Composting - Make it happen: A guide to backyard composting

Learn about the process of composting yard trim materials right in your own backyard. This video provides information about the types of materials that can be composted, how to set up a composting bin and the composting process.

[@rebeccahenry4930]

kitchen scraps are the best part of composting!

[@BringbackthefarmBlogspot]

I have my compost pile in with my chickens. They eat and help break down my kitchen scraps. I am getting compost that much quicker now. Thanks for the video. LOVE IT.

[@mike72385052]

At the risk of being a resounding gong - Vegetable scraps are an excellent addition to compost.. I use a few homemade tumblers myself, and have NEVER had a rodent issue.. Adding veggie scraps adds a wonderful array of nutrients that are NOT found in clippings and leaves alone.. If you're new to compost, please don't end your education with this subpar video.. Edit: He also failed to mention that using city water (chlorinated) will be counter productive - the chlorine will slow your composting process as it kills microbial life.. Collect rainwater, purchase a chlorine removing inline filter or a reverse osmosis system..

[@gardeningtipswithphil2244]

Composting is something that every gardener should be doing.

[@RobertLoeder]

Gardening Tips With Phil Gardening is something every person should be doing!

[@gardeningtipswithphil2244]

***** I do agree with you there.

[@1d1hamby]

A very well thought out video. They are being very cautious of the materials to protect people that like to over do things. The compost bin that they endorse is approximately 2.5 X 13 feet that can be adjusted to different diameters. Usually from 3 feet to almost 5 feet across. The biggest thing they don't share is that since it is not attached to the ground you can slide the side up and make it as tall as you want. Compost works best once it is over 3 feet high and wide. You can make the bin the largest size and fill the bottom with branches several inches high and slide the side up when it is full. You'll want to experiment with this to get the most oxygen into the pile without drying it out too much. I've put as much as 24" of branches in the bottom and made the pile 7 feet high and it seems to give me the best results. I turn them about every 3 weeks after they cook down to 3 or 4 feet high.

[@ladygunsmith7742]

Why can't you put vegetable waste into compost bins? That is plant material and the reason why most people compost.

[@MrVagrantArt]

First, thanks for posting the video. I think it's well done. I do have to say, however, that I agree with many posters here that vegetable scraps should be considered a very beneficial adjunct to the compost pile as long as the 10% rule is observed: no one vegetable scrap should constitute more than 10% of the materials in the pile. Also, while the peanut shells you suggested certainly do compost, they can take a long time to break down unless they are crushed.

[@jonmarshall9154]

I didn't realize bob Sagat was that passionate about compost.

[@kwodell8694]

The easiest and best way to keep pests out of compost piles with fruit and veggie scraps is to either freeze the scraps before adding them or run the scraps through a blender or food processor before adding to the compost pile. In the winter I keep my scraps bucket (with a tight lid) outside the kitchen door where they freeze. In summer I run scraps through the food processor. The smaller to particles, the faster they break down. Frozen scraps have their cell walls burst and are unpalatable to most pests. A new compost pile should heat up in a couple of days and turing it every 3 days will speed up the process a lot. Also I microwave eggs shells for 1.5 mins and grind them up in a spice/coffee grinder and add to my compost as well.

[@YouPlantTube]

I personally use a black compost bin positioned in a area receiving maximum sunlight for faster results. I also add vegetable scraps, the video doesn't explain why he is leaving out vegetable scraps...

[@cathywilson3551]

yes you do use veg scraps... I have never had an issue with pests, but have had them in the trash!!!

[@AnggusKopeliani]

Thank you for the video, it's very informative. Mycelium does not develop when mixed compost. I use 2 summer beds of boards in which the fungus decomposes compost and black soil is a secondary result of such beds. They can see on my channel. Sorry for the bad English.

[@CesarLopez-wt7zt]

This year I started my first compost file and didn't use any kind of bin. I simply piled it to about four foot in diameter and made it about 3 feet high. I did add vegetable and fruit scraps but ensured that it was in the very center and buried halfway in the pile. We have possums, racoons, rats, cats, and dogs in the neighborhood and not once did an animal try to dig out the food. The only thing it attracted were green anoles and salamanders which I like since they eat mosquitos and flies.

