Too small? I'm a backyard composter, previously had too many greens in my tumbler, mostly food waste. Started making a pile with hopes it'd heat up. Added a ton more Browns. I'm afraid it's too small and once it does heat up, I won't be able to maintain it hot without large batches of greens. Thoughts?
Edit: thanks for the warnings, I will move it away from the fence.
by Ok-Asparagus-6458
10 Comments
Yep too small. I use chicken wire hoops to contain mine. They have to be at least over five feet across to heat with that much brown. Add half again green like lawn clippings and it will heat.
I think you will regret having it against the fence (they will rot). & it needs to be wet to get hot. Good luck.
Hope you’re budgeting for a new fence cause that’s going to cause it to rot much faster.
That looks like a fence it is up against? It will stain and potentially rot that wood (wood is organic too) depending on hows its treated, or potentially leach treatment chemicals into your compost.
That said, for on the ground composting, there is a reason folks go with 3x3x3, its a conveninant size, and it can maintain thermal mass.
But the most importan thing for heat is proper browns to green rations. My tumbers is at 140F right now, been holding there for several days, all about making sure enough carbon in with all your nitrogen.
R. Kelly
I see all the warnings about the fence and they’re right but it’s a convenient location, maybe pick up two pallets, staple landscaping fabric to them and screw them to the fence corner to add airflow and stop moisture
Did you pee on it?
You need 1 cubic meter of material minimum to get it going
Have you tried peeing on it?
People are always saying pee on it on here.