Acheiving the correct moisture content is an important factor in keeping a compost pile working efficiently.
A moisture content of between 50-60% is desirable in an active compost pile but how many of us know how to measure moisture? Sure, there are highly technical and complicated ways to calculate moisture content but we are not interested in anything so technical and complicated.
Here is a simple, time-tested way to judge the moisture content in your compost. First, take a handful of compost from the center of your pile and squeeze it in your hand:
For those who feel the need for a slightly more technical method: