How to make Compost - The Simplest Easy Method To Compost Piles!
TLDRJoe from 'Grow a Building' shares a simple and effective guide to composting, emphasizing that compost is a gardener's best friend. He explains the importance of the right balance between green (nitrogen-rich) and brown (carbon-rich) materials, maintaining moisture akin to a wrung-out sponge, and ensuring the pile has enough air. Joe demonstrates starting a compost pile from scratch, advocating for a 50/50 green to brown ratio by volume, and the necessity of turning the pile frequently, especially when including grass clippings. He also addresses common composting pitfalls, such as avoiding glossy paper and animal products, and the benefits of having worms in the compost. The video script provides a step-by-step process, from the initial setup to the finished product, highlighting the importance of patience and regular maintenance for successful composting.
Takeaways
- 🌿 **Composting Benefits**: Compost is a gardener's best friend, providing slow-released nutrients that improve soil structure and drainage.
- 🍃 **Green Materials**: Use kitchen scraps, grass clippings, and coffee grounds as nitrogen-rich green materials for compost.
- 📰 **Brown Materials**: Include papery materials like newspaper, cardboard, and sawdust as carbon sources to balance the green materials.
- 🚫 **Avoid Certain Materials**: Do not compost glossy paper, meat, dairy, or anything not derived from plants to prevent unwanted smells and pests.
- 💧 **Moisture Matters**: Compost should be as moist as a wrung-out sponge, not soggy, to support the bacteria that break down the materials.
- 🔄 **Turning the Pile**: Regularly turn the compost pile to aerate it, prevent matting, and speed up the decomposition process.
- 🐛 **Worms in Compost**: If possible, keep compost on the ground to attract worms, which help break down organic matter.
- 🔥 **Heat is Good**: A hot compost pile indicates active decomposition; aim for temperatures around 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 📏 **Size of the Pile**: A larger pile will heat up faster and decompose more efficiently, so use as much green material as available.
- 📅 **Timeframe**: Composting is a process that takes time; don't rush it, and be patient as the materials break down.
- 📝 **Record Keeping**: Keep notes on what you add to the compost and how it changes over time to refine your composting technique.
Q & A
What is considered the gardener's best friend and why is it beneficial for plants?
-Compost is considered the gardener's best friend because it is full of slow-released nutrients that plants can take up when they need them. It can improve soil structure, drainage, and water retention, making it universally beneficial for all types of plants.
What are the four basic ingredients required for starting a compost pile?
-The four basic ingredients for starting a compost pile are green material (nitrogen source), brown material (carbon source), water (to keep it moist but not soggy), and air (to allow for aeration).
What are some examples of green materials that can be used in composting?
-Examples of green materials include kitchen scraps from plants, apple cores, banana peels, grass clippings, coffee grounds, and other green leafy yard waste.
What are some examples of brown materials that can be used in composting?
-Brown materials can include paper like newspaper, cardboard without paint, tape, or stickers, sawdust, and dried leaves.
What are some items that should never be composted?
-Items that should never be composted include anything glossy from the brown stuff, such as certain types of cardboard or newspaper inserts, and anything not plant-based like meats and cheeses.
Why is it recommended to keep the compost pile on the ground?
-Keeping the compost pile on the ground is beneficial because worms can find it and help break down the remaining organic matter, turning it into worm castings and speeding up the composting process.
What is the recommended ratio of green to brown material in a compost pile?
-The recommended ratio of green to brown material in a compost pile is 50:50 by volume.
Why is it important to turn the compost pile regularly?
-Turning the compost pile regularly is important to ensure aeration and to prevent the maturation of anaerobic bacteria, which can lead to a cold, sludgy compost that is slow to break down organic matter.
How can you jump-start the composting process with good bacteria?
-You can jump-start the composting process by adding a handful of compost from an old pile or soil from your yard or garden, which already contains the necessary bacteria to kickstart the decomposition.
What happens if the compost pile gets too hot and steams?
-If the compost pile gets too hot and steams, it is a good sign indicating that the nitrogen is breaking down and the bacteria are active. This heat is a result of the bacteria's metabolic processes and shows that the composting process is working effectively.
What should you do if animals disturb your compost pile?
