For great compost, think like a microbe | Gardening 101 | Gardening Australia

The key to creating good compost is to think like a microbe.
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Like us, microbes need air, water and food. Get that right, and the local microorganisms and insects will soon transform your kitchen and garden waste into rich, healthy, sweet-smelling compost. A handful of compost can contain a billion microorganisms.
Costa sets up a simple system with two upright plastic compost bins - the ones with no base, although he covers them with some chicken wire to keep out vermin. Simply find a spot that’s out of the way, not in full sun, away from tree roots, and sitting on soil. Ideally you have two bins so, after one has been filled, you can leave it to decompose while you fill the second bin.
There’s no secret recipe or ‘right or wrong’ to making compost, but it’s important to keep a balance of carbon-rich, brown material (used for energy) and nitrogen-rich greens (used to reproduce and grow).
Green is the nitrogen-rich fresh material that includes kitchen scraps, grass clippings, fresh weeds, coffee grounds and tea leaves - even chicken feathers and poo.
Brown material can include dry leaves, straw from animal bedding, wood chips, shredded paper, and ripped-up egg cartons.
When you’re starting, it’s also best to keep meat, wheat and dairy out, as they can attract vermin.
Start with a layer of dry carbon material, which has air pocked and allows oxygen to get into the system. Then, every time you add a layer of green material, add a layer of brown on top, and water it in. Costa starts this layering even in his kitchen tidy.
Rather than laying newspaper flat, rip it into streamers and try to incorporate as much air with it as possible - Costa has a little dance that helps do this….
Adding layers gradually like this and then leaving it to decompose is called cold composting. There is also a system that speeds up the process, called hot composting; this requires a larger compost pile, specific brown and green ratios, and regular turning.
Unless you are running a large, hot-composting heap in excess of 1m3, avoid introducing plants with pests or pathogens (like mildews) or weeds with seed heads or bulbs - these can persist in compost and be spread around the garden via the compost later.
But, don’t just bin those weeds - you can use them to make a weed tea, a DIY liquid fertiliser that’s good for your garden and your compost heap.
Whack your weeds into an old pillowcase, hessian bag, or wrap them in shadecloth - the greener and fresher the weeds, the better! Bunging weeds into a bag stops the seeds being spread, and the brew from clogging your watering-can rose.
Dump this weed ‘tea bag’ into a big bucket of water, cover, and let it sit for a couple of days, stirring when you remember.
Once your weed tea has steeped, use the tea diluted in a ratio of 1:3 in a watering can and use it to water edible plants such as leafy greens, or pour it on your compost heap to give it a kick along!
The watered-down weeds can go into your green-waste bin - they’ve served their purpose.
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[@harmonysteel141]

I’ve watched more composting videos than I can count and this is by far the best one!! Thanks Costa 👍

[@arthursoto4285]

I second that

[@mauricem7007]

@Aoratosx Artsx is that sarcasm?

[@natureboy6410]

@Aoratosx Artsx most use cheap soy based inks. Don't use shiny, plastic coated paper or cardboard.

[@sarajohnson2918]

Agreed!

[@cdomeier122112]

this guy is cooler to hang out with than santa clause

[@phoebedoesit4168]

Being from Colorado, when he said 'add it to your pot plants' I just kinda thought 'Alright, just coming straight out with it huh?'

[@samoak123]

Costa is a pot head, he meant what he said.

[@timcent7199]

Costa, by miles my favourite TV presenter. You can make talking about tax fun.

[@lizzioconnor9051]

Fabulous. ThankYou. I’ve got 4 compost bins. Eleven years ago when I bought my Home, there was NoGarden - now it is AmazinglyAbundant. 👍😜🙏🏿

[@oldtyres36]

That's excellent. I bought an old house last year which had no garden or fence, now it's getting amazingly abundant.

[@nickescobar4360]

I have watched countless composting videos and this is the best one I've ever seen

[@peggyhelblingsgardenwhatyo7920]

Yku were meant to be a teacher, mentor, leader 👍

[@andrewradford3953]

Love black loamy compost. Have been a compost junkie for many years, wherever I've lived. I few years ago I discovered black soldier fly larve in my worm farm. It's like a compost heap on steroids and then some. Also a great snack for the chooks when the population gets to high. Since moving to a farm things gave escelated.. I've had several thousand truck loads of green garden waste delivered, which I've turned into amazing compost piles 25m long and 4m wide. I'm now hosting a permaculture group to help plant and tend these dozen piles. Not sure what's next.

[@ripme6616]

If you build it they will come

[@NMW80]

How much is it to get the green garden waste? Is it from peoples green waste bins?

[@andrewradford3953]

@@NMW80 they pay you, but it contains plastic. You'll need a large 2wd tractor to push it up (60 hp). If you want it to break down fast, use irrigation on the piles and lots of water, and if you have the resources, turn them with an excavator and mulch grabs.

[@andrewradford3953]

@@NMW80 talk to your local garden waste collectors, or start your own local service. It will compost down to 10% of original volume. Therefore a the unintended plastic waste will be compounded. You will also need to remove logs and other timber that won't break down easily.

