I do the same thing with the same wire, I make my pile at least four feet across, and I wrap plastic around it to hold water in....The piles will get 130 or degrees hot.
Thanks for this!! I keep putting off composting, exactly for the reasons you mentioned, but also because I could never figure out how I was going to properly mix it up when it is in a bin - once it starts decomposing, it gets heavy! Anyway, this a perfect solution - man, you are the king of common sense!! Cheers
i mowed my lawn a couple of days ago and placed the clippings in wire mesh container and nothing has happened its not warm or hot it's just there D: any help
@bulletfingrz Probably wasn't necessary to add water. It may be too wet. Possibly spread it out, allow it to dry a bit and then repile it. It'll heat up for certain.
@lalokingman They will break down fine. Pine needles are acidic and will make the soil acidic. BUT, they lose their acidity after being composted so are perfectly safe to compost and use anywhere. Go for it. :)
Hey that is a good vibe you are giving off. Nice one. The only thing I would say is that you are going to end up with a soggy mess. When it is finished. I have done many experiments with this. Because grass can only have a certain % of carbon. Wether it is dry or not does not matter. You also have a lot of fungi in it, in the places it dried out, that's why you added the water. But in the end it will be a mess. Also you do need to add real carbon for your plants. Hope you dont mind me saying.
@workwithnature I don't mind you mentioning what you think at all. I really do appreciate it. I've never had the problem you mentioned. The soggy mess is caused by not turning the pile often. I turn the pile very often to promote the aerobic bacteria. The end result was amazing dark nitrogen rich compost. :)
@Praxxus55712 Hey that's great. Good you are up for a discussion. So you turn it a lot. Interesting. I found when I added it as a mulch it works fine. It is just when it is all piled up that heat usually turns it into a mushy mess. So you are cooling it down each time you mix it. Great videos by the way. gardening on youtube is fun ;)
Would you please share with us, how did you manage to make the wire stand up all these time without nailing it down? Also, I don't have lawn, can I do the same thing with fruits and vegtables left overs?
@ellie3637 I formed it into a cylinder, then connected the two ends with scrap wire by twisting them together. Very basic. You can definitely use this type of compost bin for any type of composting.
Hi, I'm from Mauritius n I like your videos alot, very educating.
I'm planning for a vegetable garden..just started, long way to go with cleaning the terrain, raised bed, soil etc.
Btw, while digging some soil I came across an old plant roots, still green! I mean the roots were having water in them. I digged them deep got it out, crushed them with hammer. Can I use this to make compost ?
Nice. My wire circle is 5' diameter. I'm lazy and don't even mix it, just keep adding to the top along through the year and use it from some wider openings around the bottom. Takes awhile when starting out but after that it's a perpetual system of compost, full of worms too.
I didn't know all you need is grass cool. I throw kitchen scraps in mine . I don't turn it as much as I should but it still works takes longer though:)
Thankyou for this great video. I've been putting off composting because of the cost of buying a tumbler and all that layering... it just seemed like too much fuss. I've got a roll of fencing wire in the shed and my lawn needs mowing, so I'll be composting in about two hours time! :) Thanks again... subscribed!
Compost is good but this is what I do in an urban enviro. I go fishin...what I am not goin 2 keep 2 eat, goes into the freezer whole 4 gardenin 4 the next year. In Spring, I thaw out the whole fish, just enough 2 separate them & drop one panfish in each hole, cover w/ a little dirt & put in my seedling & finish plantin like always. The fish decomposes over time, feeds the plant & I get great results 4 harvest & the produce doesn't smell/taste like fish.LOL:)
What about covering it? I've read that to do so is good in order to keep the nitrogen from being flushed. Great video btw. I love it when folks keep it simple rather than shrouding a skill in mystery so as to glorify their "expertise".
@weavermama I toss a tarp over my compost pile if it's going to be unused for awhile. You're correct that the good stuff will rinse out of it. On the good side though, the grass around the pile grows HUGE! lol
Thanks for the great videos and tips! I have a pretty good amount of yard "waste" produced each week as well as kitchen scraps. I think the wire fence composter is a great idea. Do you have several wire fence composters in rotation? And how much time does it take on average for one of those to fully breakdown into compost and be ready for a fresh batch of yard waste and kitchen scraps? Also, is there any issues with having compost bins too close to trees or plants?
@parkertheyeti I only had one compost pile cooking at the time. I'd remove the wire fencing, set it next to the pile, then repile the compost back into it while re-dampening it if it needed. Very easy and didn't harm nearby plants. In fact the runoff caused everything near it to grow like mad. Total breakdown time was around a few weeks I think. Time varies with how often you turn it as well as what you toss into it.
@Praxxus55712 Thanks! Yea, I am visualizing 4 of those wire fence composters in my operation. My ideal location is relatively close to a few avocado trees and I have heard that compost piles create a lot of heat, but I agree with you that the surrounding area would be super nutrient dense from the runoff. I also am going to try a few pineapples in pots (I'm originally from Hawaii and was stoked to see how easy it is to get going!). Mahalo!
Hey Praxxus, I know it's a strange question, but can you compost dog hair? I have a husky and he sheds a ton of hair and it would be great if I could do something with it.
@W4V3MAKER You can definitely compost dog hair. Sprinkle it into the compost so it doesn't clump any more than it has to. It'll break down eventually and will do no harm to plants. Go for it!
I use a bagger on my mower, dump the grass and leaves in a circle of fence just like you did. then when i turn it I just spread it out and mow it up again and put it back in the fence, it works great.
I make compost and tea. I put all my kitchen leftovers in a bucket with holes at the bottom and another bucket underneath. I made some good soil from last year's bucket and i'm using the tea from the current bin to fertilize my current plants. I just wanted to know the ingredients of my current compost and tea. Does it need any thing more or the tea is enough fertilizer.
My favorite part...5:50...where he says, "it's so easy, it's just ONE STEP composting."
...And then goes on to explain how not only do you have to intelligently wet and mix the compost in the center of the pile with that on the outside edges (essentially finally getting to the layering of browns and greens part of effective, speedy composting)..BUT, he then goes on to tell you that this simple ONE STEP process requires you to physically turn and wet the compost WEEKLY for 6 weeks.
I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS! I know nothing about gardening and I really want to start one of my own you have been alot of help. I like your simple explanations alot of internet sites just confuse the crap outta me. I do have one question though and It might seem very dumb but how do u use compost? Hence I know nothing about gardening
@dudette2c Naw no such thing as a dumb question when you need to know something. :)
I mix the compost into the soil where I plant my seeds. It enriches the soil to feed the plants as they grow. It also feeds the microbes and worms in the soil. Soil is a living thing. Compost is what soil eats.
