Hot compost pile

[nadcarves]

Four days ago, I took all the leaves piled out back , added bass wood saw dust, mixed in a bunch of dried molasses, and dumped a 1 to 5 ratio of "tinkle" in hot water on to the pile...This morning, the pile seemed to have diminished in size.. Took a ground thermometer , pushed it in to about a foot. The temp is at 44oC. or 110 o F .. Seems to be cooking. My question is , should I fluff it up a bit with a hay fork, or just let the pile cook...I duplicate carvings and this is the greenest way possible of getting rid of the saw dust...The soil bacteria just love the wood, as do earth worms. I had an "authority" on composting come over some years ago when I was rendering just the wood. He scooped up a double handful, dropped it, and said he had never seen such a concentration of worms.. I understand if the pile gets too hot, it goes out. Any advice?

[David Hare-Scott]

Fast composting requires air, so turn it if you want it to go quickly.

I duplicate carvings and this

The heat of the pile will depend on the ingredients and the size, bigger heaps get hotter as they have a higher ratio of mass to surface area. As it warms up the thermophyllic bugs take over from those that like normal temperatures, this becomes self limiting.

D

[Billy]

And the heat kills of pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and protoplasts. It's all good.

[Billy]

Compost at 25 parts brown (C) to green (N) composting material.

Let it Rot!: The Gardener's Guide to Composting (Third Edition) (Storey's Down-to-Earth Guides) by Stu Campbell

p.39

Compostable Material Average C/N

Alder or ash leaves ............................ 25

Grass clippings ................................ 25

Leguminous plants (peas, beans,soybeans) ............................. 15

Manure with bedding ........................... 23

Manure ....................................... 15

Oak leaves .................................... 50

Pine needles .............................. 60-100

Sawdust................................. 150-500

Straw, cornstalks and cobs .................. 50-100

Vegetable trimmings ...........................25 Aged Chicken Manure  ........................  7 Alfalfa ...................................... 12 Newspaper......................................175

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