If you can't take the heat...

I must be doing something right! I just shredded a bunch of compost-friendly papers from our recycling tub and took them out to layer into the compost pile I've got going in the back. Scooped off the top few inches, and it was SMOKIN'! (Or, more likely, steamin'!) Could DEFINITELY feel the heat radiating from it...so I must've attained critical mass with just the right mix of stuff - friends' grass clippings, composting manure from the horse farm, our own kitchen scraps and thinnings from growies, plus the occasional splash of water (plus it's raining on and off today).

While I KNOW there were a ton of worms in the last round of manure tubs, I haven't seen any whenever I scoop/turn/add-to the pile - hopefully they're in hiding down beneath, or working their way out through the lawn?

I saw on a tv show yesterday that you can even add dryer lint to the compost pile. Brett's skeptical about this, wondering about synthetics and fabric softeners and such. I'm going to do a little research first - I'm guessing the lady who said this wears nothing but hemp clothing and usings all Earth-friendly products...unlike the rest of us!

I gotta say, it's real fun making my own "dirt"! Time to get back to reading my Rodale Book of Composting and see what else I can throw in the pile! Cat fur maybe? If I ever get my act in gear, I'll make it over to Penny-from-work's sister-in-law just a short ways down the road when she's got a feedbag full of chicken manure and wood shavings ready for the trash men. I missed it last week...