non thermal vs. thermal compost

So..idk if this will even warrant an answer or what..but iv been wondering about this...would you get anymore benefits from a pile that has just been mixed with soil and oh..let's just say about everything you could imagine..and add a pile of wigglers to it and let them and nature break down the pile...while turning of course....I'm not sure but wouldn't thermal compost kill the worms...I think..I'm not sure though..doesn't thermal help to destroy certain bacteria..one would think it would multiply w heat but just tell me I'm wrong if so...and I should also add iin the non thermal pile ..if this is a thing..let's just say we wouldn't add anything that NEEDS a thermal pile to be broken down....I'm sure the best way would to be to do a thermal THEN add the worms to get the best benefits..but I'm purely talking about comparing one to the other...I'm just being curious..any input would be greatly appreciated..thanks again

GoRealUhGro said:

So..idk if this will even warrant an answer or what..but iv been wondering about this...would you get anymore benefits from a pile that has just been mixed with soil and oh..let's just say about everything you could imagine..and add a pile of wigglers to it and let them and nature break down the pile...while turning of course....I'm not sure but wouldn't thermal compost kill the worms...I think..I'm not sure though..doesn't thermal help to destroy certain bacteria..one would think it would multiply w heat but just tell me I'm wrong if so...and I should also add iin the non thermal pile ..if this is a thing..let's just say we wouldn't add anything that NEEDS a thermal pile to be broken down....I'm sure the best way would to be to do a thermal THEN add the worms to get the best benefits..but I'm purely talking about comparing one to the other...I'm just being curious..any input would be greatly appreciated..thanks again

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the worms would leave the pile before they died. but a proper thermal pile should stay around 160 deg F for almost 2 weeks (while turning of course). thermal does destroy certain bacteria and more importantly seeds if you are working with seedy materials. reproduction will be limited by available oxygen which is where the good and bad bacteria come into play. if you don't provide enough O2 (turning), then you will propagate bad anaerobic bacteria, but if you provide enough O2 (by turning) you will promote a good environment for aerobic bacteria which is what you want. if you don't need to make a thermal pile, then a worm bin is your best friend, or just an outside pile with a tarp over it and let the insects and native worms to break stuff down. thermal can be faster if done right, but doing right takes time and attention. These days I'm a non-thermal pile guy, cause i don't have the time to invest into maintaining the proper conditions for a good thermal pile. I may try one out again this summer when I'm home to babysit it lol.

OK ... thanks for that..I was just wondering if any main benefits came from one that the other was lacking in... besides thermal killing seeds and whatnot

GoRealUhGro said:

OK ... thanks for that..I was just wondering if any main benefits came from one that the other was lacking in... besides thermal killing seeds and whatnot

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you'll retain more of the nutrition from cold composting, because as much as one tries to protect a thermal pile, there will be nutrients gassing off as a byproduct of thermal organisms. but thermal is faster than cold... so i guess it just depends on your needs!

That's what I thought..I kinda figured cold would retain more nutes but I want exactly sure if the heat would make the nutes a gas like u say ..but ty