In today’s episode I will go over 4 four things you need to know to comost like a pro.
VIDEO: How To Compost Like a Pro!
In today’s episode I will go over 4 four things you need to know to comost like a pro.
In today’s episode I will go over 4 four things you need to know to comost like a pro.
I wouldn't say your episodes are 'exciting'. Very interesting and educational but definately not 'exciting'.
"Bacteria in your compost…check it out…" brought in some Bill Nye vibes lol
Thanks so much Luke! I'm probably way overthinking this but quick question.. my compost pile is directly next to our garage that just had the roof replaced. Although no building materials got in it, a lot of saw dust from treated wood did make its way to the pile. I've been debating disposing of it and starting over or trying to maybe flush it out. Any advice? If I do dispose of it, can I transfer the worms in it to a new compost bin? Thanks so much! My husband and I purchased seeds last year and are looking forward to finally getting to plant them at our new home!
I use the drain pipe with holes in the centre of the pile to add air.
Question I keep rabbits as pets a flemish giant and we just rescued a silver fox rabbit. We use litter boxes for them since they are in the house 365. We use equine pine pellets from (TS) for their bedding. Would it work for brown material and the urine in it be good for the nitrogen?
Excellent. So helpful. Well done.
So wait what is anaerobic?
I am trying to finish one for spring. I live in CT – should I and/or do you cover your piles for the winter? I was thinking of putting a tarp on it.
Hey Luke, I was hoping your video would be about composting in cold weather since we're heading into winter now. It's surprising you still have such warm weather there, but what do you do when your weather goes down to freezing like 20's and 10's degrees? Currently I have my compost in two metal containers and they are at around 70-90 F degrees which means nothing is decomposing. I'm in a urban area I don't have chicken to help out and I don't use manure, I have my green and brown materials in 50/50 ratio, the materials aren't the the issue, but the weather is the issue. I'm thinking of covering the containers with blankets or something but I'm not sure even then the compost can heat up. If you can share how you compost in winter, that would be a plus. Thanks.
Wow, have you been working out?!
Fantastic video. Was that a shovel? I use a pitchfork to turn it rather than a shovel. Makes it SO much easier.
Mute for me as I compost everything I can get my hands on lol
I have been making compost for the last few years and have been adding fresh compost every year to my beds. I usually make it with grass, vegetable scraps, cuttings from the garden, cardboard and newsletter. My question is can I have been putting too much fresh compost on as the last two years my onions and beetroot have not grown very big.
Do u really think that manure has high nutrient ?? It has only 1% nitrogen and .5% phos and potash whereas it has around 30% carbon..
Human urine is much better fertilizer than any other fency fertilizers, seed cake like mustard cake, castor cake also great fertilizer..
I’ve gotten to the point that most of my beds are compost now. Took about 4 years. All my large potted plant pots I half fill with semi broken down compost each spring then fill with reconditioned soil to grow in. I’m at the point I just fill my compost and let it go for a few months at least. mostly because I’m tired of impatiently waiting for it to be ready. The watched pot syndrome. So now I’m putting my energy elsewhere. In fall is my big pileup of materials and those larger pots of soil to layer with. By spring I start all over again. In spring I think all told I may buy 6 or 8 bags of soil to have just in case. Sometimes I buy it just to mix in with the compost but probably don’t need it. Great explanation of the differences in material and how it breaks down for our specific needs. Very helpful. Thanks Luke
I don't any seeds that you can buy "retail" are GMO?
1 our biggest adjustments was increasing the size of the pile. We had small piles and they never got hot. We start piles that our at least 4×4×4. It's made a huge difference. 1 small tool that makes a huge difference is a manure or hay fork for turning pile. Takes way less time and is much better on my back !!
Great video again Luke. Like you , I like the hot compost method which I successfully proceeded to accomplish in spring and fall. Around my place without needing to go far-no more than 2 or 3 blocks away- I can get more dead leaves than one would know what to do with. With so many trees lining the sides of the streets I was able to prepare next spring’s hot compost pile. I will also venture to try
at least that’s the planto mulch up leaves and place in a black bag to do a winter compost. Will be my very first try at it so there’s a little bit of a‘’ here goes’ kind of thing that will be going on hoping it will work out well.
Excellent video. You have an amazing way of explaining things. Thanks
Thank you! Great info!
Third time I’ve asked this question. Why do you still live in a subdivision? It blows my mind you don’t move to at least a small farm. Frankly, living in a subdivision limits you YouTube growth potential. Imagine your channel with animals like chickens. If you are a chicken novice, that literally means 2-3 times more videos on chickens. Ur killing me, why, pot que, why?
Anaerobic bacteria and fungi will harm the plants. If you want to build a high fungi compost and not have to turn it, ever, then look into making a Johnson-Su bioreactor. If you are wanting to learn more about the microbiology, then search up videos with Dr. Elain Ingham. She is a life long soil biologist who explains very well how increasing good fungi in the soil will remove the need to add fertilizers and reduce the need for watering.
Steps to compost.
1. Accept that it takes time, is a function of what you have to put into it, and depends on the time of the year (rain fall and heat)
2. Learn what are greens (nitrogen) and browns
3. Make a pile (don't worry about the size, you can even do it in a can – just make sure it can get oxygen)
4. Wait — you can turn it from time to time to give more oxygen, but you don't have to and you can do it too much too!
5. Adjust – slow and no real smell, add more green; smells bad, add more brown; very dry, add water — should just be moist;
6. Be patient and you will have good compost — once you get going you will only need it to top off your beds once or twice a year anyways
Tip, if you are just starting and have a new pile, throw in handful of organic fert. The nitrogen will kick start it and many organic ferts have beneficial bacteria added that will aid.
Tip, if you already have compost, leave a little bit when you start your new pile — same reason as the last tip.
Lastly — just relax! Everyone I ever knew that had trouble with compost was because they made it too hard!
This was extremely helpful. Thank you.
I feel the same way about being outside for vitamin D anytime I can and I live in south-central Indiana. Every opportunity I have to be out in my gardens and compost piles and such ❤ gonna have several more days of nice Temps here , yay! Great video ty Luke . I don't worry about nitrogen when composting on the soil, worms and microbes will take care of it all
So WHAT do you do with all of your kitchen scraps? I was looking into composting as a way to utilize my kitchen scraps, but if they aren’t ideal, or you have too many do you throw them in the trash?
I compost and use leaves, old plants, coffee grounds, kitchen scraps and ground up egg shells. I bury the food scrapes, egg shells & coffee grounds in the dirt and about 2 weeks the scrapes are gone. My compost has lots and lots of earth worms. The leaves and old plants take a little longer to break down. I turn this pile over weekly and water. I keep them separated from the food scrapes side until it breaks down, then I add the leaves and old plants to the food scraps side. I break down my leaves really fine with a edger and break or cut up the old plants. My goal is to have my compost break down quicker so I can use it. Not sure if this is the correct way but it's my way. Doing it this way, does my compost have more nutrients or is it a good growing medium? Should I let the leaves break down with the food scraps or continue to keep them separate?