Real World GardenerHow to Create a Hot Compost on The Good Earth

THE GOOD EARTH <p>Hot Compost</p> <p> </p> <p>How many of you out there still do not have a composting system of some kind?</p> <p>There’s no excuse, even if you only have a small balcony, everyone should be composting their kitchen scraps instead of it going to landfill.</p> <ul><li>You just need some space for your compost.</li> <li>you could have compost bays, compost bins, or any structure that can hold up to 1 cubic metre of compost.</li> </ul> <a href='https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dMARcagz_f0/Xxu_zba_6wI/AAAAAAAAigc/rHU1en1cjz0aVYdywMHMBalRpWPyeYUYgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Compost%2Bbins%2BMargaret%2BMossakowska.jpg'></a> Compost bins at Margaret's House: Photo by Margaret Mossakowska <p> </p> <p>There’s so many systems out there to accommodate all kinds of limitations that you might have.</p> <p>You can even make a compost heap without building or buying anything.</p> <p>I'm talking with Margaret Mossakowska from www.mosshouse.com.au</p> <p>Let’s find what to do .</p> <p> </p> <p>Vermin: put Rapid mesh under you bins if you have rodents invading your compost.</p> <p>Alternatively, put food scraps into a worm farm, and use you compost bins just for green waste.</p> <p>Worm farm that is smelly:</p> <ul><li>Too many food scraps will make the worm farm smelly and anaerobic. Mainly nitrogen rich.</li> </ul> <p>The way to fix it is to add more carbon rich material such as shredded newspaper, coffee chaff or straw.</p> <p>note: coffee chaff is free by-product of coffee roasting, that is husks of coffee beans. You just need to ask.</p> <p>Compost Bins/Bays</p> <p class="separator"><a href='https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-07NQ_w61VhM/XxvGTqR5cVI/AAAAAAAAigo/46mhsshbSzI0wIuvAOCqlQEzLSKviT6YACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/compost%2Bbay.jpg'></a></p> <ul><li>To make a hot compost you need to assemble at least 1 cubic metre of material in one go.</li> <li>Wait for it to heat up to 55-60 C, usually after 2-3 days, then you can turn it.</li> <li>Use a compost thermometer so the compost doesn't get over 6