I do not know anything about growing my own garden. I am looking to start as soon as I can get some real help. Can you direct me to a place for beginners?
@jakewer You're at the right channel. My videos are designed to help beginners with simple advice based on common sense instead of crazy statistics and confusing mumbo jumbo.
i practiced composting by only filling a couple of 5 gal buckets with grass clippings and twigs. after weeks of turning and wetting, it all broke down into one bucket full of rich dark and fluffy garden soil. i was stoked! then i tried it in a 55 gal drum with a bunch of holes drilled into it. kept turning and adding clippings as it broke down. after days worth of stormy weather it formed into tight clumps of sogginess and smelled like horse manure. needed to cover it during rain lol.
I have two of those and a wooden one in my back yard and have great luck with them and use them for leaves also, I have been all organic for well over 10 years, I wish I had as much room as you do. Looks good.
i'm doing the same thing in a 240 litre wheelie bin which i drilled large holes into. every time i mow the lawn the bin gets filled to the brim with fresh clippings. I add a handful of lime, a garbage bag full of shredded paper from the office and a bucket of wood ashes from the fire now it's winter. I let it cook for a week then i turn it with a spiral compost aerator and add cow manure tea and half a bucket of compost from an older pile then turn it again and about twice a week thereafter.
Since watching this video, I have been employing this method for over a year now and got loads of compost out of it. The only problem is, every time I am turning my compost pile over I end up with the hamster dance song stuck in my head.
Hey ray I got a problem here. I'm tryin your compost method here, I'm using like green living weeds around the yard and some dead leaves and I'm shooting for like a 50-50 or so. I've been watering it and all that but mine is smelling really bad. I can't remember specificaly but I think you've said that yours dosn't smell, anarobic? So what do you think I'm doing wrong? I may be watering too much but it's pretty hot these days so the water drys up pretty fast, or at least I think it does haha.
Hey ray I got a problem here. I'm tryin your compost method here, I'm using like green living weeds around the yard and some dead leaves and I'm shooting for like a 50-50 or so. I've been watering it and all that but mine is smelling really bad. I can't remember specificaly but I think you've said that yours dosn't smell, anarobic? So what do you think I'm doing wrong? I may be watering too much but it's pretty hot these days so the water drys up pretty fast, or at least I think it does haha.
@enigmasfriend The pile needs to be a decent size. Check inside the center of the pile. If it's heating up then it's cooking properly. If not, make sure you mic it up. Do this once per week. Keep it evenly moist but not soggy. No matter how it smells, it's breaking down. It just takes time.
@Praxxus55712 I saw you do one in a 5 gal bucket I think. Mine is just a little bigger than that, its also in a bucket I think it's 7 gal. And I'm assuming you ment mix it up? Thanks for the quick reply man.
I was driving home the other day and saw a big chipper truck stopped at the side of the road just full of chipped up branches and leaves from clealing around electric wires, so I stopped and asked if they would dump it in my yard, which they did, now I have a HUGE pile of wood chips composting.
I hope this isn't a "dumb" question as you did say there isnt really a need for much science here (about this topic) but I just wondering- do I need a particular minimum amount or something? and what would you say the percentage of shrinkage is? I ask because I wonder if multiple batches (for my small property) would be more ideal since I wont have much grass clippings. Thank you!
@AhBbJeh Naw, no such thing as a dumb question when you need an answer. :) You can do small batches if you want. It takes smaller batches longer to break down dude to not having much mass to contain a heated composting core.....BUT they will break down. Shrinkage is approximately 50% minimum. You can even just toss everything on the garden at the end of the season and let it break down over the winter if you have a cold winter when you're not growing anything.
@Praxxus55712 Aww I'm honored that my question was uploaded onto the top of your comment list :D Well I live in Miami where the weather is 90, give or take, all year round so thats why I wanted to know how I'd adjust your environment/garden to mine. I'm still learning as much as I can from all of your videos before I start- especially since my "season" will be significantly longer. Thank you for the help on the compost size and shrinkage :)
I compost with a round dogwire too, but I never mix it, I fill it all summer and fall, and leave it till spring than use that in the spring, and start all over again, i use compost tea made just like yours.. after many years and a spine injury, I make gardening as easy as possible.
@timwagoner1 I usually have enough of the chicken manure compost to get me the whole summer. I only use the grass compost when I run out of the other.
At the Jr High I work at..we did something very similar last year..We took only brown leaves and put them in cages like you did in this video...sprayed them every so often...mixed them up..and then when we came back this year to school..and opened up the cage..the product was almost soil like..Is this compost too old? or has it gone too far? Dried out too much? Can we use what we have to make compost tea? Thanks for some great videos..take care
@azherbboy There's no such thing as compost that's too old. Leaf compost is fantastic stuff! You can make tea from it and toss the used up compost into the garden when you're done. nothing gets wasted. :)
This is the best video regarding composting on the web. Job well done, simple is better. thank you for posting this. It was entertaining as well. Bravo
Is it best to add "green" and "brown" throughout the entire process/season or is it more have that good mix and turn it throughout the season withou adding extra material. like is it ok to stop adding anything when i have achieved the amount i want? Thanks for the video! very helpful.
@videodude4 Once you have enough compost to get a pile cooking, stop adding stuff to it. Start a new pile instead. Adding raw materials to a cooking pile only delays the finished product.
Did anybody notice that very near from from Ray's right foot there is a snake?? go to 4:30 watch for some seconds and you will see something moving through the rotten grass!! , heheh, really liked your videos, thanks a lot for the tips
Hello, Great info on composting! We already do most of what you said but I think we'll start two piles this year.
One question though... we also add our kitchen scraps, (coffee grounds, egg shells, etc) Do you think that hurts or helps the yard clippings? Or should we start a separate pile for kitchen stuff?
Cool... we used half compost last year and the other half of the garden we used Miracle Gro potting soil and fertilizer. We were doing a test to see just how much better compost was than store bought dirt and fert. To my surprised the composted side grew twice as fast and I personally think the tomatos even tasted better. We are hooked now!
@demk818 I add water to the tea as I remove tea for the garden. Compost tea can be poured directly on the soil around the plants. Tomatoes can be grown in compost, but I suggest mixing it with soil. Compost doesn't have the minerals that soil has. They compliment each other.
it has been a while since I was online so I'm catching up on all your videos and rewatching..lol..your so entertaining and resoureful..I see you have 1 dislike...grrrrrrrr..how could anyone not like your videos..Just Say'n..:)
@jkgtitanic Sometimes that can happen depending on the seeds. Some weed seeds can withstand the inferno temps of compost. I'd just pluck the sprouting little weeds until they gave up. :)
I bought a thermometer just for kicks... tied a heavy fish line to it and as I turned my piles of compost, I would stop half way, place the thermometer in the middle and then finish off the pile.
