Composting Pile

Liz,

In your video you mention harvesting compost in spring and/or fall. I've been composting for 2 years and I don't see how to harvest. I keep turning more and more kitchen scraps and leaves into the compost, so there's always big chunks throughout. Am I digging too deep when I 'turn' the compost. I'm trying to mix it all up by digging down to the bottom.

Also, I have what seems like a lot of worms and an even greater number of centipedes and potato bugs. I have never added any worms to my compost bin (wooden slat structure with no top). They just showed up. Maybe I don't have enough worms? I don't know.

I also want to keep adding scraps in winter. I'm in New York where temps are usually in the 20s and 30s. Should I try insulating or just let everything freeze and keep piling the scraps on top all winter and then mix them in in spring. Don't the worms hibernate in winter? (our frogs and goldfish do)


Many thanks!
Laura
Mattituck, NY

Answer from BigTex Worms
You did not say exactly, but it seems like you are talking about an outdoor compost pile. ALL my videos and articles are specific to worm composting bins. You do not "turn" a worm composting bin. The worms do the agitating. Outdoor piles are completely different than worm composting bins. The worms you attract in an outdoor pile are not usually red wiggler worms, they are usually nightcrawlers.
A compost pile usually takes 4-6 months to breakdown the materials whereas a worm bin takes half the time. But a worm bin is totally different.
If you have more questions about your compost PILE then I would suggest you go to gardenweb.com and find a forum there where you can ask questions.
Liz
BigTex Worms