[Growster...]

We picked up about 20 bags of fresh stable manure this week, and layered it in a new enclosed compost heap - about 4'6" x 3'6"., which is made from old insulating roofing panels.

Mrs Growster suggested that we cover the lot with plastic bags, and we also placed more panels on top, and weighted the lot down with a few bricks.

The next day, we noticed that the heap had already slumped by a few inches, but on lifting one corner of the covering, the heat was absolutely incredible - almost too hot to touch, and sending steam in all directions! It smells gorgeous too!

Any bright ideas about how to use all this heat, and whether it'll compost quicker than uncovered stuff?

[Zippy]

If you are not planning to use the manure until end of harvesting, plant a pumpkin in the middle of the neat heap and you will have an excellent crop from it.

[fatcat1955]

There's a well known racing stable in Newmarket that sweeps all the horse manure into a deep (20ft) pit which is lined with water pipes. The heat generated runs the heating system in the stables. There's re-cycling for you.

[katiekate]

Put the kettle on?

[foxi loxi]

Baked potatoes mmmmmm   

[Kleftiwallah]

Book your next load for early spring and construct a 'hot bed' for really early crops.   Cheers,    Tony.

[Growster...]

Thanks for eveyone's responses...

The heap has slumped a few more inches, and is still hot, but not boiling as much as it was a few days ago...

A chum on the next plot is trying to persuade me to grow mushrooms there, but I really don't have the time, or the inclination, or the spawn for that matter...

[GrannieAnnie]

There's a well known racing stable in Newmarket that sweeps all the horse manure into a deep (20ft) pit which is lined with water pipes. The heat generated runs the heating system in the stables. There's re-cycling for you.

Would that work with chicken poo?   

[Quetzal]

If I recall correctly, the Pineapple Pits at Helligan were driven by heat from manure.