The next day, I would begin to toss the pile again and as I got close to the middle, I would give that fish line a pull and get that thermometer. I would have readings approaching 160 degress.
I built those compartments as big as I did for volume, mass. The more mass, the hotter the pile gets
I had compost in 3 weeks, but I also turned the piles EVERY DAY. A little spritz of water when necessary. My neighbors helped me with additional grass and I bagged and saved leaves from the fall. I added a little garden soil and some cow manure into the pile as well. This wasnt some store bought manure, it was the real deal.
A dairy farmer I introduced myself to have concrete slab that I scraped the manure off of. I didn't choose the fresh stuff, just some of the dried manure.
3 of the 4 sides of the ENTIRE bin will be permanent. Pickets typically are 6 foot tall, you'll have to cut them to size.
As you add to your piles of compost, and the pile grows taller, simply continue to add these pickets to contain the pile.
Always leave 1 compartment EMPTY. You'll be tossing from one compartment to the empty one. Once you've tossed one pile, you'll have created another empty. That allows for your remaining pile.
Well damn.... there went my attempt at a sketch to illustrate the compost bin. Anywayyy, work with me here, the @ symbols were to be the POSTS for my bin. I don't know why those number 1's didn't allign, however, create "grooves" on the posts so that the fence pickets ENDS can slide into them. I used 2X2's & screwed them into the posts. Allow some space for your pickets to fit between
These pickets will stack when you lay them horizontally with the ends sliding into the grooves.
Using Cedar Pickets, NOT the Pressure Treated ones, I built a compost bin that had 3 compartments. Sink 4X4 posts into the ground with concrete for sturdiness. Each compartment was 5X5 foot. I also poured a concrete pad, doesnt have to b thick
Ive got a couple of acres i mow..i guess i should be sweeping up the grass this year...i could have 3 or 4 k lbs of compost by fall! thanks! ...just wondering how nitrogen rich it would be...should i lime my garden 'fresh" compost?
@centervilletn Freshly cut grass is extremely high in nitrogen and will compost amazingly fast. It will have to be turned often, but the compost you end up with is fantastic...........and free! :)
i like your videos very good !! i started growing my pineapple just like you said and it looks like its working !! i just have one question..my soil is like red clay and its full of rocks, how can i use it in my compost?? or is it not usefull for composting???
@AvReyes87 Just sprinkle a tiny bit of it into your compost when you start a compost pile. As you add compost back to the soil, it will loosen up the clay and change it into a fantastic growing medium.
Great video Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.
I have a question :
I dont have grass its sandy here. What can I use to make compost.
Can I put all the green after harvesting my vegetables or are there vegetable plants that I cant use to make compost. I'm new to gardening and I have book about growing vegetables and it says that some of the vegetable plants I cant make compost withit because some plants at the end of the seasongrowth have deseases.
@LetsCook2gether Thanks for tuning in. I'm glad you're enjoying the videos. :)
You can toss in all garden waste and plants. Plants aren'tt automatically diseased at the end of the season. Plants can get diseases at anytime. If you find a diseased plant during the season, you should remove it and dispose of it outside the garden. Most plants are perfectly fine for compost along with leaves & vegetable-based kitchen scraps. The heat of compost will destroy many bad cooties on your plants.
@PENNYWISEau2 I'm very sorry, but your special flavor of bitterness and stupidity is not allowed anywhere on my channel. Here, allow me to block you from embarrassing yourself via commenting further. You'll thank me later. :)
@julzbo Naw, compost would have to get much much hotter than this to ignite iteself. The heat is also very moist with the large amount of water in the compost. This alone would keep fire from forming. The compost only stinks if it's not turned enough. Grass compost has to be turned more often than regular compost since it cooks fast as heck.
i want to use it as a trellis for my long asian beans & red malabar spinach ,but i have no idea how to do it yet coz the garden was very rocky & i cant dig deeper to put my post ,if u have any thing in mind that can help me pls !! i needed help !!!
@misskisskadee It's called welded wire fencing and is sold at most hardware stores and garden centers. To make my compost bin, I just took an 8 foot length and rolled it up. If you want a slimmer bin you just roll it a bit tighter. It lasts forever. :)
Hi there...really enjoying all the wonderful fun information you are putting on your videos. Thanks a bunch. Do you have problems keeping deer away from your veggies? I noticed the fence posts, but it doesn't look like you have any fencing up. Any tips would be appreciated as I have an abundance of deer in my area.
@hoofmama I have deer EVERYWHERE! There were literally 7 in my back yard last week. They love munching on the endless clover and grass, which I don't mind. My garden is fenced. It's hard to see the fencing but it's there. Aside from fencing I have not found a way to keep deer away.
Hi Ive never used grass clippings in my compost heaps because of the seeds from the grass and weeds in there, and I always thought the the tempetures in the compost would not be high enough to destroy those, and I dont want those growing in my garden, whats your experience? thanks.
@Veboishe Grass compost definitely cooks at a super high temp. Whether or not some weed seeds survive would probably depend on the weed. Some are able to survive an inferno or solid freeze. Some seeds die if you give them a dirty look. :)
For the most part I haven't found more weeds than normal in my grass compost. I have to admit that turning it so often is a pain.....so I opt to just not turn it and let it set for a year. Lazy? Yes! lol
praxxus, what would happen if we dropped a pound or so of worms into that pile?would they survive?make better compost? seems to me they would but wondering about the heat as the compost creates its own heat and how worms cope with temperature hot and cold thanks again ,neal in ga
@myshizzleneal I think the worms would migrate down to the soil line and burrow into the soil. They'd feed on the lowest level of grass compost. They are pretty good at staying away from the heat. I've never seen worms get cooked in a compost pile. They generally steer clear until it cools.
Praxxus, If I were to find a snake in my compost, i would not be able to go in my backyard again, so ....what do I do to ward off snakes? We put that snakeaway mothball stuff out every year. I just can't do snakes.
@lreiley Snakes LOVE my compost pile, but they only like it because they hunt mice and voles that burrow into it. So snakes are definitely a good thing in compost.....unless it's a cobra. In that case run like heck! :)
I could use some more info on how you make that wire cage. Like the grid width, what type of metal, wire gauge, etc and what type of clips. I bought a roll of chicken wire once and the warning label on the roll scared me, it said it could flail open and kill you. I had my brother come over and open it. I think he was a little scared too. I want to make compost tea. One word of caution would be don't use grass clippings from chemically treated lawns.
