Somethings just need to sit.
One of my favorite parts of practicing yoga is that the final pose is shavasana (dead mans or corpse pose). Humans and compost benefit from just lying there for a little while, letting all the parts balance out.
The compost life cycle goes through stages, where both microbes and invertebrates are feasting on the organic waste laid out for them. Once these organisms have used what they can, the microbes become inert or, as in the case of invertebrates, vacate the site to look for greener pastures.
When the active part of the compost life cycle is over, the subtle changes that occur over the next week or so are important, albeit less exciting to talk about. During the finishing time, just let the compost sit. That’s it. Often, at the end of the active stages, the awesome dirt is a little acidic. It’s not a big deal and some folks don’t even bother with the finishing stage. However, make sure that the compost is not producing heat and if there is time and space to just let it sit and balance out the pH naturally, the plants will appreciate you!
Check out this easy way to pH the compost.