Everytime someone posts these types of stories I think of Tom Hanks in Castaway when he creates fire! A true "feel good" moment.

Way to go Kath!

Lloyd

P.S. We understand your joy, you're among friends. :)

Very cool. I've been a sheet mulcher and trench composter for several years. This is my first year with a bin and while it's starting to look dark and decomposing there is no heat yet. I just don't seem to have the time to gather enough material for a large pile but I do add to it almost everyday. I have a hard enough time getting enough straw tp keep my 1500 sq. foot garden mulched. Someday soon I'll have heat in the pile too.

It's something of a milestone to make a compost pile that heats up. Although it's not necessary for compost to heat up, it does speed up the process quite a lot. I bought a thermometer just to record the temperatures and watch the progression. Some of my compost piles got up to 160 degrees F (too hot).

I remember the first time I noticed a pile of old grass clippings heating up. That was the beginning of my compost odyssey.

Congratulations!

Congrats on your hot steaming piles :)

For as long as I've been composting, I think I have had a pile get hot only a few times. I layer browns and greens (usually horse manure and shavings, leaves, coffee grounds and veggie/paper material from the house) into a large bin, usually at least 4 x 4, I've used starters or not - whatever, it just doesn't happen very often for me but I don't "worry" about it anymore. I guess my stuff cooks externally from the boiling air here - ha! - and ends up as good compost eventually.

But I do remember that excitement when it did heat up (just wish I knew what I had done differently that time!)

Happy compost cookin'!

Lynn