3 Ways to Make Compost You Probably Haven't Tried

If you are frustrated by the results you are getting from traditional composting methods, then try these three ways of compost. All are less work, less water-intensive, and easier to manage than traditional composting.
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[@gonzo191]

I used to do small scale cold composting by putting food scraps into an old container but found it too taxing to turn. So now I just do trench composting inside of my old containers and in 2 weeks I'm golden. No more worrying about ratio/watering/turning. Just add soil, food scraps/plant cuttings, soil (repeat scraps and soil to lasagna if necessary), cover and leave for 2 weeks. Did this with dry, hard, dusty, dead soil and was shocked by the soil quality after. I found that there's so much over-complication in gardening from various sources. Just keep it simple and let nature sort itself out.

[@alfonsomunoz4424]

Yup, nature will do the work and you can't stop it. I have three piles going now. One is a miniature Johnson-Su biorector using wood chips. I don't turn it at all, I just uncover it when the rains come, cover it when the sun comes out. One is in a bed, mostly static. I sometimes turn it, sometimes don't. It just depends on how impatient I get. The third is my active pile that I turn. I enjoy turning it. When the leaves fall in December I'll gather as many as I can from my yard and neighborhood parks. Leaf piles are my favorite kind of compost.

[@ZAdobber64]

i just wanna say how awesome these series of composting videos have been. they are some of the most comprehensive on YT. THANKS Diego.

[@SimpleEarthSelfReliance]

Composting, both aerobic and anaerobic, has its perks and cons. Good video Diego, thanks. Putting in a little work, here and there, and then having different systems is the best journey to finding the one that works for you.

[@TsmithJustin]

Made 2 tons of compost last year so far this we've doubled that and have 4 piles going now. Everything goes to the compost!

[@hgw90026]

Would love to see a video on your 4 tons worth of compost.

[@maryalvarez1704]

Justin Smith dose that man I can used blue tube if I don’t on

[@unitedstatesdale]

Diego is willing to experiment, That motivates me. Thanks Diego , Im going to build a reator !

[@victorybeginsinthegarden]

when trash can composting I find it better to add dirt to the can every once in a while It helps the worms process the compost faster

[@catherinegrace2366]

Love all of the different spots for your composting. You have a beautiful harvest on its way. Composting makes me feel in control lol I enjoy recycling everything and I’m recycling my weeds! Win/win. Great video. New sub!

[@ButterflyLullabyLtd]

Excellent video on Composting. Love it. ♥️ I will share on my small gardening group here in Wales, UK. The tomato growing video was brilliant too. And works. Thank you.

[@SpaceLifeSelfSufficiency]

Thanks for the tips, we have been composting for years and would never go back, why spend money on good soil when it can be made for free, great video from a smaller vegetable growing youtuber! :)

[@stupot8413]

I came here for more compost ideas, now subscribed. Here in the UK I have almost unlimited grass clippings, fresh or like hay, woodchips from hedgerow cutting, tree coppicing, plus the usual garden and vegetable waste. Some great ideas on you channel. 👍

[@phuocminhbui]

Very good information about to compost. I like it. Thanks

[@jeffcrist2977]

The perf'd drain pipe is the key I think. So elegant. I want to get some hardware cloth, roll up a long section on flat ground, as long as space allows and pile the "stuff" on top up to a foot. Lay another 2 ft. away, same same. I'll let you know.

[@JohnMarsing]

As I understand it, the Johnson Su Bioreactor is more fungal dominant because your not disturbing the compost pile like you would with a windrow composting. This static system allows the fungal network to grow

[@jerrymaxey782]

Yep

[@hgw90026]

Keep in mind the original concept was to use wood chips as the source material. Give it's mostly carbon, the composition is mostly done by fungal as opposed to bacterial.

[@blablabla1000able]

Is this a good thing?

[@lukewarm2075]

Great info thanks

[@jewelerjef]

love the johnson-Su explanation.. thanks

[@markprescott2011]

Another great video Diego!!!

[@DiegoFooter]

Thanks!