-If animals disturb your compost pile, you can easily break up the disturbed material and continue to add to and maintain the pile. It's not a significant setback and can be easily remedied by turning and mixing the pile.
How long does it typically take for a compost pile to be ready for use?
-It typically takes about two months for a compost pile to be ready for use, depending on how actively it is managed, including the frequency of turning and the balance of green and brown materials.
Outlines
🌱 Introduction to Composting: The Ultimate Gardener's Tool
Joe from 'Grow a Building' introduces the concept of composting as a fundamental practice for gardeners. He emphasizes the benefits of compost, such as improving soil structure, providing slow-released nutrients, and being a universal addition to any plant. Joe discusses the simplicity of composting and plans to demonstrate the process from start to finish, including building a compost pile and explaining what materials to use and avoid.
🍃 The Basics of Composting: Ingredients and Initial Steps
The second paragraph delves into the essential components for composting, which include green materials (nitrogen source), brown materials, water, and air. Joe lists acceptable green materials like kitchen scraps, grass clippings, and coffee grounds, and brown materials like cardboard, newspaper, and sawdust. He also advises against using glossy paper products and non-plant-based food waste due to their slow decomposition rate and potential to attract pests. Joe shares his composting routine, which involves maintaining three piles in different stages of completion and turning them weekly.
🔥 Building and Maintaining the Compost Pile: Heat and Aeration
In this part, Joe demonstrates the process of building a compost pile, starting with a layering technique of alternating brown and green materials. He stresses the importance of mixing the layers to prevent separation and ensure proper decomposition. Joe also discusses the necessity of maintaining the right moisture level and achieving a balance between green and brown materials. He uses an infrared thermometer to show the heat generated by the composting process, indicating that the bacteria are effectively breaking down the materials. The video captures the pile's progress over several days, showing its heat and transformation.
📈 Monitoring and Adjusting the Compost Pile: Preventing Anaerobic Conditions
The final paragraph focuses on the importance of regularly turning the compost pile to maintain aerobic conditions, which are crucial for efficient decomposition. Joe shares his experience with composting grass clippings, emphasizing the need for daily mixing to prevent the formation of a sludgy, anaerobic state. He also discusses the impact of animal interference on his compost pile and how to manage such situations. Throughout the summary, Joe provides tips and lessons learned from his experience, such as keeping a compost pile simple, using plant-based materials, and leveraging the benefits of worms in the composting process.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Compost
💡Green Material
💡Brown Material
💡Carbon-to-Nitrogen Ratio (C:N Ratio)
💡Moisture
💡Aeration
💡Worms
💡Layering
💡Kitchen Scraps
💡Anaerobic Bacteria
💡Composting Pile
Highlights
Compost is a gardener's best friend, providing slow-released nutrients for a variety of plants.
Compost can improve soil structure, making clay soil more porous and sandy soil more water-retentive.
The speaker has simplified the composting process, avoiding unnecessary complexity.
Four basic ingredients are needed for composting: green material, brown material, water, and air.
Kitchen scraps, grass clippings, and coffee grounds are excellent sources of green material.
Brown material can include cardboard, newspaper, and sawdust, but glossy or painted cardboard should be avoided.
Meats and cheeses should not be composted as they take a long time to break down and can attract unwanted animals.
The speaker maintains three compost piles in a rotation: one for adding new material, one for finished compost, and one in progress.
Worms can help break down compost on the ground, even if the composting process isn't actively heating.
A new compost pile is started by layering brown and green materials, ensuring they are thoroughly mixed.
The compost pile should be as wet as a wrung-out sponge and maintain a 50/50 ratio of green to brown material by volume.
Adding compost from an old pile or soil from the yard can help jump-start the process with beneficial bacteria.
The compost pile should be turned regularly, especially when using grass clippings, to prevent matting and anaerobic conditions.
Despite a setback from animal interference, the compost pile can be easily restored and continues to break down effectively.
After about two months, the compost is ready to use, with most materials well broken down.
The importance of simplicity in composting is emphasized, with practical tips for maintaining the right balance of materials and moisture.
The video provides a comprehensive guide that can be referenced for composting, including troubleshooting and best practices.
Transcripts
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