On 10/11/2020 22:57, Stewart Robert Hinsley wrote:
Usually my compost heaps run cold, but I've currently got one running
hot. I've also got one built last autumn and winter which was a cold
heap, which has a lot of material (roots, grass leaves, even some moss)
that hasn't broken down. What is likely to happen if I mix some of this
in next time I turn over the hot heap.

I've no idea. The "science" of composting remains a mystery to me. My
composting is done in two adjoining wooden square containers, each of
120 x 120cm. The pile inside can get to 100 cm high - maybe even 120 -
before rain and time slowly allows it to sink. I fill it with grass
mowings, shredded leaves, herbaceous material, shredded woody stems,
occasionally fruit and veg peelings, and soil and commercial growing
compost from old pots.

It /always/ exists in one of two states, dry and cold or wet and cold,
depending on how much rain we've had. In the 8 years since I built it,
the contents have never been warm. I'm too lazy to turn it, so maybe
that's the reason. However, after 6 years one of the containers had
decent "earthy" material, which I've just finished using. I put it
through a sieve first, and anything on top of the sieve went into the
other container. That side is now completely full, so I'll start filling
up the other side again, starting with shredded leaves. The first side
should be ready by 2025...

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Jeff