildings, trees, bushes and perennials. I want to compost grass, food scraps, leaves, brush and neighboring cow manure for our developing organic vegetable garden and you have given me LOTS of great info. Being in a northern climate, I am thinking we will stock pile through the winter, mix our pile plus cow manure in the spring, then dress beds in the fall with our new black gold! Or should we wait until the following spring? Can’t wait!

By: Jozef

Jozef — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:36:48 +0000

Is efficient to fertilize the grassland by compost?

By: gloria minter

gloria minter — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 11:24:32 +0000

Americans are so busy we do not think about all the labor and materials that go into manufacturing out favorite products. I have enjoyed curb recycling in FLorida. Several different plastic containers in varous colors were given each resident. On appointed days, these were placed at curbside and picked up by disposal people two times a week, Each color was for a different recycle. One paper, another plastic and another , tin cans. I do not have curb recycle where I live now. I simlpy use a plastic container in my kitchen area, and place all my recycables in it. I try to go to the recycle area of the city once a week. The curbside pick up was so convenient. I am a senior citizen. When we recycle, we take advantage of the process that has been used to get the object usable, and then discarded. This is woven into something new, sparing the environmet from the beginning process. It is everyo9nes duty to recycle. IT is like giving a tithe. It has great promise.