I’m a lazy composter, but homemade compost is still a critical ingredient in my organic garden. In 2021, I stayed more hands-off than usual, though, not turning the piles once in 7+ months. Here are the results (and hope if you’re a lazy composter, too).
Home Compost Simplified: https://journeywithjill.net/gardening/2020/11/17/simplifying-compost-faq-for-home-gardener/
Beginner’s Garden Podcast: https://journeywithjill.net/the-beginners-garden-podcast/
Thanks.
Lazy compost still needs some attention, yes your not turning every week etc.
If you have a mower you could chop it up before compost, more surface area.
If you add fresh chicken manure, that will heat as perhaps help with weed seeds
It’ looked dry, you could water layers as you put batches of materials in.
These may help your cold compost.
Most gardeners have lawn clippings, and those are great for balancing the browns and getting the whole to decay quicker. Also, you don't really have to turn the compost; you can mix it with a compost crank. It's easier and kind of fun.
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Thanks. Nice overview. I don't turn my compost that often but as I toss in vegetation I try layer if I can and I also just throw on a little dirt or compost which helps hold moisture and provides bacteria and micro organisms.I have used a 3 bin set up before but now I just use one bin, but a larger permanent wood frame type which gives me room to transfer side to side. I really don't have to turn much. I let one side build up for awhile and then gradually transfer to other side as I gradually add vegetation as the summer goes on. This system works very well for me and less time and energy is spent composting.
A side note on watermelon as your watermelon video was great. I have a couple servings of homegrown Carolina Rattlesnake watermelon in the refrigerator to finish off and it's almost November in central Iowa, zone 5. Best year ever for these partly because I learned a little more or perhaps I was lucky?
I have a couple of lazy compost bins. I add materials constantly and aerate with a compost tool but don’t turn. After 2 seasons I get great compost with little work
I am thrilled to see this video. I started composting this past spring, and I haven’t done anything but pike it. Can’t wait to go see how it worked!
i'm totally a lazy composter.
I did a huge lasagna layered compost with pine needles on bottom, then a bale of alfalfa, straw, local processed compost from the zoo and city plants, then compost activator, then 1000 worms, then straw, then wine cap mushroom innoculated sawdust to help everything decompose, then wood chips, then more mushroom, then wood chips, then straw, then carfboard, and I'll add some garden soil on top. In spring I'll break it down and spread it over the yard.
https://youtu.be/WC9IxPQL7DM
It does fine. I have several. Granted I do turn occasionally. And I do add a good amount of browns to the grass clippings.
I use last fall's leaves and this years grass clippings for most of my compost. I do 5 foot diameter fence rings and lasagna layer the grass clippings with leaves and partially finished compost. I'll unwrap the ring from my compost muffins and use the unfinished outside layer on the next pile. I then grind the pile core with an electric tiller and use it. I keep one separate pile for garden waste and fall perennial cut back and use more mature compost to layer with that type of fibrous material as it breaks it down faster. I find that segregating the fibrous stuff into just one pile to be easiest way to deal with it. That pile will be the last one opened up next year. Any wood yard waste is fire pit kindling. I quench my bonfires to make charcoal and throw that charcoal with the ash into the compost mix as well. The grass clippings/leaf mix I get off the lawn in early fall is perfect as is for covering my kitchen garden. I'm going to collect and pile more leaves this fall as I ran out of carbon early this year and was forced to use mature compost to layer with my grass clippings. I'll have 4 muffins of about 1.5 – 2 cubic yards each unwrapped and finishing over winter and I'll use at least 6 rings to collect this fall's leaves. The electric tiller and a manure fork work great for working my piles and like you I don't sift finished compost or cover piles anymore. An organized lazy compost is what I would call my operation. My composting gets lazier with a better finished compost product year on year. Funny story, I bought a matched pair of nice used compost tumblers off of Craigslist some years back and It only took one year for me to sell them and move on to the pile it up and let it rot method. One other tip I'd add is capping your built and settled piles with a layer of finished compost makes an uncovered pile heat up and finish up faster.
In gardening and in life you have to choose your battles
Good to see. I havent turned my compost since the lockdown started. I actually had spare I used in 2020 and 2021 . I pray to find something nice as yours when I finally turn
Now that I don’t have pigs I need to start a compost pile. Thanks for the information. Have a super day. Lisa #moneypithomestead
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What cover crop are you using?
Last fall I got a Craigslist 8 hp mulcher/chipper and it's fast to mulch lots of leaves and mixed up with compose from my garden have 3/4 cubic yard and plan to run it all again as soon as weather permits by mid April hopefully it'll be great for tomatoes and peppers and if I add manure even better.
My mulcher on Craigslist was almost a give away, only need a ($15) carburetor and sharpening blades .,8 hp can be a investment.
Thanks I've just subscribed and liked, Enjoy your video and I'm also learning to be a better Stewart
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