Compost bin gone cold

I have just start using a compost bin for the last three weeks. I started off with a full bin of shredded brown stuff, flowers, green leavers, and a little grass (about half a wheel barrow full). I have also been putting in veg & fruit pealings and a little shredded paper.

At first it heated up quite nicely. I turned it after a week (by emptying the bin and forking it back in) and it got very hot after two days (hot enough to be nearly uncomfortable to hold a metal rod)

I turned it again after another week (last Monday) and it has remained cold since then (25 deg c). The pile is moist but not wet.

Has anyone any idea why the temp has dropped, not enough nitrogen perhaps?

Thanks,
Bothy

try a search on google, you can get a compost starter, but i dont know what is in it / how it works

hi breezer,

I've already added garotta when i first turned the system. This is basically a power which contains enzymes and bacteria which should speed up the break down rate. The funny thing is that when i first turned it, the temp rose very quickly and peaked for a couple of days before dropping down. It's like the pile has already burned itself out. Could this happen after three weeks? - nearly all of the materials was shredded first.

just leave it alone, have never added a compost starter and have been making well rotted compost for years I now have a two bin system both made from palletts one contains the compost that actually gets used and when that is empty then the other one gets the only turning it ever gets and thats when the full bin is turned into the empty bin.I then start filling the first bin again.The whole cycle takes about 18months to a year to get good rotted stuff.
I never put in grass cuttings and try to p**s in it every now and again especially in the early stages (don't know if it really makes that much different put that was something my Grandad told me years ago and its never done any harm.

The grass clippings are as good a compost starter as any shop bought stuff.
A thick lot of grass will go mucky so you should use layers of grass with layers of other matter between them.
If you Pee in a bucket and add that to a new compost bin it has the same effect.
Its full of nitrogen which is needed for composting

Chicken manure pellets (Rooster) are also a good starter, just add a scoop or two. Also helps to add a scoop every month or so.
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