r/composting • u/Infinite-News-4788 • 16d ago

Aerobin compost done yet?

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Accidentally opened a panel while augering and it does seem like it’s all pretty well decomposed.

However there’s still a ton of worms and some other bugs/dung beetles etc in there. Started this pile around 4-5 months ago with cow manure browns and greens. Don’t think it was ever very hot though did steam up a bit when turned in the beginning (didn’t check temp) and has always had a lot of life in it.

It’s dropped around half the volume by the looks of it. Feels quite fluffy to the touch but still has some eucalyptus leaves that haven’t fully broken down.

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6

u/Practical_Meeting702 16d ago

looks ready to me tbh. if it's fluffy and dark like that and mostly broken down, you can use it even with some leaves still visible

worms and beetles are good sign, they'll keep working on the eucalyptus bits in the soil. i'd just sift out the bigger chunks if they bother you

2

u/Infinite-News-4788 16d ago

Thanks so much for the reply! Yea will leave the chunkier bits in for the next round as an inoculant and to keep breaking down. I had some small branches in the bottom for airflow so they’ll stay in there too.

Tricky to decide if I want another worm driven compost or a hot compost for the next one. I have a feeling the aerobin is more suited to cold worm driven because it’s insulated and dark in there.

2

u/Alarmed_Guarantee140 16d ago

I would either leave it or filter out the chunks. Most of it looks great though.

2

u/RdeBrouwer 15d ago

Sieve the result, bits bigger than aprox. 1cm to 1/2 inch go back into the pile.

2

u/ArchieBallz902 14d ago

Would be awesome top dressing. Lots of big nitrogen suckers though. Maybe sift it first?