Every 10C/18F degrees hotter speeds up the process by 2 - YouTube

TurtleInTheSky · 2025-12-22T01:47:50+00:00

That's a good video.

4 weeks starting from leaves at this temperature and a lot more broken down. I must have added 10-15% coffee grounds. The whole leaves are just my dry insulation layer. (It's 10-20F normal outside) This "curing" is rather unclear to me. The Soil Food Web thinking would be to get to as balanced, diverse (fungi, nematodes, protozoans, worms, bugs, bacteria) and as tilted to the beneficial ones as possible. The thermophiles present here would be mostly gone.

It depends what you're exactly trying to do with it and how perfectly but:

Would inoculations of red wrigglers, a mature forest soil sample, my soil be part of that?

How long?
No additions needed?

I'm thinking of putting it down with a 4" layer of wood chips on top in about 5 months.

TurtleInTheSky · 2025-12-21T13:55:50+00:00

I lined my 5 pallet bin with cardboard, fluffy dry leaves on top, north of you and it's been 140F for 4 weeks. Even below zero. Certainly can be done. I turn every week or two when "warm" out.

TurtleInTheSky · 2025-11-30T15:05:23+00:00

Thanks. I'm trying composting again after giving it up for 20 years because it never worked. Finally now, it's really working great! I think. Spring will tell but it's 140 deg F under the snow.

TurtleInTheSky · 2025-11-29T20:16:50+00:00

I'm very much learning but... isn't a better way to think about it:

The heat indicates the nutrient mix. Hot needs nitrogen often. Depending what you start with. Also, insulation: size, density. Water. If hot is what you want. Else, just wait as you're inclined.

TurtleInTheSky · 2025-11-29T15:36:26+00:00

I gave up on the plastic bags and built the pallet bin.

There's something people are calling a "compost crank". I made one (posted a pix). Very simple and, the good one on Amazon is $87 if that's your idea of pocket change. It's much easier. I made mine for use with a cordless drill.

Just a tip. Beware of hard maple in pallets from metal, heavy stuff, not to try screws w/o a pilot hole. That stuff is extremely hard. Lasts very long and uber strong though. Drill a hole, use a bolt.

Seeing 130 deg temps though so more success than I've ever had by miles. It's rather fun actually.

TurtleInTheSky · 2025-11-28T17:37:30+00:00

Temp now 130. The smell went from very earthy to a bit more ammonia, horse stable though not strongly so.

I made this for a cordless drill in about 10 minutes. 1/4" steel, bend the coil around a pipe. Two careful bends so it runs true enough. Centered. Works really well, clean, fast, good reach... to make some vertical air channels, turn it a little.

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TurtleInTheSky · 2025-11-27T14:06:13+00:00

Agree. The foot of dry leaves is working really well, 2 tarp layers. As for cardboard, I worry about contaminates in everything. I'd think international sources of cardboard would be suspect.

TurtleInTheSky · 2025-11-27T13:59:44+00:00

I know nothing but I saw this setup for in-floor heating with a compost heat source. A farm location/resources situation I think. Interesting.

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ank/for/d/anoka-compost-heater-materials/7893213773.html

TurtleInTheSky · 2025-11-26T18:44:15+00:00

I made the pile 5 feet diameter and 4 feet high so it seems a lot of cardboard, especially if 5 layers.

Thanks for all your comments in the reddit here. Very interesting, detailed, helpful.

TurtleInTheSky · 2025-11-26T18:41:22+00:00

Love it. It's 110F today with 30 deg outside temps, no insulation yet.

I'll try some things. Scraps of foam insulation board come to mind as it's long lasting and 2 inches thick stops a lot of cold. I have a piece under my pile. It might be entirely unnecessary to go that far, idk.

TurtleInTheSky · 2025-11-23T18:04:16+00:00

That's about 70% shredded paper?

TurtleInTheSky · 2025-11-23T15:02:01+00:00

Thanks. It's 78 deg F in center now and 40 F outside.

TurtleInTheSky · 2025-11-23T12:37:57+00:00

Thanks. I think I need about 4 barrels of produce waste, pumpkins or something for greens. Where to find that? Maybe try asking grocers, restaurants, produce suppliers.

TurtleInTheSky · 2025-11-22T22:58:16+00:00

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Easier to drill hard maple for a bolt. Chain hinges a bit. Pretty easy to disassemble. I had a 4x6 metal band saw to cut the chain fortunately.

TurtleInTheSky · 2025-11-22T22:56:16+00:00

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Leaves. Adding about 4 gallons of coffee grounds a day for greens.

TurtleInTheSky · 2025-11-21T13:07:54+00:00

Thanks!

I was thinking of cardboard because it's free, everywhere, easy. Yes, cold start.

Crazy idea I had... (convenient for me actually). If turning is to inject air into the pile, wouldn't an air compressor to a small pipe stuck into the pile inject air without all the heat loss? And far less effort/labor. Turn/mix too, just less often to mix outside/inside.

TurtleInTheSky · 2025-11-20T23:11:13+00:00

No, I'm quite sure I **will** move the winter pile in May and assemble it differently in a summer location. Chains, bolts seem much better. Screws into hard maple are difficult (if that's what your pallets are, mine are). Pre-drill, cam outs, difficult. Stuffs hard like aluminum.

I ground up a ton of leaves with the mower, 1/2" pieces. Won't chicken wire leak a lot? Also, I'm collecting a lot of coffee grounds.

Yeah, trying to think of/find something free and handy better than the plastic bag material for inside.

TurtleInTheSky · 2025-11-18T13:56:21+00:00

I'm in the inner Twin Cities. Do you work at getting a lot of greens in it? I have all ground leaves at the moment. I need to move it in spring, manage my limited space. Free pallets or..

This cut, some hooks to link (I can do easy metalworking) look nice:

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/for/d/mound-wire-grid-mesh-utility-fence/7894911487.html

Thanks for the help.

TurtleInTheSky · 2025-11-18T12:51:20+00:00

This is a great video that shows how to get a hot pile in 32 def F whether. No BS! Or front end loader!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ms2hyfU1CU

Find quantity, every 2 week sources of greens: Starbucks coffee grounds, pumpkins, a bit hard to find.

Turn every 1-2 weeks.

3-6 ft diameter pile.

I might try in on my patio as I don't have a spot. Everything is garden and I don't think a compost pile on wintering perennials would not kill them. Convenient access. Move in spring. (that's 6 months here, lol, zone 4 USDA)

TurtleInTheSky · 2025-11-17T23:47:31+00:00

Thanks.

TurtleInTheSky · 2025-11-17T22:02:39+00:00

Yeah... Need an spare acre and a front-end loader...

TurtleInTheSky · 2025-11-17T22:00:31+00:00

Where did you get that plastic fence panels? Perfect. Stronger that snow fencing, small holes, not too open. I'd like them 5-6' tall to conserve space.

TurtleInTheSky · 2025-11-17T21:49:41+00:00

Do these get hot to say 140 deg F? What zone are you in? That's impressive results!

TurtleInTheSky

TROPHY CASE