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Subject: Re: composting
From: cavm@aol.com (CAVM)
Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com
Date: Tue, 03 Aug 99 08:15:49
Message-ID: <MOD$990803.3014@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$990802.21800@rec.gardens.ecosystems>



The usual reason for a compost pile to combust is that it is too tall. A pile
over 8 feet tall can form a chimney that fucuses the heat of the pile in a
draft and starts to burn.

The only remedy for this, once it starts to burn, is to pull down the pile. I
have friends who have pushed the pile into a lake and it burned for awhile
longer. Of course, this only is a concern in commercial applications since a
home pile will not reach a height of 8 feet normally

Otherwise not watering only means that the pile goes dormant, usually.

Cornelius A. Van Milligen
Kentucky Enrichment Inc