[@pepguardiola1537]

Great video as always. You're the Heisenberg of composting

[@DiegoFooter]

Thanks, I will take it!

[@Notafraidofthedark]

Thanks Diego. I think i understand why i cant get any heat in my compost now, and how to resolve this without loads of work. I'm in south east Ireland so we have lots of rain, so i've been covering mine with plastic....but i realise now that is too anaerobic. Going out for some old drainpipe and landscape fabric right now!

[@colleenmoore1741]

trialing a variation of the Johnson-Su composting system using composting bins with holes drilled in the side and a central air flow tube of land drainage pipe :)

[@lovethegarden.kumariyeline4835]

Good guidence.

[@dare369]

Compost is the best... Nothing beats more time for quality

[@metamud8686]

Yay in advance for the bioreactor-build-vid! :-D

[@DespiteMyself7]

I have several square yard (3×3x3) tote bags from feed, and the fabric is air and water permeable. They aren't as tall as yours, but I'm planning on driving t-posts in the corners for structure. I'll be sure to drop some pipes in now for aeration!

[@TheJunkyardgenius]

People hate weeds, i see them as a valued cut and come again crop, they make me endless compost. I love the bio reactors i cant wait to see the next video on how you built them. Just one thing, how do you get the compost out? All i can think is either cut it open or tip it over. Possibly make a door at the bottom like a commercial bin has.

[@DiegoFooter]

I believe unhooking the cylinder and letting it spill out will be the best way to get out the compost and not damage the unit.

[@TheJunkyardgenius]

@@DiegoFooter great, thanks for replying.

[@amysnipes4245]

Hi Diego, I always learn something from your posts. I have access to lots of horse manure, chip-shredded paper and used coffee grounds. If I layer these on an unplanted bed should I cover it if I get a lit of summer rain? (2 to 3" at a time.) Thanks so much.

[@geldanem.t.5515]

Great video! thanks for sharing the awesome abundant content ^_^

[@TheNumbers400]

What all of you are missing is insulated hot composting. I use insulated 160 gal fish transport containers with lids to get hot compost in weeks. It takes turning and attention but I can make insane amount of compost without any watering in a fraction of the time, and I live in cold cold Iceland

[@DiegoFooter]

How are you doing that?

[@TheNumbers400]

​ @Diego Footer The open piles loose a lot of heat and moisture. By putting the material in an enclosed vessel with plenty of free carbon like coffee chaff, autumn leafs and cardboard you can get crazy hot really quick. It needs work and it needs attention but the results are awesome. I currently have four 160 gal containers for this method. And I have NEVER watered my compost.

[@TheNumbers400]

@@DiegoFooter And fresh grass clippings are great added to fresh wood chips to speed up the decay of the wood, and it is a nice way to get "rid" of the clippings. I know that was another video but, still... :)

[@balintveto2708]

you can say in the office “i am building a bioreactor this weekend” even if you didnt even had a garden :) it sounds cool

[@Nocare89]

I like the idea of it just because of simplicity. For now, I just move a pile around yard to fill holes and kill moss. Decent exercise too.

[@RockMonster1000]

Woah. Pretty cool.

[@ChrisJCarter]

Thanks for the video! I made the mistake mixing unbroken down compost with soil for some tomato plants and a couple weeks later their leaves turned yellow. I learned that my plants weren't getting enough nitrogen. I've been using fish emulsion to save them.

[@BadgerBabyBoy]

I don’t want to turn the pile because I don’t want to kill the worms 🐛 💚 they do so much for us

[@Buildingenjoyment]

That is why the pitch fork was invented 😂

[@nicklohry9284]

Why do you think that the worms can't burrow back down after flipping the pile? They can lol

[@SuperHealthychoices]

Enjoyed it to the end with the pissed off neighbor...lol

[@Mrbfgray]

I simply have 2 or 3 *piles* on the ground, adding to the fresh one while drawing from the old one. It doesn't much matter how long it takes as X in yields Y out regardless. I may turn it and water it on occasion but it's near zero investment and minimal time/effort, good for beginners and those not wanting to invest much. I've never had oder or flies and I toss everything recently living in it tho I do bury bones/carcasses in the middle to avoid attracting rodents and such.

