I turn less and less and it seems the CP is shrinking just fine without me. If I have the time and the energy I'll turn it just to watch it steam, but I think that's more for my self gratification than it is the CP.

The primary reason to turn your compost would be to get the material on the outside, that often does not get digested because the bacteria are most active in the center of the pile, into the center where the bacteria will work on it. Turning too often may slow the process down because that could disrupt the bacterial activity.

I turn my piles 2-3 times total. On the last turning, I flip anything too fresh back into my, now empty, new bin. I generally apply my compost as mulch and I'm not opposed to using it in a rougher state than many of you aim for.

I misread "The pile is an unenclosed heap" as "The pile is an undisclosed heap" and I thought, "Pretty smart, what with this crowd of shady types."

When I did use a continuously fed pile (not very frequently anymore) I also mixed in the "fresh" scraps into the top 6 inches or so and added a couple of inches or so of shredded leaves/straw for a cover.

My thinking being, mixing seems to help break the new stuff down better, covering with a C helps to contain any possible odors and balances the pile back to a better ratio and the top layer of C seems to absorb the moisture coming from the top of the pile especially if I cover with a loose cover. (whoa, run-on sentence or what!)

If the pile was kept at a decent ratio with decent moisture and proper airflow, I never turned it much. Once in a while I might have used the wing-dingy thingy just out of curiousity but not so much as a "have to do it" chore.

Lloyd

P.S. I've also been known to stand/sit by the bin and chop up any small branches in the compost for hours (very therapeutic and relaxing) so I might be a little nuts!

I just toss ... turning comes only when I'm breaking down the bin. After a few inches of kitchen scraps build up, I toss on a few inches of dry leaves or the dregs of another pile.

Eventually it fills up, and I let it sit, watering occasionally, until I need compost for something.

Here is a link that might be useful: Building a Cheap Wire Compost Bin

I do the same -- toss on the kitchen scraps and garden weeds until they get to a point that seems like enough then bury them in old leaves.

At times I have turned my compost weekly, but in this climate it seems to go to compost in a reasonable time without my needing to bother.

I don't mix them in either, if the compost is already hot. I toss stuff on top, then top it with leaves or straw to keep the odor and flies away. Usually the temp in the center will start to drop after a couple of weeks, then I toss the whole bin into another spot and then repeat the process.

Karen