How to speed up compost?

[Lux Et Veritas Academy]

Ok I finally have a pile and we are contributing to it. How is the fastest way to speed up the process? If it is just sitting out there will it be slower than if it was in some type of bin?

[kokotg]

worms?

[gardening momma]

Turn it with a pitchfork every few days. From what I've read online, the pile will heat up, then begin to cool down, and that's when you turn it, so it'll heat up again. I believe turning it also serves to aerate it.

 

ETA: I have a compost tumbling bin, and although I'm far from experienced with it, I have noticed that when I grab handfuls of grass clippings from our compost heap next to it, it's quite warm inside the pile.

[gardening momma]

You need to have a fairly even ratio of green matter and brown matter.

 

Here's a good list of what to compost, and what is "green" and what is "brown". There's a link at the bottom you can click on for ratios. http://www.compostinfo.com/tutorial/CanICompostIt.htm

[WishboneDawn]

Turning it every few weeks should be enough but make sure you add grass clippings. They really add a lot of heat that helps things break down faster.

[Kimm in WA]

The more you turn it, the faster it turns into the great black gold compost. If you want it in 2 weeks, turn it daily.

[Heather in the Kootenays]

I just took a full day course on composting and the message we got was WATER IT.

[OrganicAnn]

Water

 

The right combination of materials (green/brown)

 

If you want something to act as an activator, the most readily available is a little beer. Gets the microbes going, but it is not required. Also adding some regular soil into the mix will help.

[Leanna Tomlinson]

There is a great book about composting called Let it Rot by Stu Cambell. I found it a the local library, but then bought my own copy. It tells you everything you ever wanted to know about composting.

 

You don't want to turn the pile too often, or you will slow down the breakdown of material. Gardening Momma was right when she said to turn it when it begins to cool down. That time frame varies with the size of your pile, the time of year, the contents of your compost, etc. Once you have a pile that is large enough and "cooking", start a new pile. Continue to turn the old pile when it cools down and you will soon have usable compost. In the book, the author mentions having piles at different stages so you are not adding new material to a pile that is almost ready.

 

Making dirt is almost as exciting as growing vegetables! :)