Vegetable Garden -- My Compost Pile

[ZennLa13]

I could listen to your voice all day! Very nice and soothing.

[webcajun]

@ZennLa13 ...LOL......Donald

[ZennLa13]

@webcajun Haha... what's so funny?

[webcajun]

@ZennLa13 ... One lady commented it puts her 2 year old to sleep in just a couple of minutes......Donald

[ZennLa13]

@webcajun Haha.. Im not surprised!

[bobthehobo1000]

idk how i got here but..... 1:00 HORSES

[webcajun]

@bobthehobo1000 ...Cows.......Donald

[bobthehobo1000]

@webcajun -_-"

[Hectorsgarden1]

@ Webcajun I just finished building myself a compost bin. Is there certain things that i can put in it? Can you let me know how to start my bin?

[webcajun]

@Hectorsgarden1 ...You can put stuff like grass clippings, leaves, garden waste, kitchen waste etc. Don't put any meat and unless you want all kinds of seeds in there, vegetables......Donald

[SidneyBou]

You mentened sifting. You sift through something like fence wire or --- How do you sift it?

[webcajun]

@SidneyBou ...Sift it through either 1/2 inch or 1/4 inch hardware cloth.....Donald

[gwk4657]

Great vidio

[stylus880]

Gr Vid. I too just bung what I have into piles and let it decompose. To accelerate the process as you rightly stated I turn regularly the pile with a fork. I do however keep it damp using a tea made out of chicken/cow manure and keep it covered. The only time I get fancy and use layers of green compost and brown compost is if it is available at the time. However I have seen no difference in time to break down into compost or any difference in quality.

[webcajun]

@stylus880 ... By starting a new pile each year you'll never be out of compost. I layer a little of the finished compost into the new pile, works pretty good......Donald

[stylus880]

@webcajun I have normal house block here in australia thus a smaller input into the compost bin but keep the same pile going by using your method. I always keep 20% of the original compost to jump start the next load by keeping worms bacteria to attack the new load and compost it. Mate u sucked me in. I actually had a piece of paper and pencil ready to write the first time I viewed your vid. I was rapt when you presented this down to earth practical way of composting. Thx for all your vids gl

[9aspengold5]

Donald. Somewhere I read or heard that putting citrus fruits like lemon or lime rinds and cabbage was bad for a compost pile. They said that these kill the worms that help break down the compost pile. Have you found that there is any truth to that ?? marcia

[webcajun]

@9aspengold5 ... hey Marcia, I hadn't heard about that but I guess it's possible. Like anything else, too much of something can't be too good. I don't use any of that in my worm beds so I guess I'm safe.........Donald

[emrfy]

@webcajun Thanks for this ^^

[webcajun]

@emrfy ... it takes a year to really break down but if you start a pile each spring you'll have a continuous supply..........Donald

[eredy]

what about horse manure

[webcajun]

@eredy ... manure is OK but I'm not too crazy about it.  Animals are giving so much medication these days you don't know what's in there..... Donald

[dirtyproduction]

@webcajun That is a great point. However, those of us who have our own animals and know our feed, veterinary care, and the sort, how do you feel about the advantages of using our manure... We've seen GREAT results with our horse manure. We also have increased our organic matter as well.

[webcajun]

@dirtyproduction ... those who are lucky enough to have their own animals and collect the manure are at an advantage. If I still had cows, chickens and rabbits I would certainly use it....... Donald

[eredy]

whats the best things to put into compost tea besides wormcastings

[webcajun]

@eredy ... it's kind of like cooking, the better the stuff (compost) you use the better the outcome will be. Good compost makes some outstanding tea. I'm not talking about the bagged stuff that's been sitting out in the sun in a parking lot. Not much good stuff left in there. Start you own compost pile, in the shade, and you'll do just fine...... Donald

[EarthyPlum]

I hear that!

[hidhawkes]

I love watching your videos! Watching you makes me smile! I'm gonna try some of your teachings!

