The compost pile I built from successive layers of grass clippings, wood chip and horse manure less than 48 hours ago is cooking nicely.

Reply to The compost pile I built from successive layers of grass clippings, wood chip and horse manure less than 48 hours ago is cooking nicely. on Tue, 05 May 2026 17:59:40 GMT

broadfork@mastodon.green — Tue, 05 May 2026 17:59:40 GMT

The hot compost pile was at 66°C/151F today so it’s had three days over 65°C. Two days at that temperature is sufficient to kill weed seeds and pathogens.

10 litres of rainwater and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) diluted 1:1000 was added to the pile.

The pile had its first turn, outside to in.

Within an hour of turning it had heated up from 53°C/137F to 59°C/138F.

The pile should remain above 55°C/131F for the next three days when it will be turned again. #Compost #Composting #SolarPunkSunday

Reply to The compost pile I built from successive layers of grass clippings, wood chip and horse manure less than 48 hours ago is cooking nicely. on Mon, 04 May 2026 18:51:51 GMT

broadfork@mastodon.green — Mon, 04 May 2026 18:51:51 GMT

@Pollinators The grass was well watered with sprinklers before they cut it so it was already heating up when I was building the pile.

I was going to dry some of it out for mulch but the better option was to put it all in for making hot compost instead.

The guess work was not adding any more water to the pile and hoping enough rain fell that evening.

I’ll turn the pile tomorrow. It’ll have had over 2 days at 65°C/149F plus, so just need to turn it from inside to out and heat it up again.

Reply to The compost pile I built from successive layers of grass clippings, wood chip and horse manure less than 48 hours ago is cooking nicely. on Mon, 04 May 2026 18:13:59 GMT

pollinators@epicure.social — Mon, 04 May 2026 18:13:59 GMT

@Broadfork The blend got to the hot range right quickly. #compost.