[@rufia75]

@Diego Footer , the bioreactor could be more fungally dominant as you are not breaking up the fungus networks/hyphae when you turn the pile/physically aerate it. You'd probably have to do a comparative study to really determine, for sure...

[@WIZARDWERX]

thx

[@charliewilliams8794]

New gardener here and im trying to do a cold compost but I do turn it every so often. Kitchen scrapes some garden stuff since its not a hot compost i havent been using and tomatoes,cucumbers or zucchini cole crops b cuz someone said the bugs and diseases will be in my compost and since I'm new I havent learned disease and regular die back. So am I doing ok? My pile is 3 ft wide and at one time 3 ft tall but it looks like its breaking down well. I didnt know if it should be on the ground so it is and I havent covered it i water if we don't get rain but that hasnt been a problem I figured I'd cover it for winter and uncover on good sunny days. I also use my Guinea pig bedding. It looks like its breaking down pretty good. If I want to use it next year when should I stop adding stuff to it? Or do you keep adding and use the bottom part as needed. Im sorry im really new to gardening and trying to compost its really expensive b cuz i container garden and raised beds and i also started a small area on the ground lol im loving it but its confusing as well. Thanks for taking the time to read this. And thanks for sharing your wisdom 🙂

[@peteretired8054]

What about using an IBC tote and incorporating some of the bioreactor concepts. Its almost already made and easily moved with a tractor with forks

[@DiegoFooter]

I think that makes sense. Add a few more pipes and punch holes in the sides.

[@whatnotzone6866]

"Homestead Street Cred" That's funny!

[@VastCNC]

Do you water your reactors? I'm hoping to build a few this year. Thanks for the details!

[@DiegoFooter]

Yes, you add an irrigation system. Daily watering. I don't think it would break down without consistent moisture.

[@magicalexchanges9441]

i think it would be interesting to figure out which method is more productive, in terms of producing a good quality compost

[@danielpinasco]

Thank you so much, i have been watching your videos, i am from Perú, south america, trying to get those materials... Do you know any alternative materials, sizes? (I live in a department with some concrete yard xD)

[@davidbrieske6148]

Ok, who's complaining that composting is too much work? Hahaha!

[@solmma]

What is that defines if it is Nitrogen or Carbon? Is it just the dryness of the plant? Grass is ways nitrogen or it has to be dry grass? Loved the trash can idea! In the big static pile you showed you still have to use the ration of carbon and nitrogen, don't you? Don't you have temperature problems? I have three small compost piles of different materials, never know what is the chemical composition of them. In the end I thrust in the chicken dry manure I use anyways...

[@denisefaith5204]

queen bees need a leaf pile to overwinter and so do many catipillars

[@sunalwaysshinesonTVs]

I believe the biggest benefit of the bioreactor, according the Johnson, is the diversity of microbes in the end product. However, he does add worms as the final step in the process.

[@Dee.C]

Does the bioreactor have to be that tall ? I am very short, very short, so there is no way I could do one that big. I know I could use a ladder but at 60 years old and with my health issues, ya , that won't happen .I do like a lot of your ideas . Some I already use and have for years. I have never seen the bioreactor until you built it . WOW!

[@jnathanbush1780]

Great video Diego, as usual very useful information. My question is, how many tonns of organic matter do i need for making enough compost for one acre?

[@DiegoFooter]

Someone like Dr. David Johnson or Dr. Elaine Ingram would say not much. Quality compost goes a long way. You can extend it out with teas. A ton of raw organic matter is probably more than enough for your needs. It sounds like a lot, but a ton really isn’t that much when you see it piled up.

[@jnathanbush1780]

@@DiegoFooter thanks, I am currently looking into this aspect and I had a passive pile of leaves for a year that turned into beautiful compost for my tomatoe farm. I will share my observations when I compile accurate information... I will now get into making the teas coz I never have, thanks to you, I think you've woken me up.... 🤣🤣🤣

[@TheIWS]

Is anyone thinking of adding an agressive fungi, like stropharia rugosa anulata. May speed up decomp and give tasty mushrooms also.

