FYI- Alternate Method to Building a Big Massively Huge Caged Pile (Not for the OCD inclined.) Stake your T Posts. Fill in between posts within the intended diameter by running in your cart or wheel barrow & dumping. THEN cage with wire. Saves shoveling & lifting.
I have the same set up, leaves I picked up from somebody's curb, a three foot high wire fence cylinder. I put stinking grass clippings in, they smelled like urea, but it didn't heat up. I guess it needs a little more attention.
I found mine needed a little help staying moist. It did stop composting once the nights drooped below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, but it started back up in the spring and has composted down to about 16 inchs.
Urea is good to use but use your Urine for the Urea, it's natural Nitrogen, also there is more than enough Biology on the leaves themselves, leaves are broken down by fungi not bacteria, the bacteria are what make the pile hot because they are using the Nitrogen to break down the Carbon (leaves) so there is absolutely no need for synthetic fertilizers because nature has plenty of Biology to do the job and do it well, my suggestion is to never use any synthetic fertilizers, just compost and other Organic inputs to improve the soil Biology
@@yeelahowah7476 Freshly cut grass, coffee grounds is good with the right ratio, coffee grounds are high Nitrogen but depending on the size of the pile and how much carbon you have in the pile depends on how much greens to put it, typically I go by the 1 to 3 ratio of browns to greens to get a pile hot and active, if the pile seems cold then turn in some grass or vegetable scraps but plenty of it to get the average ratio of browns to greens
Add 10-20 earthworms to your compost and you'll get volunteers workers to chomp your leaves. They will multiply quickly and transform your leaves into soil in a fraction of the time.
I think as long as it’s 3’ cubed, you ought to get the heat generating. Looks good, so far. I tried using chicken wire as my hoop, but it was too flimsy. Also, I didn’t add any pelletized pee to mine. 😁
That's the process I use when building my compost. I slightly water each layer after sprinkling in a handlful of urea. One thing about adding urea though, is that the temperature is not maintained for a very long time. I believe that adding a few "greens" to the leaves will extend the high temperatures. I don't want to start another garden myth so take this advice with caution. I haven't tested this idea conclusively.
