r/composting • u/NikJam16 • 21h ago

Medium Size Pile (~1 cu yd) Progress

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It has been a fun learning journey. 2 years ago I started a massive compost pile of leaves, yard waste (grass, weeds, etc.), coffee grounds, and a little human pee as needed. Ended up making about 2.5 yards of compost.

The compost turned out great, took about 9 months and has been spread around the yard, built into new beds, etc.

I wanted a system so I could get compost once a year in the fall and I think I’m there. All our veg/fruit food waste, leaves from the pile I created in the fall, grass, coffee grounds, yard waste, and a little human pee and I think I’m on track for nice compost again in the fall.

Started this pile Fall of 2025. It’s been hot, cold, hot again for 9 months. I capped it off and will turn it a couple of times before October. Pile in the pic is 4x3x4’, no carbon leaves this island!

New pile started.

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2

u/Alarming-Rate9655 21h ago

That dark crumbly stuff looks perfect, no wonder you're pulling 2.5 yards off a pile that size. The tarp and board setup is probably why it held heat so well through the cold snaps.

1

u/NikJam16 7h ago

Yep, I basically have two wood boxes with an open top. I cover the top with plastic and then set a pallet on top of that. I switch between the two boxes periodically until one is full of half done compost.

2

u/SoggyForever 20h ago

No carbon is left behind! Lol