[@wesbaumguardner8829]

He did not even mention sheet composting. That is the easiest method. Just spread it around on the ground and let nature do the rest. If you have some green stuff that might go anaerobic, just rake aside some leaves, straw, or wood mulch (whatever you are using for browns) and throw the green stuff down directly onto the ground and rake the brown stuff back over the top. The worms will handle the rest. No need to make a worm bin. You can do this directly in your raised beds, especially in the off season so once it is in there, you no longer have to handle it any more and your beds get the direct benefits of having the nutrients and the life. You can even do this with weeds if you have enough mulch.

[@carlduffin]

Do you think in sheet composting you lose a lot more nitrogen to the air than if the same material was rotting down in a heap or bin?

[@wesbaumguardner8829]

@@carlduffin Once nitrogen is released into the air, it is gone no matter what. Most nitrogen is released into the air during the decomposition process no matter what you do. It is only the nitrogen that gets chemically bonded to other atoms that becomes plant available. I have not performed lab tests, but I do not see how sheet composting would cause less nitrogen to be bound, Sheet composting is basically how a forest composts itself naturally.

[@lindasands1433]

I like the idea, but how do you get the pipes in there? You'd need to have long arms!

[@PKV-wl3ec]

I love composting lol

[@idiocracy10]

I bet you could do an awesome john stossle imitation.

[@lazygardens]

If you are going to pull the pipes out of that "bioreactor", you can use anything to make those holes, including 4x4 fence posts.

[@DiegoFooter]

Yes you could.

[@equinoxproject2284]

Hello Mr. Footer, can you use the finished compost for creating new garden beds or planting seed tray with it...or is it only intended as a raw soil supplement or for compost tea base?

[@DiegoFooter]

I wouldn’t start seeds or plant into pure compost.

[@equinoxproject2284]

@@DiegoFooter Hey!... thanks for responding!! I have been looking for some details on using this compost in home gardens. Like how much, how often, time of year and things like that. Not much out there. Any content on this topic you could provide would be appreciated.

[@DiegoFooter]

Add a bunch at the beginning, then you may never need it again if you keep plants growing in the soil. The initial heavy dose changes the soil structure quickly so plants can do well quickly. Then the plants and soil biology will go to work and you won't need as much compost. I will have more videos on this in the future. You don't have to add compost to build soil organic matter or improve soil.

[@equinoxproject2284]

@@DiegoFooter Thanks so much.

[@RideAlongside]

Homestead street cred! 😂👍

[@backwoodsbaby9729]

What i havent found is the details on when to put the worms in. And what material ratios you should use in the bioreactor. Hopefully you have included that information.

[@DiegoFooter]

Ratios on the feedstock are 100% open - fill it with what you have is what I gather. On worms it depends on your feedstock. I used 100% woodchips in mine. I won't add worms until it starts to look a bit like "soil" - maybe around 3 months. If you use more annual plant type materials or manures then David suggests adding worms after the period where it is "hot".

[@davidbrieske6148]

Don't add the worms when it is still heating up. It will kill them or run them off.

[@carolparrish194]

Just one question. How do you empty that big compost container? Seems it would be diffecult.

[@DiegoFooter]

Just open at the seem and remove the outer cover.

[@Scoutdogs]

Is the bioreactor system affected by freezing temperatures? Would it kill off the bacteria/fungus given that they can't get more than 6"-12" away from air that is potentially in single digits or below zero temps? What about long and heavy rainfall? I didn't see holes in the trashcan lid so maybe that wouldn't be affected by heavy/prolonged rainfall, but does it get enough air without holes in the lid? Oh, and how often do you water the trashcan and how much at a time?

[@DiegoFooter]

Freezing - yes biology would slow down. Lots of rain - put a tarp over it. Lid on trash can - not a problem. Water as needed. Not very often. Depends on climate and what's in the can.

[@SulaimanTheWordSmith]

Where is a link

[@jenedge5579]

Hui-Chun Su is the Su of Johnson and Su. She was the “partner” that co invented the Johnson-Su Bioreactor. Note that the woman was completely removed from this narrative ☹️ It took me a minute to even find out her name in the Internet. Just bummed that women are rarely recognized for their scientific contribution.