@greyhoundfriend123 I just ysed wire fencing sold at Menards or Lowes or any hardware store. I took a section around 8 feet long, formed it into a cylinder shape, used scrap wire piees to connect the ends by twisting the wire and that's it. It's just as easy as that. By the way, you are 100% right with the tip about not using grass from chem lawns. That can have nasty effects on a garden! Thanks! :)
@URALLNUTZ You can use the pile of yard waste. Wet it with a garden hose & pile it as tall as it can get wihout toppling over. Dismantle the pile once a week, mix it up, make sure it's wet & pile it back up. Once it stops heating up, it should be done breaking down & can be used. If you don't want to wait for it to compost down, you can use it as mulch in your garden. Worms will slowly break it down over time. No harmful bacteria is in the pile. Go for it! :)
Anybody who don't think this gets hot. Pile your clippings up and go back a day later and stick your hand in.
brittonsneck2 1 day ago
I do the same thing with the same wire, I make my pile at least four feet across, and I wrap plastic around it to hold water in....The piles will get 130 or degrees hot.
brittonsneck2 1 day ago
Thanks for That
elizabethpowell 1 day ago
You're a fast worker!
alan30189 2 days ago
Thanks for this!! I keep putting off composting, exactly for the reasons you mentioned, but also because I could never figure out how I was going to properly mix it up when it is in a bin - once it starts decomposing, it gets heavy! Anyway, this a perfect solution - man, you are the king of common sense!! Cheers
TheCeramicGoddess 3 days ago
I have been doing this for years, it smells REALLY bad though!!!
nitsujpmek1 4 days ago
i mowed my lawn a couple of days ago and placed the clippings in wire mesh container and nothing has happened its not warm or hot it's just there D: any help
p.s. i also gave it some water to start!
bulletfingrz 1 week ago
@bulletfingrz Probably wasn't necessary to add water. It may be too wet. Possibly spread it out, allow it to dry a bit and then repile it. It'll heat up for certain.
Praxxus55712 1 week ago
@bulletfingrz If you use chemicals to control moss and weeds, some of those will kill the bacteria and microbes needed to brake down the grass.
SentOnFriday 3 days ago
hi... great vid. Question, where I mow my lawn, I also rake up a lot of dry pine needles. Would it affect the compost at all?
lalokingman 1 week ago
@lalokingman They will break down fine. Pine needles are acidic and will make the soil acidic. BUT, they lose their acidity after being composted so are perfectly safe to compost and use anywhere. Go for it. :)
Praxxus55712 1 week ago
Hey that is a good vibe you are giving off. Nice one. The only thing I would say is that you are going to end up with a soggy mess. When it is finished. I have done many experiments with this. Because grass can only have a certain % of carbon. Wether it is dry or not does not matter. You also have a lot of fungi in it, in the places it dried out, that's why you added the water. But in the end it will be a mess. Also you do need to add real carbon for your plants. Hope you dont mind me saying.
workwithnature 2 weeks ago
@workwithnature I don't mind you mentioning what you think at all. I really do appreciate it. I've never had the problem you mentioned. The soggy mess is caused by not turning the pile often. I turn the pile very often to promote the aerobic bacteria. The end result was amazing dark nitrogen rich compost. :)
Praxxus55712 2 weeks ago
@Praxxus55712 Hey that's great. Good you are up for a discussion. So you turn it a lot. Interesting. I found when I added it as a mulch it works fine. It is just when it is all piled up that heat usually turns it into a mushy mess. So you are cooling it down each time you mix it. Great videos by the way. gardening on youtube is fun ;)
workwithnature 2 weeks ago
I loved the fast forward, much better than a cut away to finish. Very good presentation and hilarious. Thanks for sharing.
alpcats 2 weeks ago
Would you please share with us, how did you manage to make the wire stand up all these time without nailing it down? Also, I don't have lawn, can I do the same thing with fruits and vegtables left overs?
ellie3637 2 weeks ago
@ellie3637 I formed it into a cylinder, then connected the two ends with scrap wire by twisting them together. Very basic. You can definitely use this type of compost bin for any type of composting.
Praxxus55712 2 weeks ago
@Praxxus55712 Thank you. I liked your idea and your energy.
ellie3637 2 weeks ago
@Praxxus55712
Hi, I'm from Mauritius n I like your videos alot, very educating.
I'm planning for a vegetable garden..just started, long way to go with cleaning the terrain, raised bed, soil etc.
Btw, while digging some soil I came across an old plant roots, still green! I mean the roots were having water in them. I digged them deep got it out, crushed them with hammer. Can I use this to make compost ?
Don't laugh if I sound funny or idiot.
Thanks
zeroun21 1 week ago
@zeroun21 I would defiitely toss it in the compost pile. It'll take awhile to decompost but will become something useful in the end.
Praxxus55712 1 week ago
Nice. My wire circle is 5' diameter. I'm lazy and don't even mix it, just keep adding to the top along through the year and use it from some wider openings around the bottom. Takes awhile when starting out but after that it's a perpetual system of compost, full of worms too.
arkiegold 2 weeks ago
I didn't know all you need is grass cool. I throw kitchen scraps in mine . I don't turn it as much as I should but it still works takes longer though:)
Megzm6 3 weeks ago
I prefer to buy a bag of fertilizer.. 10 10 10 it's alot easier and works great..
Dorisequador 3 weeks ago
@Dorisequador Whatever works for you is what you should do.
Praxxus55712 3 weeks ago
Thankyou for this great video. I've been putting off composting because of the cost of buying a tumbler and all that layering... it just seemed like too much fuss. I've got a roll of fencing wire in the shed and my lawn needs mowing, so I'll be composting in about two hours time! :) Thanks again... subscribed!
SoulPoiesis 3 weeks ago in playlist Organic Gardening
how much is the welded wire fence
yungprodigy7 3 weeks ago
@yungprodigy7 That depends where you buy it. I guess it costs around 5 bucks for the amount I used.
Praxxus55712 3 weeks ago
I think the one dislike was from someone who authored a book on compost layering methods.
crazymoo56 3 weeks ago
Great stuff as always! I am going to use the 1 week method, and more water with my Compost Tumbler system. Thanks for all the educational videos!
sly2kusa 3 weeks ago
bro, my question is a little off. where did you buy the wire thing you use to hold the grass clippings?
tmtx7 3 weeks ago
@tmtx7 It's called welded wire fencing. Hardware stores sell it in a prepackaged roll or by the foot.
Praxxus55712 3 weeks ago
Good tutorial! You always break the rules and it's OBVIOUSLY working!
hassman789 3 weeks ago
How to: Compost Fusion Reactor
Akademee 4 weeks ago
Thank you!