[@Huntingforbeauty007]

no idea why they would tell you not to compost kitchen scraps

[@TheOnlyKateslate]

I capture rain water in barrels to moisten the compost because the water from our hose is potable, meaning it has been treated to keep bacterial activity to a minimum, defeating the purpose of composting. It does dechlorinate eventually, but rain water is a bit better to use.

[@nereidapr1]

Composting is great. I have 2 section of compost. The old one that i used for mixing wit my soil for planting and the newer one that I'm just letting it there to brake down.

[@adaoraneboh9564]

Thanks for this video. Really simplifies it all.

[@vjastrix]

leave egg shells out? Worms love egg shells. I can't think why you'd want to leave egg shells out?

[@mancerab3]

Great video. Comprehensive and easy to follow. However, I also feel its kind of strange that he says not to compost vegetables.

[@TheOnlyKateslate]

I have learned that you can use those scraps if you line your bin with hardware cloth and have a secure lid to keep the rats out. That the only problem with food scraps. I have a worm bin for my kitchen scraps...they give us great soil amendments too!

[@aup01564]

Thanks for your good information and your smile :) ... compost make it happen!

[@Jonrocat]

VEGETABLE SCRAPS CAN BE ADDED TO YOUR COMPOST this video is wrong

[@Paul21691]

well it could attract insects or even make it smell for a while so thats more of a depends situation like for me i compost in large drums that can be covered to keep things out or if you compost in a tumbler yeah use veggie and fruit scrapes but it does take a bit more turning or at least for me it does

[@xvxcalvin]

i like this guy. he's happy.

[@magicsupamoggie]

So what do you suggest should happen to the veg scraps? Mine go in the compost bin and I have never had any problems.

[@salvino8576]

Very informative, great video

[@oscar86456]

thank you so much for this very detailed and informative ideas you shared in your video. God bless you Sir!!!

[@CountToBen]

If you hot compost, your fruit and vegetable scraps will not attract pests. To hot compost, just make sure you have a nitrogen in the pile and turn it. Should turn it every few days at first, then maybe once a week after.

[@LongmontJeni]

Vegetable scraps are much better to include in compost than dryer lint. Overall, a nice video.

[@druidenwerk]

Nice Video....Thanks for the Informations

[@Kappucinokiss1]

all the other videos use vegetable scraps just no cooked materials ??

[@yes350yes]

+Kappucino Kiss I agree this vid is wrong , first time Ive seen a video say no kitchen scraps. I might add the finer these scraps can be chopped up the better.

[@mansourninhouche1474]

thank you very much, that's good

[@EvolvingGirl114]

great video! thanks

[@suilekelly]

The best way to compost is to make a massive pile. My pile used to be 8 foot tall and 7 feet wide. Just a loose pile of leaves and grass clippings. It is now only 4 feet tall. Kitch waste and all seeds go into the center of the pile. don't ever be afraid to put weeds with seeds in the thing.

[@Teratornis]

The cheapest bin is to find four discarded wooden pallets (skids) and tie them together in a square pattern. But even so, the Geobin pictured in the video is available on Amazon for less than $40. If you (and your neighbors) don't care about appearance, you can just use an open heap. You could also contact your county and ask why they aren't encouraging residents to compost.

[@1beastkid149]

in school we learned to put veggie and food scraps in compost

[@MarkGardiner1976]

I would love to put biochar into my heap but can`t get any anywhere. I started to make some of my own but could only make small amounts. Great tip though. I add biochar directly to my garden whenever I can make some.

[@nachobizz1]

Are you able to put vegetables that are uncooked in the compost if you did not use them and went bad or just bad in the garden?

[@JennyBroadbridge]

I agree with valg321. Veggie scraps are great for composting. It should hae been clarified in the video.

[@bowler8]

wish they gave out compost bins in our county

[@MattijsJvO1976]

Ok I made a big pile of garden waste and tree leaves. The leaves are mainly from Platans. But I also put the leaves from a big walnut tree. Now I see that wasn't a good idea. Did my compost became poisonous? What is the worst that can happen if I use it in my garden?

