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Belgium

Hey,

I started a compost pile about a week ago, and it is yet to heat up. Does anyone have some advice on how to get it working?

Thanks,
Jake Byrd

10/3/2004 10:53:11 AM

Belgium

oh, and I tried blood meal

10/3/2004 10:53:32 AM

Follansbee, Wv

Several things can keep a compost pile from heating up. First and formost is moisture content. Your pile should be damp, but not dripping. Squeezing a handfull should provide no drips. I believe the description of a properly moistened pile to be that of a wrung out sponge. Secondly, nitrogen. If your pile lacks it, the microbes will not survive. If you can tell me what is in the pile, I can probably tell you how to get it cooking hot over night.

10/3/2004 12:54:37 PM

Follansbee, Wv

Oh, something else to consider as well is size. I like to keep my piles at roughly 3' x 3'. If a pile is too small it can't hold heat. Too large and you dont have proper air flow to the center. Do you have a chimney in it to provide air to the center?

10/3/2004 12:58:40 PM

Belgium

okay, it's got about 40-60 lbs of chicken manure. 2 cu. feet of pine bark mulch, a small garbage bag of i believe poplar mulch, a small garbage bag of leaves, some grass clippings, and some chuncks of meat from my pumpkin.

Thanks,
Jake Byrd

10/3/2004 2:21:15 PM

Follansbee, Wv

Chicken manure is very high nitro stuff, pine bark is very slow to decompose. I don't recommend using pine mulch because of the length of time to decompose and the added reduction of pH, which is already naturally low in compost. On to your problem:
Chicken manure is nearly composted in it's original state, thus I believe it leaves little for the microbes to work on. Remember that the heat of a compost pile is generated by the microbe popuplation. While chicken manure is high in nitrogen, it provides little food for microbes to feed on. Also, with such a large amount of nitrogen in the pile, and most of the carbons in the form of mulch, you have created an environment that is not exactly hospitable to microbe growth. Mulch is very large and should be shredded before composting, unless you intend to build a large pile.
Let's try this, add some more dry leaves, a couple of garbage bags should be enough. Crumble them up real good. Also try to get some more grass clippings. It won't take much as you already have a good nitrogen base to work with. Maybe a mower bag full. Then, tear down the existing pile, mix everything together very well and rebuild the pile. Place a good layer of sticks/twigs on the ground (make sure you wet the ground and sticks first). Then add 6" of your mixture. Don't forget to put a chimney in for good air circulation! I use a piece of 2" pvc conduit with 3/8" holes drilled every 1-2 inches on all four sides. (see my diary). If the mixture is dry, wet it lightly with a garden hose. Repeat adding layers and wetting until the pile is about 3 feet tall. In 24 hours, it should be building noticable heat. If you use a chimney you should be able to hold your hand over it and feel the heat coming out.
Feel free to email me. We can get that pile hot!

10/3/2004 2:56:29 PM

Belgium

Cool, thanks a lot Monty

Jake

10/3/2004 6:13:04 PM

Follansbee, Wv

No problem! I'm a newb here, but I have been gardening for a long time. If I can help I will. I'll be picking your brain, along with everybody else's, when the new pumpkin growing season starts! So it's all good, and it all balances out in the end right?

10/3/2004 6:31:17 PM

nanaimo,B.C,Canada

Coffee grounds and more coffee grounds,this will break the compost down nicely.

Dave

10/3/2004 11:19:05 PM