drilled piles
Saturday, December 12th, 2009
Should I cover my entire compost container with black plastic, or just the top of the container?
I’m using an old plastic garbage can as a compost pile container. I drilled 24 holes on the side of the garbage can. The container is located on spot in my yard that gets full sun. I’ve been using a black plastic garbage bag to cover the top of the garbage can. But…the compost pile doesn’t seem to be heating up much. It’s got nitrogen and carbon materials. I turn the pile just about every day. I’ve even added some beer and urine. But there doesn’t seem to be much heat in the pile. Would it help if I cover the entire garbage can with the black plastic bag? Would that help to retain heat in the compost pile? Or should just the top of the garbage can be covered with the plastic?
I was thinking of covering the whole garbage can with the plastic in the daytime. And then as the sun starts to go down, I can remove the plastic and place it just on the top of the garbage can. And then repeating the same process every day.
Not sure but I think maybe the problem is that your garbage can is pretty small for a compost container. Rule of thumb is that your compost should be a 3 to 5 foot cube. Also, with stirring every day you may not be giving it time to start the heating process.
I don’t cover my compost even in winter. Compost needs air to break down aerobically.
Soil Solutions Driven Pipe Piles