[@chestypants78]

My compost bin is large, round and has no holes around it, like the bin you have in this video. I suppose it's fine that mine is full of fruit and veg peelings/ scraps? I use coffee grounds, tea bags and lots of green material. I don't have much dead leaves. There's also a lot of twigs and a small bit of brown paper.

[@MarkGardiner1976]

Good video but two things. You say don`t use kitchen scraps. You really should use kitchen scraps they are a wonderful source of nutrients for your compost. I`ve been composting for years and always use kitchen scraps. also, you really shouldn`t mix the pile once you have added your materials. Mixing the pile disturbs the heat process and will result in reducing the temperature therefore disturbing the thermophile bacteria that are needed to break the pile down to compost.

[@tocaelisha662]

hi, if I may ask,for how many months does compost will fully turn into organic soil that is ready to use? thank you..

[@Pwn3dbyth3n00b]

Don't compost vegetables? Lol sure sign that they don't know what they are talking about.

[@314Tazo]

I, of course, use vegetable scraps. Montgomery County is trying to discourage unwanted animals from getting into the compost pile, like, racoons, rats, dogs, opossums, etc.

[@allbunsglazing]

314Tazo and instead, eat them at the landfill where they catch them, grind them up, and sell them at the yearly fundraising bbq. CLEARLY A CONSPIRACY!

[@robertmaffei1788]

I live in Hagerstown, MD, and I was wondering where I can purchase compost bins featured in this video? Can anyone help me?

[@gracetowne9144]

Keep an eye out for wooden pallets. Ask the owner for his extras. Six of them, standing on end and hooked together, works just fine.

[@bulbs2010]

silly man you can use veg scraps

[@Gruntypantsisdancing]

most of the info is legit but dont compost veggies??

[@valg321]

at 4:05 it says not to compost vegetable scraps...surely that's a mistake. I've been adding vegetable scraps in my compost for years.

[@cherryapple10]

Brilliant, this video has answered All of my questions :)

[@kingtut574]

You are supposed to put in fruit and veggie scraps. They are rich in nitrogen but they will atract pest if you do not secure them. Also you can use pet waste as long as the pets are herbivores.

[@DEG2882]

Very Informative - thxs

[@Teewentnatural]

did u say it takes 6 months for all of this to happen?

[@julzabro]

What if your lawn has been sprayed in the past with chemicals? Should that not be used at all or is there a period of time one should wait before using grass clippings?

[@RobertLoeder]

julzabro I own a tree service and have noticed that shortly after the commercial spray trucks leave, dozens of bees will be dead or convulsing all over the property that has just been sprayed. I wish more people would just give gardening a try. Most people would enjoy it immensely. And most gardeners would consider it ludicrous to spray harmful chemicals onto their little portion of earth!

[@ratthechicken]

Didn't know Romney liked organic gardening......

[@mrwaqasali]

Do you have any video or article which teach you how to make good quality compost with peelings and vegetable scraps also tell me how long will it take?

[@stephenm107]

I think he is saying not to use kitchen scraps because this video is representing a county and they are probably trying to deter rats and mice. My city does the same thing. They have a composting program and tell you "officially" not to use kitchen scraps. But if you chat with any of them while they aren't in front of a crowd doing a demonstration they'll say kitchen scraps are fine as long as it is a sealed container.

[@judy4justice]

I use vegetable and fruit peelings in my compost!! Every other video I have watched has specified using vegetable scraps, so why do you say not to use them??Very confused now!

[@muhammadfitrisamat3854]

for how long this fertiliser will completely done. Did it take about 2 months or more??

[@TheMoojoo0]

So is the only reason not to compost dairy and meat products that they may attract pests? If I had a pest-proof compost bin, would they be ok?

[@Vintage_Recreations]

People, it is not that hard! Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, everything alive rots when dead. All you have to do is keep meat, fats, & oil out of it. (And the meat is mainly for the smell factor. And there are bacteria that will consume the fats.) The rest of this advice about ratios, turning, watering, drainage, aeration, is just about optimizing the speed in which it all happens. You have to work damn hard to keep something from rotting. Just pile your dead plant matter up and let nature do it!

[@ferrouscromagnon]

Compost is not a fertilizer. Compost is how soil is supposed to look. Spreading compost on your lawn is somewhat useful, but compost tea on your lawn is extremely useful.