Gaho2Many 1 month ago
Compost is good but this is what I do in an urban enviro. I go fishin...what I am not goin 2 keep 2 eat, goes into the freezer whole 4 gardenin 4 the next year. In Spring, I thaw out the whole fish, just enough 2 separate them & drop one panfish in each hole, cover w/ a little dirt & put in my seedling & finish plantin like always. The fish decomposes over time, feeds the plant & I get great results 4 harvest & the produce doesn't smell/taste like fish.LOL:)
KillaPutato 1 month ago
Good videos
IOITALL2HIM 1 month ago
Very good video. Thanks for the upload.
computermech 1 month ago
Simplicity at its best!!
digisexdj 1 month ago
What about covering it? I've read that to do so is good in order to keep the nitrogen from being flushed. Great video btw. I love it when folks keep it simple rather than shrouding a skill in mystery so as to glorify their "expertise".
weavermama 1 month ago
@weavermama I toss a tarp over my compost pile if it's going to be unused for awhile. You're correct that the good stuff will rinse out of it. On the good side though, the grass around the pile grows HUGE! lol
Praxxus55712 1 month ago
@Praxxus55712 For the first time in my life, I can honestly say, "I can't frigg'n wait to mow my lawn!"
weavermama 1 month ago
@Praxxus55712 Can pine straw be used with or without grass?
310Ren 4 weeks ago
@310Ren You can compost it easily. Straw will need some green to kick it into composting mode.
Praxxus55712 4 weeks ago
@Praxxus55712 Not much green yet but lots of oak leaves, pine straw & cow pies. Is that ok?
310Ren 4 weeks ago
@310Ren Manure will easily work instead of greens. Use as much as you can get.
Praxxus55712 4 weeks ago
Thanks for the great videos and tips! I have a pretty good amount of yard "waste" produced each week as well as kitchen scraps. I think the wire fence composter is a great idea. Do you have several wire fence composters in rotation? And how much time does it take on average for one of those to fully breakdown into compost and be ready for a fresh batch of yard waste and kitchen scraps? Also, is there any issues with having compost bins too close to trees or plants?
parkertheyeti 1 month ago
@parkertheyeti I only had one compost pile cooking at the time. I'd remove the wire fencing, set it next to the pile, then repile the compost back into it while re-dampening it if it needed. Very easy and didn't harm nearby plants. In fact the runoff caused everything near it to grow like mad. Total breakdown time was around a few weeks I think. Time varies with how often you turn it as well as what you toss into it.
Praxxus55712 1 month ago
@Praxxus55712 Thanks! Yea, I am visualizing 4 of those wire fence composters in my operation. My ideal location is relatively close to a few avocado trees and I have heard that compost piles create a lot of heat, but I agree with you that the surrounding area would be super nutrient dense from the runoff. I also am going to try a few pineapples in pots (I'm originally from Hawaii and was stoked to see how easy it is to get going!). Mahalo!
parkertheyeti 1 month ago
Hey Praxxus, I know it's a strange question, but can you compost dog hair? I have a husky and he sheds a ton of hair and it would be great if I could do something with it.
W4V3MAKER 1 month ago
@W4V3MAKER You can definitely compost dog hair. Sprinkle it into the compost so it doesn't clump any more than it has to. It'll break down eventually and will do no harm to plants. Go for it!
Praxxus55712 1 month ago
I use a bagger on my mower, dump the grass and leaves in a circle of fence just like you did. then when i turn it I just spread it out and mow it up again and put it back in the fence, it works great.
digmatology 1 month ago
lol. wow if i could work that fast I'd get so much more done. :o)
jude1c9v 2 months ago
Great job of explaining composting. Thanks for the info.
badams48 2 months ago
I make compost and tea. I put all my kitchen leftovers in a bucket with holes at the bottom and another bucket underneath. I made some good soil from last year's bucket and i'm using the tea from the current bin to fertilize my current plants. I just wanted to know the ingredients of my current compost and tea. Does it need any thing more or the tea is enough fertilizer.
shahsoon 3 months ago
My favorite part...5:50...where he says, "it's so easy, it's just ONE STEP composting."
...And then goes on to explain how not only do you have to intelligently wet and mix the compost in the center of the pile with that on the outside edges (essentially finally getting to the layering of browns and greens part of effective, speedy composting)..BUT, he then goes on to tell you that this simple ONE STEP process requires you to physically turn and wet the compost WEEKLY for 6 weeks.
1 step ?
csreeves 3 months ago
@csreeves sarcastic troll comments are prohibited on the Praxxus55712 channel. Please be bitter on your own channel.
Praxxus55712 3 months ago
@Praxxus55712 ha ha
May I copy that reply for my own use?
vivaloriflamme 2 months ago
I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS! I know nothing about gardening and I really want to start one of my own you have been alot of help. I like your simple explanations alot of internet sites just confuse the crap outta me. I do have one question though and It might seem very dumb but how do u use compost? Hence I know nothing about gardening
dudette2c 3 months ago
@dudette2c Naw no such thing as a dumb question when you need to know something. :)
I mix the compost into the soil where I plant my seeds. It enriches the soil to feed the plants as they grow. It also feeds the microbes and worms in the soil. Soil is a living thing. Compost is what soil eats.
Praxxus55712 3 months ago
This video was very helpful, straight to the point and yet with lots of information. Thank you!! I just subscribed. will be checking the rest out.
evybadd 4 months ago
If it works, steal it!!! LOL Think I'll borrow it for a while and pass it along. Thanks Ray.
Dancerpro1 5 months ago
What happens with the weeds from the grass? I have thistle and other weeds that have permeated my grass.
tilelady3773 5 months ago
@tilelady3773 Everything breaks down into compost. I use grass and weeds that hasn't gone to seed yet.
Praxxus55712 5 months ago
@tilelady3773 thistle is not a weed that is FOOD! Yeah you heard me you can eat the thistle.
digmatology 1 month ago
So cool. Thanks so much for making is so simple to do and showing how to do it with that fast motion. Its going to be great
cm1979ful 5 months ago
I do not know anything about growing my own garden. I am looking to start as soon as I can get some real help. Can you direct me to a place for beginners?
jakewer 5 months ago
@jakewer You're at the right channel. My videos are designed to help beginners with simple advice based on common sense instead of crazy statistics and confusing mumbo jumbo.
Praxxus55712 5 months ago
@Praxxus55712 Thank you for your consistency. I have subscribed and have been watching your excellent videos...
jakewer 5 months ago
Quite simple I must say
Reliancedred 5 months ago
ubscibe me back please
fishinky365 5 months ago
i practiced composting by only filling a couple of 5 gal buckets with grass clippings and twigs. after weeks of turning and wetting, it all broke down into one bucket full of rich dark and fluffy garden soil. i was stoked! then i tried it in a 55 gal drum with a bunch of holes drilled into it. kept turning and adding clippings as it broke down. after days worth of stormy weather it formed into tight clumps of sogginess and smelled like horse manure. needed to cover it during rain lol.
checkfoldcallraise 6 months ago
I have two of those and a wooden one in my back yard and have great luck with them and use them for leaves also, I have been all organic for well over 10 years, I wish I had as much room as you do. Looks good.
jettramel 6 months ago
i'm doing the same thing in a 240 litre wheelie bin which i drilled large holes into. every time i mow the lawn the bin gets filled to the brim with fresh clippings. I add a handful of lime, a garbage bag full of shredded paper from the office and a bucket of wood ashes from the fire now it's winter. I let it cook for a week then i turn it with a spiral compost aerator and add cow manure tea and half a bucket of compost from an older pile then turn it again and about twice a week thereafter.
tradward 6 months ago
Since watching this video, I have been employing this method for over a year now and got loads of compost out of it. The only problem is, every time I am turning my compost pile over I end up with the hamster dance song stuck in my head.
ratmash 6 months ago
@ratmash lol
TheKingkottonmouth 6 months ago
@enigmasfriend its probably too wet. And you probably have too much "greens" , you want around 3:1, brown:green.
underoath4177 6 months ago
Got to love that Hamster song Ray! haha!
thehumblepepper 7 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Hey ray I got a problem here. I'm tryin your compost method here, I'm using like green living weeds around the yard and some dead leaves and I'm shooting for like a 50-50 or so. I've been watering it and all that but mine is smelling really bad. I can't remember specificaly but I think you've said that yours dosn't smell, anarobic? So what do you think I'm doing wrong? I may be watering too much but it's pretty hot these days so the water drys up pretty fast, or at least I think it does haha.
enigmasfriend 7 months ago
Hey ray I got a problem here. I'm tryin your compost method here, I'm using like green living weeds around the yard and some dead leaves and I'm shooting for like a 50-50 or so. I've been watering it and all that but mine is smelling really bad. I can't remember specificaly but I think you've said that yours dosn't smell, anarobic? So what do you think I'm doing wrong? I may be watering too much but it's pretty hot these days so the water drys up pretty fast, or at least I think it does haha.
enigmasfriend 7 months ago
@enigmasfriend The pile needs to be a decent size. Check inside the center of the pile. If it's heating up then it's cooking properly. If not, make sure you mic it up. Do this once per week. Keep it evenly moist but not soggy. No matter how it smells, it's breaking down. It just takes time.
Praxxus55712 7 months ago
@Praxxus55712 I saw you do one in a 5 gal bucket I think. Mine is just a little bigger than that, its also in a bucket I think it's 7 gal. And I'm assuming you ment mix it up? Thanks for the quick reply man.
enigmasfriend 7 months ago
I was driving home the other day and saw a big chipper truck stopped at the side of the road just full of chipped up branches and leaves from clealing around electric wires, so I stopped and asked if they would dump it in my yard, which they did, now I have a HUGE pile of wood chips composting.
anniequilts 7 months ago
I hope this isn't a "dumb" question as you did say there isnt really a need for much science here (about this topic) but I just wondering- do I need a particular minimum amount or something? and what would you say the percentage of shrinkage is? I ask because I wonder if multiple batches (for my small property) would be more ideal since I wont have much grass clippings. Thank you!
AhBbJeh 7 months ago
@AhBbJeh Naw, no such thing as a dumb question when you need an answer. :) You can do small batches if you want. It takes smaller batches longer to break down dude to not having much mass to contain a heated composting core.....BUT they will break down. Shrinkage is approximately 50% minimum. You can even just toss everything on the garden at the end of the season and let it break down over the winter if you have a cold winter when you're not growing anything.
Praxxus55712 7 months ago
@Praxxus55712 Aww I'm honored that my question was uploaded onto the top of your comment list :D Well I live in Miami where the weather is 90, give or take, all year round so thats why I wanted to know how I'd adjust your environment/garden to mine. I'm still learning as much as I can from all of your videos before I start- especially since my "season" will be significantly longer. Thank you for the help on the compost size and shrinkage :)
AhBbJeh 7 months ago
You are so awesome. Great info!!!
aquebede 8 months ago
I saw it myself. Some snakes like to lay their eggs in composting material to use the heat to incubate their eggs.
ewazz001 9 months ago in playlist New
I compost with a round dogwire too, but I never mix it, I fill it all summer and fall, and leave it till spring than use that in the spring, and start all over again, i use compost tea made just like yours.. after many years and a spine injury, I make gardening as easy as possible.
truemirror 9 months ago
Hey I was wondering if you regularly make grass compost when you mow your yard or do you mainly use the compost you make from your chicken coop.
timwagoner1 10 months ago
@timwagoner1 I usually have enough of the chicken manure compost to get me the whole summer. I only use the grass compost when I run out of the other.
Praxxus55712 10 months ago
At the Jr High I work at..we did something very similar last year..We took only brown leaves and put them in cages like you did in this video...sprayed them every so often...mixed them up..and then when we came back this year to school..and opened up the cage..the product was almost soil like..Is this compost too old? or has it gone too far? Dried out too much? Can we use what we have to make compost tea? Thanks for some great videos..take care
azherbboy 10 months ago
@azherbboy There's no such thing as compost that's too old. Leaf compost is fantastic stuff! You can make tea from it and toss the used up compost into the garden when you're done. nothing gets wasted. :)
Praxxus55712 10 months ago
This is the best video regarding composting on the web. Job well done, simple is better. thank you for posting this. It was entertaining as well. Bravo
tthoy1 10 months ago
i just composting all brown.that will be ok,,,???
mic10311 10 months ago
@mic10311 It will break down if kept moist but will take quite a long time without any greens in it. That's been my experience.
Praxxus55712 10 months ago
Is it best to add "green" and "brown" throughout the entire process/season or is it more have that good mix and turn it throughout the season withou adding extra material. like is it ok to stop adding anything when i have achieved the amount i want? Thanks for the video! very helpful.
videodude4 10 months ago
@videodude4 Once you have enough compost to get a pile cooking, stop adding stuff to it. Start a new pile instead. Adding raw materials to a cooking pile only delays the finished product.
Praxxus55712 10 months ago
Did anybody notice that very near from from Ray's right foot there is a snake?? go to 4:30 watch for some seconds and you will see something moving through the rotten grass!! , heheh, really liked your videos, thanks a lot for the tips
cristiancristiancris 10 months ago
@cristiancristiancris I'm guessing it was an anaconda! That explains how my car dissapeared. :)
Praxxus55712 10 months ago
@cristiancristiancris
Yeah...that looked like a big snake! Surprised he didn't notice it.
jgfergus 10 months ago
@cristiancristiancris ick that had to be a huge snake!
truemirror 9 months ago
Can i compost leaves???
skillah69 11 months ago
@skillah69 Yes, leaves make fantastic compost. Mix them with some green grass clippings and you're going to have one heck of a perfect compost.
