On 23/10/2018 15:18, Tim Watts wrote:
On 23/10/18 13:03, Chris Hogg wrote:


I'd churn it somehow, but whether you can do that from the top I don't
know. Why not just tip it all out and then fork it back in in a random
fashion. That should stir it enough to mix it and get air into it.
Adding more shredded paper or similarÂ* is probably a good idea as
well.

+1

Although I am lazy. I just throw mine into the neighbouring bin.
Disturbing it to let more air in is important as is just the right
amount of moisture. This year has been a bit dry.

Smaller heaps seem to benefit from Garotta (other brands available).

Shredded paper (enough of) makes a huge difference in my hotbin between
failure and 70C composting.

I'm not entirely convinced that the ratio of brown to green material
really matters that much so long as you add enough of it in a single go
for it to get properly hot internally. I add about 1m^3 at a time and
except right at the start of the season it goes hot within 3 days. Once
or twice I have had it smouldering internally with smoke. Smells of
short chain fatty acids when it is at if hottest.

Chippings work and I have observed dried crinkly leaves have done some
good in lieu of paper when I ran out.

So does cardboard stuffed through the chipper (mine can). Good way to
lose a few Amazon boxes.

It's possible the chemical composition of paper is advantageous over the
other options with regard to it becoming part of the breakdown process
and supplying carbon to the reactions, as opposed to merely keeping the
pile ventilated - I'm not 100% sure.

I think the main thing is to allow enough air in and not squash it down.
If it goes anaerobic then foul smelling green slime is the result.

I can see that being an issue with chippings, but leaves???

Leaves tend to have a lot of tannins in which inhibit some of the fungi.
I make my own leaf mould - using the green recycling bin. One bug green
bin produces enough proto leaf mould to fit in a small classic black
bin. It takes two to three years to produce good quality leaf mould.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown