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Update: Our community garden's compost pile caught fire last Tuesday and I actually salvaged most of it
I was at the Elm Street lot turning the pile around noon when I saw smoke, so I grabbed a shovel and spent 45 minutes separating the burnt bits from the good stuff, and now we've got about 60 pounds of usable compost for the fall planting.
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rosel833d ago
Heard about this happening to a garden over on the east side last month. They said the key is keeping it damp enough so it doesn't get too dry and hot. Glad you saved most of yours.
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Oh man, that's exactly what happened to us two years back! @rosel83 is right about keeping it damp, but I'll add that you gotta turn it way more often than you think. I used to do mine every three weeks, now I'm out there with a pitchfork every Saturday morning. The real trick is feeling the pile with your hand - if it's warm but not hot to the touch, you're golden. If steam's coming off when you dig in, you're flirting with another fire. I lost a whole batch once and had to start over, so good on you for catching it quick.
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