[webcajun]

Glad you enjoy em....... Donald

[traceehummel]

This was the most useful advice on composting I've ever been able to pay attention to long enough to not give up before I've started. Thank you Donald!

[webcajun]

By starting a new pile each spring it doesn't matter that it takes all year to break down. You'll always have a supply of compost. I Try to keep it as simple as it really is. Glad you enjoyed............. Donald

[y0y0moe]

I love this guy!

[webcajun]

Just an old country boy........ Donald

[TnWormsCastings]

u made me get up and get a pen ...WACK!

[webcajun]

LOL ........ Donald

[patrickbhaddon]

Donald, I appreciate the time and effort you put into your videos. They are very helpful to many. I am expanding our vegetable farm in the spring to 8 acres and you are a great resource. Thank you. Oh yeh what size Kubota do you run?

[webcajun]

It's a L3240 (32HP) 4WD. Good luck with your expansion and glad you enjoy the videos....... Donald

[1too3fore]

not very helpful but one of these days who knows perhaps you'll learn to take a few pallets, form a bin and really make a serious amount of compost.  Don't have to turn it, just let it heat up, get taken over by worms and enjoy whenever you want it. Lazy is not the way to go cause you're not looking so healthy there. You could use some exercise instead of sittin in front of the tv or computer screen.

[webcajun]

I realize a 2 acre garden isn't much work for just one person. Maybe next year I'll increase it to 5 acres and not spend so much time in front of the computer. I appreciate and value your opinion......... Donald

[MyGeranium]

I don't know if I'm composting right. When my leaves broke down, I took a shovel full of my 'compost' but only to see that there were all these small worms and rolly polly things. LOL But is that normal, or am I doing some thing wrong

[webcajun]

MyGeranium ... There are all sorts of bugs that get in there to eat / break down the compost. I would say that's normal......... Donald

[chazfensk]

Good lord! If you don't like the video that's fine, but you don't have to make personal attacks on the guy!

[allen12391]

your a jerk

[TheBrassHole]

Best composting there is. I'm sick of these kids with thier little compost bins.

[webcajun]

Going just a little bigger while keeping it simple...... Donald

[dumb7890]

that is my way let nature do its thing i do save spots for lizzards and the little snakes to winter over in Houston area

[webcajun]

It doesn't get any simplier than that....... Donald

[tunicanl]

i defintley like your method of composting. how often you stir it a year?

[webcajun]

I pushed it around with my tractor 2 maybe 3 times during the year.

[muffemod]

brilliant!

[brettmoret]

I like your style!

[landrace2010]

are those cows yours? what i really wanted to know is how do you sift it?

[webcajun]

No the cows aren't mine they're for the neighbor. I sift my compost using hardware cloth which is 1/2 inch square mesh wire placed over my container.

[kaenjie2]

haha, got me there with the note and pencil. I was expecting your C:N ratio, temp. range to maintain, and all those craps. Ends up just piling em up outdoor and wait a year LOL. I had a 3f x 3f compost pile before, but it ended up being absorbed by the soil and rain-washed after about half a year. Left me with no compost but I took the soil underneath as potting mix. too small of a outdoor pile I guess.

[webcajun]

Stuff out of the garden does seem to shrink a lot.

[takadi]

Actually, the "lazier" you are with compost, the better it is. Less nitrogen and microorganisms lost through intense heat. Even pathogens and weed seeds and such die eventually after a year in a rotting heap, lol

[Kamisha100]

Thanks web cajun, that certainly takes all the mystery out of composting. When I see that I am sure that I could do it if I wanted to.

[beutifullady]

Nice!! Gotta love the compost.

[webcajun]

If I had a smaller garden I would incorporate it into the soil. For now it's 13-13-13 or 17-17-17.

[theoriginalSkooby]

It is a glory to behold.

[webcajun]

LOL

[stymye]

I'm one that asked about your compost so I posted a video in return, thanks for taking the time to do so .mine's not very elaborate either but it sure don't hurt because it takes so little effort.

[webcajun]

As long as you're not in any big hurry it works fine.