Compost Gone cold!!!!!

[Cranford Steve]

I went to turn my compost heap today, and found it to be cold! Over the past few weeks it has been roasting. I have covered it with a good thick carpet, a damp proof membrane and also tarpaulin to keep the heat in. But today she was cold, any ideas why?

[taff]

it's autumn
the heat comes from the first flush of decomposition, turning it encourages it to re-heat, but at a certain point, you'll have exhausted the flush of organisms that generate the heat, the weather is also cooler, so without a big inlfux of nitrogen, it will cool and stay cool. It takes longer to make compost over winter.
it's normal, so don't worry......
I'm not entirely sure that made sense, I'm tired.....someone will be along to explain more sucinctly than me....

[Cranford Steve]

Thats cool Taff, it made good sense, an injection of nitrogen it is! Thanks

[Aberdeenplotter]

A handful or two of granular fertiliser should do the trick with a good mix up of the compost bin contents which will also aerate the mix - another important element of the process.

[habanerohead]

The best nitrogen source has got to be urine. I have a good source of coffee grounds, and when I mix about 50 lb of these with a bit of torn up newspaper and about 3L of "amber nectar", it's light the blue touch paper and stand clear!
Within about 2-3 days it's steaming when you open the hatch (it's a rolling composter by the way). With judicious additions of coffee grounds, more liquid gold and plenty of rolling it can be kept smokin' for about 2 or 3 weeks. When it starts to cool I transfer it to a holding bin where the worms and fungi do their thing.
It is possible to overdo the pee though - the guy who I work the allotment with got a bit over enthusiastic with it with the last batch and made it quite wet. I tried to re-kindle the fires with stuff to absorbe the excess moisture but it's just stayed cold and wet (and a bit rank), so today I emptied the revolver, put the contents out of the way so they can do their own thing, and started a new batch.
It'll be interesting to see what effect the winter cold will have on the process. I'm confident it will be business as usual, but we'll see.

[chris]

Well, urine and chicken poo kept my bins snow-free last year... and believe you me, up here in the 'valleys' it snowed heavy!!

I do turn mind often though.

[Two_Sheds]

I went to turn my compost heap today, and found it to be cold! ...any ideas why?

It's normal: the thermophiles have finished their job, and now the other microbes and things will move in to do the next stage for you. Turning the heap isn't necessary and quite possibly does more harm than good.

I'm ploughing my way through Humanure, it's absolutely fascinating, and very educational about the complicated thing that is composting. Even if you're not intending to compost your own poo, it's a very worthwhile read for any kind of composting

[VirginVegGrower]

Pee on it and water it! Find a source of hen poo - it's a magical miracle.