Topic: FIRE!

[Andy H]

Well thats what I thought at first when I lifted compost lid! ;D

Shredded loads of stuff last week and now you can cook and egg on the heap, it was very hot.....

Amazing the difference a lot of shredded stuff on a heap makes. ;D

[SnooziSuzi]

I have been putting the wood shavings with chicken poo in them from the coop on since I got them 2 weeks ago and mine is hotting up nicely  ;D

[cambourne7]

I wonder what the core and pealings from 18lb of apples will do to my compost bin....

[carolinej]

I wonder what the core and pealings from 18lb of apples will do to my compost bin...

It made mine smell lovely ;D

cj :)

[artichoke]

I can't bear to throw away cores and peelings until I've simmered and strained them to make apple juice or apple jelly.....

[saddad]

A really hot heap can actually catch fire... so be careful Andy!
 ;D

[sawfish]

Mines a bit rubbish as I dont have enough dry stuff. Its all gone a bit sludgy. Is this fixabe or usable? Should I chuck it on the ground and start again?

[OllieC]

Mines a bit rubbish as I dont have enough dry stuff. Its all gone a bit sludgy. Is this fixabe or usable? Should I chuck it on the ground and start again?

I wouldn't, it'll still get there in the end!

[stig]

my heap never seems to get hot !
where am i going wrong?

[Palustris]

Either it is too dry, or too wet or too compacted. Turn it over and get some oxygen into it. As others have done make sure there is a reasonable mix of different types of material from green to woody.
If your heap is sludgy, it does not matter, do as I used to do when we had a small garden and no room for a compost heap, dig a trench, throw in the sludge and cover. It will rot down nicely in the soil for you.

[Pigletwillie]

Adding little at a time will mean in most cases the heap doesnt get very hot, if you put a great big pile together all in one go though it will get very hot indeed.

[cambourne7]

Mines a bit rubbish as I dont have enough dry stuff. Its all gone a bit sludgy. Is this fixabe or usable? Should I chuck it on the ground and start again?

As i am adding lots of fresh stuff to stop it going sludgy i add the free newspapers that we throught the door ripped up into bits and add this in layers and then water the lot before i leave. Sawfish i would suggest that you do that as well it will add some of your much needed dry material.

[Andy H]

on one heap I added a trailer load of woody stuff with alternating layers of manure, it was SO dry that I thought it would take 3 yrs to rot down, 5 months later and it was perfect stuff!
It also had holly leaves which didnt shred much but seemed to pass through the shredder but there is no sign of them!