Complete guide start to finish on composting. This is the most basic and simple way to compost. In this video you will learn:
– Benefits of Compost on soil / plants
– What items you can compost
– What you shouldn’t compost
– How to build a compost pile
– How long it takes a compost pile to break down
I don’t overcomplicate anything here. It is just what to do and how to do it. I’ve been composting for about 5 years, and make 4-6 large piles every year.
*NOTE* – I didn’t think I needed to say this in the video, but any sawdust you use should come only from unfinished, air-dried or kiln-dried wood. Do not use sawdust from plywood, mdf, osb, particle board….etc. Only natural wood!
If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments.
Support our work by:
CLICK the “THANKS” button under the video to make a donation.
BECOME A PATRON:
https://www.patreon.com/growitbuildit
For a detailed article / quick reference guide for the information presented in this video, click below & save it to your favorites:
Regarding using cardboard in the compost pile, this article details if it is safe, organic, etc.
List of 101 items you can compost
How hot does compost need to get to kill weed seeds –
To learn how to use Compost to naturally fertilize your lawn –
My DIY Tomato Cages – low cost, strong, sturdy, and they store better than conventional cages
Here is the equivalent sized garden fork used in the video: https://amzn.to/43Rp947
(affiliate link)
The infrared thermometer I use – https://amzn.to/3bYdzMx (affiliate link)
See our collection of videos on how to improve your garden –
#compost
#composting
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE:
JOIN OUR FACEBOOK GROUP:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/gardeningwithnativeplants/
JOIN OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTER:
https://sendfox.com/growitbuildit
PURCHASE SEEDS FOR MANY OF THE FLOWERS WE REFERENCE:
https://amzn.to/36IQA67 (affiliate link)
SHOP OUR RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS PAGE:
CHECK OUT OUR BLOGGING & YOUTUBE TIPS HERE:
Shop our ETSY where you can buy instant digital downloads of select photos we have taken:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/GrowitBuildit?ref=seller-platform-mcnav
46 Comments
I watched your video a few days ago! Every time I started a compost pile it never, I mean never heated up. I tired to heat up my compost pile more times that I care to admit or count. I follow your method step by step and HOLY COW for the first time EVER MY PILE IS HOT. I am so thankful to you! A MILLÓN THANKS. I have a hot compost. So happy 😁 temperature 110 after just one day!!!
Question: can you compost on the ground if it’s covered with grass? Also can you use newspaper that uses some colored ink but is not glossy?
Can thistle plants be used for the green element?
Great video! I would like to have a year round compost pile but live in the north. Wondering if my compost will go to waste in -30 celcius and covered in snow? Once your compost pile is established, how much maintenance do you have to do?
I was just planning a compost and saw your video, i have two questions if you could help
1. Can we use bamboo and teak leafs
2. What if it gets exposed to monsoon rains during the course of compost preparation
Do you cover your piles when it rains? Is light rain ok, heavy rain ok? Raining for 4 days straight??
Wow.. I didn't know it was that fast.
Ok, I would like to do this along the wooden fence in my backyard. Is that a bad idea. Is two feet far enough away? Also, so a heavy rain will not create a mess? So a cover is never needed?
I still don't understand how or why your compost heap got hot and started "steaming smoke".
https://youtu.be/ovIGRPcg7-I
Thanks!
.. great video .. thanks a lot, much appreciated .. one question: why do you keep adding things like kitchen scraps throughout the process?
What about pinestraw?
Thanks this is so far a good lesson
Can I cover it with a heavy plastic to make it heat faster ?
Up in Alaska winters are pretty long
Btw you can still compost meat cheese citrus just bury it
Totally agree! So many videos where the brown green ratio is a product of NASA!! – as you said, keep it plant based and turn regularly and don't worry too much about the "science"
Thank you for your simple tips!! Ive eatched soooomany videos… dicouraged thinking ill never get it. But alas!! I found your channel! Thanks for your simple easy to understand ways of composting!
