Every couple of weeks during the summer, once a month over the winter. Used to do it weekly, but decided I should probably let it heat up more between turns.
I do it by getting a fork and properly turning and mixing it. Very physically demanding!
I only really have the one 800 litre bin though. I think the let it sit strategy works better when you have 2 or more, just layer well and let nature do the mixing!
I'm usually really bad about turning it, perhaps once a season. I've been doing it more monthly lately though, my piles are definitely running warmer now.
I let mine sit and it just compacted and didn't really do much. Then I kept adding to it and made it worse. Rinse, repeat. Finally got a tiller and tilled it after 3 years and that made a world of difference.
I’ve been using that for the subpod along with my basic compost bin I picked up from the city. I aerate almost daily as I add fresh kitchen waste. Dump in the new stuff, dig deep and pull up from the bottom, just enough to fully cover the new bits.
Based on the answers here, am I doing too much? My compost is good and hot, seems healthy!
Vermicomposting is cool too! I dont think you can really overaerate your compost. At the end of the day whether you aerate every day or once a year its gonna rot. Really just depends on what timeframe youre interested in and what you want to get out of it.
I live in Phoenix and just started to water and turn my compost daily during the summer. It looks a heck of a lot better. However, I always regard my "summer" compost to be nothing more than topsoil by the end of the season. At least it's good for something.
Twice a year I’d say. I have a series of piles maturing and this allows them to age for a full year+ before I use them. Really cuts down on the effort. Turning is for rapid results.