Compost Colling Down

 Last Sunday I started my first attempt at composting.  I read heaps about it
before I started and thought I would have a crack.  I used mostly lawn
clippings and some leaves that I had mown up and put in a pile about 12
months ago (very dry).  I layered the grass, leaves and some soil from my
vege garden until I had what I estimated to be over a cubic metre. I have
the heap setup in the 120cm sapce between my garden shed and the colourbond
fence behind it with a barrier in the middle about 1.5m high.  After the
layering I forked it all over the otherside of the barrier to mix it all up.
That afternoon I stuck my hand in the heap and had to pull it quick.  It was
really hot.  On Monday I forked it all back over the other side.  I was
wearing thongs and the compost falling on my feet was quite hot and very
uncomfortable. I threw it back over the other side again Wednesday, Friday
and again yesterday (Sunday).  It was yesterday when I realised it was
noticably cooler but still warm.  Today it still has a good warmth when I
stick my hand in but is not really "hot" like it was a week ago.  I though
it would be at least another week before it cooled down significantly.  Is
this normal?  It is looking very good and most of it has composted quite
well but as this is my first time I'm not really sure how decomposed the
final product should be.

Any thought?

 Oops ... "Cooling"

 Sounds good,
I would have left the heap for a few days before forking it over again, but
it doesn't matter too much. The heat means you have the right combination of
ingredients for composting....I have found I needed to add a bit of water to
any parts that may have remained dry. This can make the heap heat up again
cos you improve the conditions. It will cool down again after the bacteria
have done their job, so that's part of the process.... After a bit bugs and
worms will come into the heap to finish the job, and they couldn't do that
if it was too hot for them...
If you are really keen to get it into the garden you could conceivably add
it after two or three weeks, but I prefer to leave mine till its quite fine,
dark, soil like and almost crumbly.... If any parts are not broken down
enough when I add to the garden, I just put them in the next heap...
Love and peace
SyrianPrince

 Petesin wrote:


You are turning it far too often.
Try monthly.

I think you've done your bolt on that lot. it will probably take ages now.

 
I agree with Petesin, that you are turning it too often.  I recently
heard a lecture by Prince Charles' head gardner (David Howard).  He
turns his compost heaps (he has eleven huge ones that are turned by a
tractor) only weekly, and appears to get good results.  I am
incredibly lazy, and turn mine less than once a month and still get
quite good results.  Save your energy for other things, like watching
your plants grow.  Joshua.