Hello folks! Welcome to the tenth segment in our series on the Life of a Batch. In this segment, we’ll walk through the eighth turn of our batch. We’re getting close… maybe only one more turn after this one. We’ll see.
Previously:
We detailed turn number seven, and more specifically, the numbers, looking at the temperature progression of the compost so far.
Today is Thursday, April 30… 10 days since we last turned the batch, and 87 days since we started the batch. Let’s see how we’re doing.
You’ll notice, we’re looking pretty similar to the last time we opened the batch. Not much more noticeable shrinkage has occurred. The color is about the same. The only real difference at this point is the temperature range during this segment.
As for the temperatures… the day after the last turn, it dropped to 104°F (40°C), a 13°F (7°C) drop from the day of the turn. The compost batch didn’t reach an new peak until six days later, April 27, when it topped out again at 113°F (45°C), then only dropped a single degree to 112°F (44°C). It’s safe to say that we’re probably fully mesophilic at this point.
A closer look shows that the material is looking a bit more like finished compost. The original feedstocks are all but unrecognizable, and the color and texture are becoming much more uniform. There’s no more visible actinomycetes, as their work here is done. The torch has been passed to the next team of microbiology.
About halfway through the turn, you can really see that the material has become much more homogeneous in it’s appearance. We’re getting there!
As with each previous turn, the goal is to mix outside with inside, aerating the material, and adding water as we go. However, much less water is needed at this stage, as the material particle size is more uniform and the decomposition rate has significantly slowed from it’s earlier pace.
A close up shot in the new bay shows a much more consistent appearance, though still just a bit chunky.
And here we are, fully turned into the new bay. Another hit of moisture is added before we close it up again, To revisit in another ten days or so.
Next up:
Then ninth turn. We’re getting close now.