My compost pile is not getting hot!

[jvls1942]

it looks to me like the bin is about 3 feet wide.

I would wet it down, turn it, wet it down turn it until it is wet all the way through.
then if you do not make a dimple in the middle of the top of it, at least level it off flat.
keep adding whatever you can find.
green vegetation is good.
and don't forget the coffee grounds.
it will happen..

 

[yellowbee0110]

When I start a new pile and want it to heat up and get cookin', I nicely ask my family to save their pee in gallon jugs for me for a day or so. They complain and say I'm basically a jerk, but they do it. Then I dump it in and wait 3-4 days before turning. Usually a new pile for me will consist of a bunch of leaves, garden green stuff, and some kitchen scraps all layered as best as I can. After the first post-pee turn, an every other day turn/add kitchen scraps will keep it nicely heated. But usually I fail at this so the last pile I made, I didn't even collect pee and just opted for cool compost. But then a bunch of soldier fly larva happened and it's pretty warm anyway. Yay to vermicompost!

 

[lazy gardener]

When I ask for the liquid gold to support my gardening efforts (most recently, it was to persuade a ground hog that he did not want to be digging under my garden fence) the males in the family are more than happy to oblige. Something about the primal urge to mark territory. That liquid gold is also awesome at getting a hay bale conditioned before planting in it.

BTW, a 1 qt yogurt container makes an awesome female urinal.

 

[jvls1942]

I worked with a guy who loved the outdoors.
He told us that when he got married his wife didn't know a fishing pole from a rifle.
but after ten years of marriage she could hit the hole in a beer can in 3 foot waves.
(not shooting)

 

[lazy gardener]

Um... I don't quite know how to respond to that????

 

[RUNuts]

Sounds like a happy marriage. My country girl turned into a city girl. We are still happy. She did try to take over the chickens, but decided that the manure work was mine?!? All or nothing!

 

[IamRainey]

I'm a little late to this thread but I've been composting for a couple decades now.

It looks to me like your pile isn't very deep yet. The heat will come when you've got a pile that's about a cubic yard.

I make my piles 2-3 times that size. Bigger is so much easier.

So, bottom line, keep adding to it, give it time. It will happen.