Hot Compost
This page is a Work. In. Progress.
Thanks for your understanding as I continue to build resources to educate on building soil fertility through making compost. The Hot Compost Method utilizes HEAT to kill pathogens, diseases, and weed seeds. All while building the beneficial bacteria, protozoa, fungi, nematodes and more.
What is the difference between “putrefied organic matter” a.k.a. partially composted and actual compost?
DEFINITION OF COMPOST:
Fully Aerobic
Full Food Web
Biologically Diverse
So how do I test the quality of "compost”:
rub compost between hands/fingers and see if dark brown
(70%cocoa - humus) sticks to your skin; if so that’s a good sign of soil health!smell of forest floor, not ammonia, chemicals, vinegar, manure (all signs of lacking oxygen a.k.a. anaerobic
Squeeze into a clump in your hand and the try to crumble, if it both clumps and crumbles that’s a good sign! (think chocolate cake)
Problems organisms in a compost pile will be killed if temperatures are:
● Above 131ºF for 3 days (72 hours) or more
● Above 150ºF for 2 days (48 hours) or more
● Above 165ºF for 1 day (24 hours) or more
THERMO (HOT) COMPOSTING TIPS
Get the ratios right
EXAMPLE: 10 (5-gallon) buckets works out to:
3 buckets green (immature biomass – leafy greenery/grass clippings/green leaves)
6 buckets brown/carbon (mature biomass – woody/dried leaves/straw/wood chips)
1 bucket high nitrogen (alfalfa/animal manure)
Get the heat up to 131˚F or more (up to 160˚F) to kill pathogens and weed seeds.
Not heating up?
Does it have enough greens and nitrogens (alfalfa/animal manure)? Or, do you have too much?
Is there enough moisture? You should be able to squeeze your compost in your hand with a wee bit of moisture coming through between your fingers.
Add biodynamic preparations to enhance compost vitality.
Test It & Try It
In The Soil Summit, Dr. Elaine Ingham, Soil Microbiologist, helps troubleshoot composting problems and suggests making a sample pile…
In a large jar, make a 10-cup version of your compost with your materials:
1 cup high nitrogen
3 cups green
6 cups woody (and not all the same wood)
Watch the temperature to see if it rises on its own within a couple hours. If the jar version does well, expect your pile to do well.
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