Fluff or turn a hot compost pile?

[tuinman]

After a few false starts I finally managed to get a well mixed compost pile going that has heated up to about 150ish at the core today (just put it all together Sunday afternoon) and has visibily dropped about 8-10" since it was put together.

I can't seem to find an answer - is there a difference to fluffing or turning the pile? I understand I'm supposed to aerate it, either with a turning tool or by punching holes with rebar every 3"-6" - but should I also be turning the entire pile into a new bin?

 

[tuinman]

As a quick update I went and jammed about 9 holes in there with a rebar and gave it a good wiggle to open them up - nice little gouts of steam are coming up out of all of them, for the most part. Appears to be about 120F on the outside edges and 150-155F nearer to the middle. Suppose I'll just keep letting it go until the temperature starts dropping.

 

[jaykush]

well you can just fluff it, but the point of turning is to get some of the outer uncomposted material to the center where it will get hot and compost.

 

[pearlemae]

I like to turn my comport pile. If it get to hot 160+ you may want to cool it down by adding some browns.

 

[greenmatter]

turn it ! imho it is not about getting oxygen to the middle of the pile it is about getting fresh fuel to it, the O is there if you turn the pile

 

[tuinman]

Thank you everyone, I realize what I was confusing now.

I figured I could just use the compost turning tool to fluff/remix everything - that whole idea was blown away first thing this morning when I went out there (before the first cup of coffee) and jammed the turner into the center of the pile - and realized there was no way in hell I was going to be able to get it back out. It's just sort of sticking out of the top now as a mute salute to not thinking things through.

 

[grapeman]

Turn it.

 

[SilverSurfer_OG]

Get some chooks (chickens) and let them to the work for you!

They will scratch through it all and you just have to pile it back up.

Just an idea.