Hot Composting Hot composting, also called “active composting”, is when you turn your compost bin often. With high temperatures, weed seeds are often killed, many pathogens are destroyed, and the decomposition process speeds up. Cold Composting Cold composting, also called “static composting”, is when the compost bin is not turned or is turned very rarely. [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Temperature’
Rotline Question of the Week: What are the benefits of hot composting versus cold composting?
Posted in "Rotline" Question of the Week, tagged active, cold composting, compost, decomposition, hot composting, pathogens, static, Temperature, weed seeds on August 17, 2010 | 1 Comment »
Crock Pot Composting – make the ultimate worm food!
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged carbon, compost, Composting, crock pot composting, decomposition, food scraps, Heat, moisture, red wigglers, Temperature, vermicomposting, worm bin, worm bins, worm castings, worm food, worms on May 19, 2010 | 1 Comment »
Crock Pot Composting How to make the ultimate worm food! By: Diane Hollister, Master Composter Worms have no teeth, so they can’t consume the kitchen scraps you feed them until the scraps are broken down a bit. You can do this yourself very easily by putting your food waste in a crock pot. Here’s what [...]
Rotline Question of the Week: If it is cold outside, will my compost bin still heat up?
Posted in "Rotline" Question of the Week, tagged "Rotline" Question of the Week, compost, compost bins, Composting, decomposition, greens, Heat, hot composting, mesophiles, microorganisms, nitrogen, psychrophiles, Temperature, thermophiles on November 17, 2009 | 3 Comments »
It is a common misconception that a compost pile heats up because of the sun. Sure, if it is hot outside, the pile will be warmer than if it is cold outside, but the sun is not what causes a compost pile to hit the triple digits. The microorganisms residing inside of the compost pile [...]
Rotline Question of the Week: Can you have too many greens in your compost pile?
Posted in "Rotline" Question of the Week, tagged "Rotline", "Rotline" Question of the Week, browns, carbon, carbon to nitrogen ratio, compost, compost bins, Composting, food scraps, greens, Heat, nitrogen, odor, Temperature on September 10, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Sometimes, composters find themselves lacking in browns (carbon rich materials like straw, mulch, shredded paper, etc.) and having a surplus of greens (nitrogen rich materials like kitchen scraps, coffee grounds, freshly cut grass, etc.). But is it bad to have too many greens? What happens if you have too many greens in your compost bin? [...]
Composting in India
Posted in General, tagged compost, Composting, food scraps, Master Composters, Temperature on August 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
By Pete Ash, Master Composter It all happened by mistake. Or did it? At this point I don’t really know. Many would say it was no accident, but in a way, it was. It all started a year ago when I decided to come to India to study Biodynamic Agriculture. I had just completed a [...]
“Rotline” Question of the Week: Is hay or straw best for my compost?
Posted in "Rotline" Question of the Week, tagged aeration, browns, carbon, compost, compost bins, Composting, greens, hay, Heat, Master Composters, nitrogen, soil amendments, straw, Temperature, weeds on August 4, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Hay is considered a nitrogen source, or a green, and can be added to your compost bin. Because hay often has weed seeds in it, make sure that your bin is reaching a hot temperature, 100 – 140 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are passively composting and not achieving high temperatures, you can bag the hay [...]
“Rotline” Question of the Week: Do I need a thermometer to compost?
Posted in "Rotline" Question of the Week, tagged "Rotline", carbon to nitrogen ratio, compost bins, compost piles, compost thermometers, Composting, diseased plants, Heat, microbes, moisture, pile size, Solana Center, Temperature, thermophilic bacteria on June 23, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
You can definitely compost without a thermometer, but thermometers do make composting a bit easier. Thermometers can help you know when to turn your pile, when to add more material, when to add water, and when your compost is finished. Many composters also enjoy the satisfaction of seeing just how hot their pile can get! [...]
“Rotline” Question of the Week: How Can I Get My Compost Pile to Heat Up Properly?
Posted in "Rotline" Question of the Week, Master Composters, tagged "Rotline", compost, Heat, Master Composters, Temperature on November 4, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Heating up your compost pile is beneficial for you and the organisms inside. Compost that peaks at temperatures between 130° and 150°F breaks down faster due to optimal activity. It also helps with getting rid of invasive pests and dangerous pathogens in your materials. However, some composters just can’t seem to get their compost to [...]
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