In message , Kay Easton
writes
In article , Amber Ormerod
writes


This is the problem. I don't have the physical strength to turn compost.

You don't need to.

Though it does help get a more even composting action. The top surface
left for a week otherwise ends up too dry and doesn't rot.

I have a wormery for food waste but sometimes I have too much for that or
lots of one thing like orange skins. I was thinking more of a dump it and it
will be compost kinda way of doing it. The info on composting like that is
very vague.

It works. My heaps are about 1m x 1m x 1m. I add stuff to the top as it
comes - stuff being veg waste, paper and carboard, grass mowings, weeds
and anything else which seems rottable (like old cotton or woollen
material). The only mixing I do is to try not to leave grass mowings
more than 4 inches deep - if its deeper than that, at the earliest
opportunity I bury something else in amongst them.

Hmmm... I break all the rules on this one for grass cuttings and add
about 2-3 cubic metres of grass clippings a week to mine. If I have
woody stuff I want rid off I layer it, but if not I pile it high and let
it go. Typically it reaches 70C internally after 3-4days and requires
one gentle turning to put the outer bits into the moist centre. Smells
slightly sweet stale like silage. Once hot it will destroy most woody
and semi-woody stems pretty effectively.

I think the issue it really when you add small amounts of grass at a
time - then it goes anaerobic, smelly, all horrible and slimy..

When I've finally used all the compost in one of the other heaps, I take
the unrotted stuff from the top of the newest heap and put it in the
base of the empty heap so as to start a new heap.

The top is never as good as the bulk - too dry. I do the same. It also
provides and innoculation of the right fungi and bacteria to start the
new heap off well.

It's probably slower this way, but the result is incredibly good
compared with what went on to the heap, and improves the soil a lot if
used as a mulch about 6 inches deep.

Indeed. The problem sometimes is finding places to put it!

Regards,
--
Martin Brown