[Kleftiwallah]

Good afternoon composters,
well our compost heap is full, we don't turn it (too large & too strenuous).  If anyone out there has the same philosophy do you 'close off' your heap with anything, 
ie, layer of soil, plastic bag or cardboard or polystirene sheeting ?

Cheers,  Tony.

[AndyRVTR]

I pop some back plastic sheeting on top of mine with a few bricks to hold it in place!

[Kleftiwallah]

Hello AndyRVTR,
my compost is plastic with a lid.  I was thinking about maintaining a decent temperature.

Cheers,  Tony.

[AndyRVTR]

Tony, I would have thought if it's got a plastic lid and it's full, it should hold the heat in anyway?

[New shoot]

I have compost bins with no lids, but I use black plastic and bricks like Andy does.

At home I have a Hot Bin and it is entirely polystyrene.  That gets really warm - if I open it at the moment there is a visible cloud of steam.  That is a different type of composting as you are getting anaerobic bacteria to work on the contents and it’s a much faster process.  A conventional heap does need some air or you will end up with a stinky mess.  The plastic and bricks seems to work without pushing things too far.

[Subversive_plot]

Mine  has plastic trellis material for the sides (open), open top, bottom open to the soil and earthworms.  I ill flip it when it no longer seems to be able to take more. Then, I will start the pile anew in a different location.

So, my compost never closes off. It's open twenty-four seven, three sixty five.