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Dropped $80 on a compost thermometer and it already paid off
I always guessed at when my compost pile was hot enough until last month. Bought a $80 thermometer with a long probe from a local garden center. Turns out my pile was only hitting 100 degrees when I thought it was cooking at 140. Added some fresh greens and water and it hit 150 in three days. My compost broke down twice as fast after that. Has anyone else found a tool that made a big difference in their backyard projects?
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hugo_gonzalez6826d ago
Those kitchen stem thermometers are fine for reading temp but the probe's usually too short for a compost pile. The long probe is the real difference maker, lets you check the core temp without guessing.
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sage5226d ago
$80 on a thermometer though? Seems like a lot for something that just tells you how hot your pile is lol. I mean, sure, it sounds nice to have the exact number, but do you really need to hit 140 exactly? My pile has been doing fine for years just from eyeballing it and feeling the heat with my hand. I bet people got by for decades without fancy gadgets and their gardens turned out okay. Guess it depends on how serious you are about your dirt, but I'm good with my $5 stem thermometer from the kitchen.
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