Praxxus55712 11 months ago
@Praxxus55712 But we don't have any grass.i just compost all leaves
skillah69 11 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@Praxxus55712 But we don't have any grass.i just started all leaves
skillah69 11 months ago
HOW DO YOU MAKE YOUR COMPOST STEAM???
skillah69 11 months ago
Finally, a video about composting for dummies! Thank you!
littlepiaf 11 months ago
Hello, Great info on composting! We already do most of what you said but I think we'll start two piles this year.
One question though... we also add our kitchen scraps, (coffee grounds, egg shells, etc) Do you think that hurts or helps the yard clippings? Or should we start a separate pile for kitchen stuff?
Thanks!
AlabamaRiverMan 11 months ago
@AlabamaRiverMan Adding all the items you mentioned is fine. It will balance the compost very well.
Praxxus55712 11 months ago
@Praxxus55712
Cool... we used half compost last year and the other half of the garden we used Miracle Gro potting soil and fertilizer. We were doing a test to see just how much better compost was than store bought dirt and fert. To my surprised the composted side grew twice as fast and I personally think the tomatos even tasted better. We are hooked now!
AlabamaRiverMan 11 months ago
when u mow again do u add to the pile or do u start another bin?
jude1c9v 11 months ago
@jude1c9v I start another pile. I don't add to a compost pile once it starts cooking.
Praxxus55712 11 months ago
How often do you water compost tea can i apply direct to the soil. Can i plant tomato directly to compost
demk818 1 year ago
@demk818 I add water to the tea as I remove tea for the garden. Compost tea can be poured directly on the soil around the plants. Tomatoes can be grown in compost, but I suggest mixing it with soil. Compost doesn't have the minerals that soil has. They compliment each other.
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
it has been a while since I was online so I'm catching up on all your videos and rewatching..lol..your so entertaining and resoureful..I see you have 1 dislike...grrrrrrrr..how could anyone not like your videos..Just Say'n..:)
gdyupgal4u 1 year ago
@gdyupgal4u Trolls/haters. Who can figure them out.............or even want to? LOL
ps: Welcome back! :)
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
well i have mowed my lawn and made the compost but the things is when i put the compost in a pot the seeds from the weeds i mowed start to grow
jkgtitanic 1 year ago
@jkgtitanic Sometimes that can happen depending on the seeds. Some weed seeds can withstand the inferno temps of compost. I'd just pluck the sprouting little weeds until they gave up. :)
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
I bought a thermometer just for kicks... tied a heavy fish line to it and as I turned my piles of compost, I would stop half way, place the thermometer in the middle and then finish off the pile.
The next day, I would begin to toss the pile again and as I got close to the middle, I would give that fish line a pull and get that thermometer. I would have readings approaching 160 degress.
I built those compartments as big as I did for volume, mass. The more mass, the hotter the pile gets
z28ntexas 1 year ago
I had compost in 3 weeks, but I also turned the piles EVERY DAY. A little spritz of water when necessary. My neighbors helped me with additional grass and I bagged and saved leaves from the fall. I added a little garden soil and some cow manure into the pile as well. This wasnt some store bought manure, it was the real deal.
A dairy farmer I introduced myself to have concrete slab that I scraped the manure off of. I didn't choose the fresh stuff, just some of the dried manure.
z28ntexas 1 year ago
3 of the 4 sides of the ENTIRE bin will be permanent. Pickets typically are 6 foot tall, you'll have to cut them to size.
As you add to your piles of compost, and the pile grows taller, simply continue to add these pickets to contain the pile.
Always leave 1 compartment EMPTY. You'll be tossing from one compartment to the empty one. Once you've tossed one pile, you'll have created another empty. That allows for your remaining pile.
2 into 3
1 into 2... then in reverse of course
z28ntexas 1 year ago
Well damn.... there went my attempt at a sketch to illustrate the compost bin. Anywayyy, work with me here, the @ symbols were to be the POSTS for my bin. I don't know why those number 1's didn't allign, however, create "grooves" on the posts so that the fence pickets ENDS can slide into them. I used 2X2's & screwed them into the posts. Allow some space for your pickets to fit between
These pickets will stack when you lay them horizontally with the ends sliding into the grooves.
z28ntexas 1 year ago
Using Cedar Pickets, NOT the Pressure Treated ones, I built a compost bin that had 3 compartments. Sink 4X4 posts into the ground with concrete for sturdiness. Each compartment was 5X5 foot. I also poured a concrete pad, doesnt have to b thick
@11111@11111@11111@
1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1
@11111@11111@11111@
z28ntexas 1 year ago
You've inspired me to grow my own compost. Thanks dude
Twinturbo120 1 year ago
i like the part with the music.
cockfight420 1 year ago
Ive got a couple of acres i mow..i guess i should be sweeping up the grass this year...i could have 3 or 4 k lbs of compost by fall! thanks! ...just wondering how nitrogen rich it would be...should i lime my garden 'fresh" compost?
centervilletn 1 year ago
@centervilletn Freshly cut grass is extremely high in nitrogen and will compost amazingly fast. It will have to be turned often, but the compost you end up with is fantastic...........and free! :)
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
you are a good example on how to live life.Thanks for all the usefull videos."To live and let others live".Thank you.
sandhiya3 1 year ago
@sandhiya3 Thanks! Your comment actually brought a smile to my face. :)
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
i like your videos very good !! i started growing my pineapple just like you said and it looks like its working !! i just have one question..my soil is like red clay and its full of rocks, how can i use it in my compost?? or is it not usefull for composting???
AvReyes87 1 year ago
@AvReyes87 Just sprinkle a tiny bit of it into your compost when you start a compost pile. As you add compost back to the soil, it will loosen up the clay and change it into a fantastic growing medium.
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
@Praxxus55712 thanks you so much , im going to try that
AvReyes87 1 year ago
Great video Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.
I have a question :
I dont have grass its sandy here. What can I use to make compost.
Can I put all the green after harvesting my vegetables or are there vegetable plants that I cant use to make compost. I'm new to gardening and I have book about growing vegetables and it says that some of the vegetable plants I cant make compost withit because some plants at the end of the seasongrowth have deseases.
LetsCook2gether 1 year ago
@LetsCook2gether Thanks for tuning in. I'm glad you're enjoying the videos. :)
You can toss in all garden waste and plants. Plants aren'tt automatically diseased at the end of the season. Plants can get diseases at anytime. If you find a diseased plant during the season, you should remove it and dispose of it outside the garden. Most plants are perfectly fine for compost along with leaves & vegetable-based kitchen scraps. The heat of compost will destroy many bad cooties on your plants.
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
@eartina This sort of comment is prohibited on my channel.
