Composting 101 -- Making Compost in Composting Bins and Compost Piles

[Gaho2Many]

Everything compost...I use large trash cans with holes drilled in them and I use them year round. I don't mix or stir...I just throw in any and all scraps....grass clippings in the summer and leaves in the fall. It all composts....following year I use it in the garden.

[alan30189]

I recently read on the Organic Gardening website, that the layered process is no longer recommended. They say that is is better to thoroughly mix all the ingredients and moisten. Kind of like a tossed salad.

[DimplesDeep1]

can this be done in the winter months when its cold and snowing outside?

Thanks for sharing

[groworganic]

@DimplesDeep1 Yes, composting can certainly be done in the winter months. Just cover your pile with a tarp or a compost cover because if the pile gets soggy the decomposition will stop. It should be moist like a damp sponge.

[erfernandes1]

Thanks for the video! I too have the Rodale Book of Composting I picked up from a local natural garden and nursery. It was a great help for me getting started and your videos provides all the information needed for basics. Good luck on your composting and natural farming and keep up the good work!

[organicgardener66]

vwery good video it shows all about waht u need and ya i hope 5that hellllllllllllllllllpsss

[chest002]

At the risk of sounding totally ignorant, how does one store the finished product? After the compost proceedure is finished should it be mixed with peatmoss before applying to garden surface? What amount should be applied to plant life? How much is too much? I let my compost sit for a year and was surprised to see that it was loaded with earth worms. Did not have an imediate use for it so I need to store it for later.

[groworganic]

@chest002 Good question! There is no need to mix it with peat moss. Move the compost into your garden, where it will carry along microorganisms that will start their life process in a new section of your garden, and your soil will be improved. You can spread compost in a 3" layer around your ornamental plants, keeping it 3 " away from the stem of the plant. For a vegetable garden, you can lightly fork in a 3" layer of compost before you plant seeds or set our seedlings.

[groworganic]

@chest002 Good question! There is no need to mix it with peat moss. Move the compost into your garden, where it will carry along microorganisms that will start their life process in a new section of your garden, and your soil will be improved. You can spread compost in a 3" layer around your ornamental plants, keeping it 3 " away from the stem of the plant. For a vegetable garden, you can lightly fork in a 3" layer of compost before you plant seeds or set our seedlings.

[groworganic]

@groworganic If, after the suggested uses in the other section of the answer, you still have compost left, you can leave it in its own pile on the ground, or in a bin similar to the one you used to create the compost.

[apaulanarius]

@groworganic Thanks for the video. I have been using the same compost bin and aeration tool for a couple years. I try to force the tool all the way to the bottom(with a turning movement) which when pulled back up really bring air into the system. It really speeds up the process. I can turn a full bin around in 3 to 4 weeks doing that plus I always save some of the finished compost to mix into the next batch to give it bump in bio activity.

[scotyp1968]

So after watching all these videos...I saw a bunch about rotating drums and boxes....so ill conclude that if ur in a hurry for compost.. aerate...if not...don't. I was planning on just piling it up till next spring and till it into my pre-plant prep... is that ok or what benefit is there in spreading it around ur established plants I currently have??

[groworganic]

@scotyp1968 All compost piles need oxygen, water, nitrogen, and carbon to work. So keep aerating. Fine to pile it up, but do use an aerator or fork once a week. For a fast pile, assemble all your ingredients and make the pile at once, then aerate weekly. Should be ready in 3 mos. Take the finished compost or "humus", spread that around your favorite plants and trees, or spread it on a veg bed, then cover all those with mulch. If you do that in fall it will work its wonders over winter!

[scotyp1968]

That's a great informative video...I dare say the best one out there!!

[groworganic]

@scotyp1968 Thanks very much! We're glad you enjoyed it!



[TheSkoalboy09]

so i have a ? i just made my own compostor and i have air holes in it is it beder to have air holes or not i have grass clippings and leaves in it along with som old food skins and stuff like that will this work any thing you can tell me would be helpful ive had gardens for years but im new to the compost

[groworganic]

@TheSkoalboy09 You're going to love composting and what the finished compost does for your soil. We have more compost info in the blog post links in our video description. Did you make your composter out of a covered, plastic garbage can? If so, drill holes 4-6 inches apart all over, with several in the bottom. Layer 2-3 inches of straw, sawdust or wood chips in the bottom, then follow the green/brown/watering method of adding material. Roll the can every day if possible. More questions?

[greenrer]

The video was great and explained composting very clearly. I was a bit surprised that green vegetation was not mentioned with the greens. This is a huge part of composting, using green leaves, grass clippings, flowers and shrubs, and is more accessible to most gardeners than manure. Having said that, I always look forward to these videos. They are a great addition, and I hope you keep doing them. Very helpful! Thanks!

[groworganic]

@greenrer Yes, we agree! The "green" ingredients in composting can include trimmings from shrubs and perennials. We're in the Sierra Nevada foothills and we just didn't have those in the garden at the time we were shooting the video. Not mowing lawns yet either. If the grass clippings are short we like to leave those on the lawn. We put them in the compost if they are long and might inhibit air circulation to the turf grass. Thanks for your kind words about our video series!

[ironcloudz52]

read the "Humanure Handbook" for how to safely compost human ure.

[groworganic]

@ironcloudz52 Thanks for the tip!

[highoctaneman2]

Grow Organic for Life!

[groworganic]

@highoctaneman2 Yeah!