[@bigal25938]

Guy sounds like John Stossel.

[@flutey28]

I'm using my neighbors old cat litter containers, washed out, to make compost in

[@seattlednb]

Does it have to be circular?

[@DiegoFooter]

No, but I think other shapes would be more challenging and potentially less strong.

[@brrryyyyce]

The bioreactor is likely more fungally-dominated because it’s aerobic.

[@douglashill4567]

Also it may never get very hot because of air cooling.

[@antoniovenezia2988]

I think it's more the fact you dont have to turn the pile and break up the fungal hyphe which keeps fungi from growing. But being aerobic is definatly part of it

[@milatduek9101]

I would make it easier. Pile on ground and hols of pipes in it!

[@duduodin7243]

What did you mean when you said that none of your compost piles are active?

[@DiegoFooter]

Not turned.

[@duduodin7243]

@@DiegoFooter okay gotcha. Those cylinders made of chicken wire, or reactors I think you called them dont need any turning right? I think I'm gonna make one tommorow

[@jamillefrancisco564]

Homestead street cred :)

[@georgemueller8066]

So after you get a whole bunch of compost from your Johnson-Su reactor, how do you get all the compost from the bottom of the reactor out. I can see that you can shovel out the first half or so but how do you get the last of the compost out so you can start over again? Thanks for the video.

[@DiegoFooter]

Undo the wire.

[@georgemueller8066]

@@DiegoFooter LOL nice when the obvious shows up to keep me humble. Thanks again.

[@BusterABrown]

The real problem with composting is everything in America is sprayed with Roundup and other cides.

[@DiegoFooter]

Not true.

[@BusterABrown]

Obviously not everything, but with pesticide drift in Illinois there is very little safe fields left.

[@BusterABrown]

@@DiegoFooter I am surrounded by twelve residences and businesses and everyone of their yards are sprayed. I live on a small town near Scott Air Base so I also get a strong dose of jet fuel and geo-engineering.

[@eyewokeupinhell]

This is a real issue...especially for those people buying/getting free compost from municipal sources...filled with all kinds of nasty ingredients...it is best to gather your own materials from sources you know for sure aren't compromised

[@SQ_og]

Dr Johnson method great

[@TheRebelmanone]

I thought he uses wood chips in the bioreactor, that may explain how he claims it will be fungi dominated.

[@DiegoFooter]

No, he uses less mature carbon sources.

[@cmwh1te]

I've watched a few of your videos and several times you've kinda downplayed the problem of anaerobic piles. Are you not concerned about methane emissions? It's better to put your cuttings on the curb and let the city take care of composting than to do it yourself and let it go anaerobic - maybe you get some value for your garden, but at an incredible environmental cost. In another video you talk about avoiding "always" and "never" thinking, but anaerobic composting is one case where "never" is the appropriate approach. The compost silo design is pretty cool, especially the internal aeration design. If people want a low effort static pile approach that avoids methane emissions, that's definitely the way to go.

[@1975CEES]

Johnson soup? isnt it Johnson Su

[@RodneyPeters]

What I'm having a hard time imagining is how to get the finished compost out of the bioreactor.

[@DiegoFooter]

Undo wire at closure point of the wrap and open up and shovel out.

[@RodneyPeters]

@@DiegoFooter Makes sense. Thanks for the reply.

[@justjacqueline2004]

I found I had to shred everything before composting,is this the same for anyone else?

[@DiegoFooter]

It would speed it up for sure but not required.

[@jerrymaxey782]

Just after it is hot that's fine

[@richstone2627]

Coworker: "What did you do over the weekend?" Me: I got drunk and built a Bioreactor." Coworker calls FBI & Homeland security terrorist hotline. LOL Look forward to the next video. Thanks. Oh that truck was probably the Organic Dude Bros version of the CIA

[@shadyman6346]

That was pretty damned funny!

[@jamaicanfarmershut]

jamaicanfarmershut