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
dont get this vid whats so great. thats how you make compost. are you americans so stupid to dont know it?????
how great he speaks about it!!! thats the process of rotting and every thing you rotten is compost!!!
i only lough at america (actually the whole world laughs at america)
Or is this supposed to be a funny video???
PENNYWISEau2 1 year ago
dont get this vid whats so great. thats how you make compost. are you americans so stupid to dont know it?????
how great he speaks about it!!! thats the process of rotting and every thing you rotten is compost!!!
i only you lough at america (actually the whole world laughs at america)
Or is this supposed to be a funny video???
PENNYWISEau2 1 year ago
@PENNYWISEau2 I'm very sorry, but your special flavor of bitterness and stupidity is not allowed anywhere on my channel. Here, allow me to block you from embarrassing yourself via commenting further. You'll thank me later. :)
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
Cute music! 2 questions, please. 1.) Any chance of the compost catching fire all by itself? 2.) Does it stink? Thank you!
julzbo 1 year ago
@julzbo Naw, compost would have to get much much hotter than this to ignite iteself. The heat is also very moist with the large amount of water in the compost. This alone would keep fire from forming. The compost only stinks if it's not turned enough. Grass compost has to be turned more often than regular compost since it cooks fast as heck.
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
@Praxxus55712 Thanks!
julzbo 1 year ago
i think i saw smoke
soccer123456789ist 1 year ago
i want to use it as a trellis for my long asian beans & red malabar spinach ,but i have no idea how to do it yet coz the garden was very rocky & i cant dig deeper to put my post ,if u have any thing in mind that can help me pls !! i needed help !!!
misskisskadee 1 year ago
what kind of wire do did use for compose ? what is the lenght ?
misskisskadee 1 year ago
@misskisskadee It's called welded wire fencing and is sold at most hardware stores and garden centers. To make my compost bin, I just took an 8 foot length and rolled it up. If you want a slimmer bin you just roll it a bit tighter. It lasts forever. :)
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
what kind of wire do did use for compose ?
misskisskadee 1 year ago
Hi there...really enjoying all the wonderful fun information you are putting on your videos. Thanks a bunch. Do you have problems keeping deer away from your veggies? I noticed the fence posts, but it doesn't look like you have any fencing up. Any tips would be appreciated as I have an abundance of deer in my area.
hoofmama 1 year ago
@hoofmama I have deer EVERYWHERE! There were literally 7 in my back yard last week. They love munching on the endless clover and grass, which I don't mind. My garden is fenced. It's hard to see the fencing but it's there. Aside from fencing I have not found a way to keep deer away.
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
Hi Ive never used grass clippings in my compost heaps because of the seeds from the grass and weeds in there, and I always thought the the tempetures in the compost would not be high enough to destroy those, and I dont want those growing in my garden, whats your experience? thanks.
Veboishe 1 year ago
@Veboishe Grass compost definitely cooks at a super high temp. Whether or not some weed seeds survive would probably depend on the weed. Some are able to survive an inferno or solid freeze. Some seeds die if you give them a dirty look. :)
For the most part I haven't found more weeds than normal in my grass compost. I have to admit that turning it so often is a pain.....so I opt to just not turn it and let it set for a year. Lazy? Yes! lol
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
Hi. What about adding organic matter from the kitchen (eggshells, coffee grounds, etc)? Is that okay?
Radians51 1 year ago
@Radians51 That would definitely work.
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
I also notice this. Did you ever try to add other remains off plants? I don't have enough grass.... :-)))
eddegoei 1 year ago
praxxus, what would happen if we dropped a pound or so of worms into that pile?would they survive?make better compost? seems to me they would but wondering about the heat as the compost creates its own heat and how worms cope with temperature hot and cold thanks again ,neal in ga
myshizzleneal 1 year ago
@myshizzleneal I think the worms would migrate down to the soil line and burrow into the soil. They'd feed on the lowest level of grass compost. They are pretty good at staying away from the heat. I've never seen worms get cooked in a compost pile. They generally steer clear until it cools.
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
thanks for the info. Keep up the vids they're great!
Doug
frankie2234 1 year ago
I just made my compost heap out of grass yesterday, and i can already feel the heat, even though we did not have any sun today.
kishypoo28 1 year ago
@kishypoo28 It sure heats up fast doesn't it? Make sure to turn it as often as you can. You'll have compost in no time. :)
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
ireiley theres a native plant here in california call RRUDA FLOWER >>that the smell scares of snakes and other animals too....
hugocasarrubias 1 year ago
Praxxus, If I were to find a snake in my compost, i would not be able to go in my backyard again, so ....what do I do to ward off snakes? We put that snakeaway mothball stuff out every year. I just can't do snakes.
lreiley 1 year ago
@lreiley You have the same reaction to snakes that I have to cockroaches. Those little nightmares creep me out!!
I have no idea how to get rid of snakes. I guess make an offering to St Patrick? :)
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
Do snakes like compost bins? I started one years ago, but now I'm afraid to turn it for fear of snakes. Should turn it in the winter I guess.
lreiley 1 year ago
@lreiley Snakes LOVE my compost pile, but they only like it because they hunt mice and voles that burrow into it. So snakes are definitely a good thing in compost.....unless it's a cobra. In that case run like heck! :)
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
Thank you for this video.:) Now I know it's not that complex to make compost. I'll start making my own TODAY!:)
Msjmsc 1 year ago
can you put in inder dirt, and then transplant bus and worms into it instead of turning it?
huronhorde 1 year ago
I could use some more info on how you make that wire cage. Like the grid width, what type of metal, wire gauge, etc and what type of clips. I bought a roll of chicken wire once and the warning label on the roll scared me, it said it could flail open and kill you. I had my brother come over and open it. I think he was a little scared too. I want to make compost tea. One word of caution would be don't use grass clippings from chemically treated lawns.
greyhoundfriend123 1 year ago
@greyhoundfriend123 I just ysed wire fencing sold at Menards or Lowes or any hardware store. I took a section around 8 feet long, formed it into a cylinder shape, used scrap wire piees to connect the ends by twisting the wire and that's it. It's just as easy as that. By the way, you are 100% right with the tip about not using grass from chem lawns. That can have nasty effects on a garden! Thanks! :)
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
@URALLNUTZ You can use the pile of yard waste. Wet it with a garden hose & pile it as tall as it can get wihout toppling over. Dismantle the pile once a week, mix it up, make sure it's wet & pile it back up. Once it stops heating up, it should be done breaking down & can be used. If you don't want to wait for it to compost down, you can use it as mulch in your garden. Worms will slowly break it down over time. No harmful bacteria is in the pile. Go for it! :)
Praxxus55712 1 year ago
Amazing.....I just mowed the lawn and I'm running out to rake up all that future compost. You're right, it couldn't