[@GardenHood]

bury it?

[@gabb05]

can the bin be substituted with a garden/garbage bag?

[@lombrizdeexporte8604]

Vegetables is food, unlike grass clipping and leaves. That could attract animals like the guys says, for example rodents.

[@yes350yes]

+Lombriz de exporté Just keep meats out and you will be fine from critters

[@gracetowne9144]

Get a worm farm! Place your veggy waste into the farm, then use the worm CASTINGS in the compost instead! Your plants will go "yummy!"

[@TwigsInOurHair]

Wow, this video must have been made by a county lawn management department. Usual ratio is 1:1 brown to green. Usual time for compost is 6-8 weeks. And everyone else advocates using vegetable kitchen scraps. A little hard to determine the useful stuff from the bogus, so this video is NOT recommended.

[@mjb12141963]

And when the pile freezes solid?

[@NorthsidetreeandgardenAuSydney]

Good advice.

[@coolchicnfriends]

I disagree about the kitchen scraps. Any food scraps such as vegetable or fruit can be added to compost. It works fine for us.

[@valg321]

it lacks oxygen, turn the pile every once in a while, and try to add brown material. A compost with only green material, smells frequently

[@druidenwerk]

Nice Video....Thanks for the Informations Like an Sub

[@Thehubb1]

No veggies? What?

[@taviyo]

I disagree about the kitchen scraps! That is incorrect information.

[@TheOnlyKateslate]

Unless you buy all cotton and cotton knit clothing like we do.

[@Turiya10]

what's what chip beautiful video

[@TheAussieRaven]

from what i understand the temp of a compost heap should kill any weed seeds that get into your compost so weed seedlings shouldnt be a prob andf if you turn your compost reg it should't really draw in pests

[@alan30189]

Don't put vegetable scraps in? That's ridiculous. Its okay to add them, just bury them so it doesn't attract rodents.

[@user-sl4rh9gl5e]

Ant will come out from under ground , or termite

[@ChivalricKennels]

you know..."they". its just that weird guy, Adam, from the midwest;)

[@fjoa123]

what? no vegetables? those are the best greens, and also, enslave some worms and have them feast inside the bin. they will speed up the process and add wormcastings to the mixx. Also you should keep orange, lemon or other acid fruits, and hot peppers out of the bin.

[@magicsupamoggie]

+fjoa123 Orange and lemon? Why?

[@fjoa123]

Anne Fricker because they will change the PH of the compost too much. Some bacteria cant survive in media with high ph. Also if you plan on using the compost for things like potting or garden soil, high ph may also be a problem for certain plants. Better keep ir neutral!

[@user-sl4rh9gl5e]

Bottom should be brick, not solid

[@Avaya20090700]

dude- you said no vegetable food scraps??? What the Front Yard!? You WANT to add vegetable food scraps!

[@tonyxthextigre]

bob saget is that you?

[@FarmBazaar]

Who is "they"?

[@susiearviso3032]

Okaaaay, most viewers aren't from "Montgomery County."

[@FulinYu]

Disagree w/ the advice about not composting veg scrapes.

[@Teratornis]

The advice is conservative, probably because the method has to be fool-proof for the general public. Vegetable scraps compost nicely, but to keep varmints off the pile you must bury the scraps deeply under inedible yard waste or old compost. If the pile interior is warm, the vegetable scraps will become unpalatable to varmints in a few days as they decay. You can also get a pest-proof bin or tumbler, but they cost more and hold less than the open Geobin in the video.

[@babylongate]

not vegetables? , HHHHHHHHHHH that is not true

[@mycameraview]

No charcoal??? Get yourself an education on biochar!

[@Beesa10]

Don't add vegetable scraps? Really?! Don't add meat or bones or cooked food leftovers or mouldy cheese etc because it will probably attract rats (commonsense). Vegetable scraps and eggshells are ok. How about: Avoid buying a plastic compost container, find some bits of wood and make your own.

[@goriders100]

terrible subtitles

[@skippygirl959]

lol cause we should worry about our PLANTS if our dogs are parasite, virus, bacteria, and insect ridden.

[@gracetowne9144]

Keep an eye out for wooden pallets. Ask the owner for his extras. Six of them, hooked together, works just fine.