Hi, i subscribed today after i saw how to make compost simplified. You are a very good teacher because you are showing it step by step. It is very easy to understand. Some videos they just talk and talk ….i don't know what they mean? But you are showing pictures so i better understand 🙂 Now i understand how to make Bacteria Dominant compost correctly. Can you make a simplified video about Fungal Dominant Compost so that i can used it for my Blueberries? I still don't understand how it is made? Please inform me when you happened to make such video okay? Thank You in advance have a nice day.
If it rains a bunch on the pile will that ruin it?
I have 3/4 acre yard and a 1/8 acre hidden area I use for my composting area and my nursery, After watching this I realize I need to start adding more brown and turning more the first week. I am going to also go to 3 piles instead of 2. Thanks for your help!!
TY for the summary which many Vloggers forget to do. 🙂
I listened t o the end n read comments … WHERE on earth does a common person go to get untreated sawdust like that??? That is a lot! Does it cost you if you go to, like, a lumber yard?
what if it rains?
I'm having trouble with tree vines finding the compost pile and using it before I can break it all down to use elsewhere. Maybe going to put cardboard underneath, or fabric
Wow, I have been doing composting wrong all these time. Thank you for the very informative video.
Is it possible to turn the pile too much? I've been using thatch as my carbon source and adding lawn clippings for my nitrogen and 1 week in I've turned it ever day. Just want to make sure I'm not overturning.
THANK YOU‼️ You answered several of my questions & made it simple❤️
Do you ever have problems with fires?
Are sticks supposed to be in there though. Doesn’t look like those are breaking down
Where can I get saw dust? Please let me know
I dont have saw dust, is there an alternative?
Can i use rice chaff as a brown material?
A word to the wise. If you use a wide open pile like this cats will come use it as a litter box ane contaminate it with disease and whatever is harbored in their intestines, though I love cats I had to caution about this.
Hey I have a pile of stump shavings. We cut down two crêpe myrtles and had the stumps ground. The pile appears to be at least 50-50 shavings and dirt. Maybe 60% shavings at the most. Should I just leave it as is, turning it every few days and let it compost? or should I add some brown like dried leaves? Wish I could send you a photo.
Thanks! Hey I have a pile of stump shavings. We cut down two crêpe myrtles and had the stumps ground. The pile appears to be at least 50-50 shavings and dirt. Maybe 60% shavings at the most. Should I just leave it as is, turning it every few days and let it compost? or should I add some brown like dried leaves? Wish I could send you a photo.
Will this work in a hot, dry environment like Utah in summer? The environment in your video looks well watered like eastern US
Amazing video ! Can I use just 2 ingredients; saw dust and grass ? and What about shredded printer paper?
This is probably a silly question, but I’m new to composting….with the pile getting hot and the wind blowing, is there a chance that it can cause a fire?
I watched your video today. You said you can add hard clay like sand. That is pretty much my yard. How do you add it in?
I want to make a spot soon so i can make an in ground garden to plant some grapes and pumkins.
Just got a composter for my birthday, early June, 2023. Love not wasting kitchen scraps! I always felt sad throwing them out! Very excited! 🙂
What about weeds in the grass clippings?
1. Does it matter if the compost is situated to thrive in sunny area or shaded? 2. This can be used to fertilize a food garden?
You have to be very careful with shredded Cardboard as a brown it's (350:1).
Same with using Sawdust (325:1) using leaves that are (60:1) is a better idea because they are much closer to the (30:1) target C to N ratio 👍.
Basically if you're going to be using cardboard and sawdust as your main source of browns in the pile you're going to need a lot more green's to offset the carbon nitrogen.
I love using sawdust in my compost pile if I detect I have too high of a nitrogen ratio.
I use it as my secret weapon to offset accidentally using too many greens it works perfectly for that 👍.
How do you get rid of the ants frequenting the compost? My mom and brother got discouraged because the ants never seem to go away! 😥