Page 17 - Organic Gardening 3 Part Series

7. Maintain the proper temperature. Using a compost thermometer to

monitor your pile is a good idea because if the compost gets above 160F,
the microorganisms which you depend on for decomposition will die off.
Letting the pile sit for a few days without turning it, will lower the
temperature. If the temperature dips below 120F, then turn the pile which
will cause it to heat up.

Your compost pile
should be ready to
use in 2 to 6 weeks.

If you are willing to
wait a few months for
your finished
compost, then you

can make a cold
compost pile. It's
much easier because
you don't need to
worry about maintaining the right balance of high-nitrogen to high-carbon
materials. You don't even have to turn it. This process takes anywhere from 6 to 9

months.

How to Use Compost

Compost is very versatile, it's a great medium for starting vegetable plants
indoors and for fertilizing your garden outdoors. It can also be made into a liquid
fertilizer suitable for seedlings, as well as your outdoor mature plants.

In order to use your compost as a potting medium, shake the finished compost
through a 12mm wire to remove large particles. The compost can then be sued or
mixed with other potting ingredients such as perlite or vermiculite.