Composting 7 min read 2026-03-30
Hot Composting in 21 Days
The Berkeley method turns kitchen waste into black-gold compost in 21 days. It needs 1 sq metre of space and 5 minutes of turning every other day.
Build the pile (Day 0)
Mix 1 part green (kitchen scraps, fresh leaves) to 3 parts brown (dry leaves, cardboard). Pile minimum 1 m x 1 m x 1 m or it won't heat.
Day 4 — first turn
Stick a thermometer in. You want 55-65 C. Turn the pile inside-out so cooler outer material goes to the centre.
Day 7, 10, 13, 16, 19 — keep turning
Every 3 days. Add water if dry (squeeze a handful — should feel like a wrung sponge).
Day 21 — harvest
Sieve through a 5 mm mesh. The fine stuff goes straight onto beds. Coarse leftovers become the start of pile #2.
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