[@jma5474]

maybe a youtube vid?

[@jojozepofthejungle2655]

Hey I'm a compost freak, can't get enough of it 🤪

[@msdramamusic]

I'm glad I saw this before I placed my compost bin. I'm going to add mesh wire under mine.

[@NMW80]

Especially if you live in places with animals that can dig underneath the bin to get into the compost.

[@russelltheone6969]

Thus guy seems cool and happy in life. Something folks in the states could learn from.

[@michelifig6356]

Wouldn't u b happy with a steady salary?

[@heyletssign778]

I don't usually comment on KZbin, but this clip was the most amazing one I have seen. Costa really has such talent to make a topic that usually comes off as mundane, as something super exciting. Making the newspaper strips had me in absolute stitches!! My kids have been fans of 'Costa the Gnome' for ages, now I'm converted too! 😊

[@krzysztofrudnicki5841]

I think that adding microbial solution to raw compositing materials will help to break down faster. It's very easy to made it at home from boiled potatoes, sea salt, rain water and leaf mold from nearby forest. Microbial solution is also a good option to biochemically break heavy compacted clay.

[@joreiwik1234]

As someone new to composting & gardening, I am so caught up in his enthusiasm. Bloody marvellous!!

[@YenZenBamboo]

Costa is a living God of gardening. We are fortunate to have some fantastic gardening gurus in the Land Down Under.

[@williamchirgwin8754]

I have composted most of my life, anything and everything that was once alive is used. It is the little microbes as Costa comments on that do the work for the most part. But I also think having mice in the compost bin are greatly beneficial, they help to break down the material from the kitchen and dig holes throughout, a natural aeration process. Over the years I have never had to turn or aerate my compost physically. In addition, our cat loves the mice inside the bin, giving him lots of entertainment listening to them. Any sort of digging or turning I feel actually adversely impacts on the creatures that live in the compost, including worms. Charles Dowding subscribes to no dig gardens, and I feel that should include compost bins or piles.

[@bonzothebrown7603]

Everything you said is incorrect and should not be construed as advice. Happy composting.

[@NMW80]

Bonzo The Brown agreed. Mice are a pest and they will eat all your compost and their poop and urine can have very bad bacteria and diseases in it. I would never ever recommend letting vermin into the compost. They spread disease and are not good for the cats to chew on either due to again carrying parasites/disease.

[@rebekahdevere6548]

Mice bring snakes into the yard.

[@jesse6468]

Elaborate on that a bit further...

[@williamchirgwin8754]

@@jesse6468 What can I say, have a look at Charles Dowding on youtube who should inspire you, he understand the benefits of no dig which I feel should include making home compost. Costa gave instructions as to carbon and nitrogen mix of materials to follow as a general rule so it all breaks down aerobically (with oxygen). The key to natural gardening is to leave alone for the most part, simply keep on adding any mulch in any form you can acquire it. I get most of the mulch for my garden from a mower man who drops off grass and other garden material for me to compost. My view on gardening, most of what happens in the garden, or in nature, happens out of sight. As a result, the plants will show their appreciation.

[@chandalalman9921]

He is so knowledgeable. I want to start a compost bin for my garden here in Florida and came across his videos. So much knowledge. Definitely the coolest guy.

[@JohnnyMotel99]

I've had those 'dalek' bins before and replaced them with a raised bed style bin. I found it much easier to turn over the compost in the raised bed.

[@sharons9367]

At 4:05 I thought that was your sandwich for lunch 😂

[@srbs7999]

😂

[@Sssmaug]

Love it! 😆

[@0ctatr0n]

All I can think about while watching this: Would this guy be a dwarf or wizard in Lord of the Rings?

[@ace2044]

He would be a hobbit, he is one with nature

[@vampyrick]

@@ace2044 so were most of the wizards? Radagast?

[@yeahrightbear8883]

Okay guys this is getting gay

[@0ctatr0n]

@@yeahrightbear8883 That's rich, coming from someone named "Phrygian Pear"

[@StreetMachine18]

Hes a level 25 dwarf garden wizard, the beard adds +6 commune with nature. Haha

[@TracysHomeGarden]

Great advice! I too use only compost as a natural way to “fertilize” almost all the plants in my garden. It naturally adds nutrients and all sorts of microbes into the soil. The microbes feed and continue to break down the compost to improve the soil. My soil went from clay to rich fertile soil in about 3 seasons using compost. Fully recommend it! Thanks for sharing! 🙏❤️😍. Ps...I only use artificial fertilizer on my roses & clematis as they are extremely heavy feeders.

[@NMW80]

Really? Roses? I have never used any fertiliser on my rose plant that I have in ground. It’s a cutting from my nans rose plant. I was raised by my nan and took cuttings to remember her by. The ground dirt I have is pretty good though. I think due to all the grass clippings I have dumped on the edge of the house over the years has made good soil in that part of the yard. I do add crushed egg shells though to all my plants around the base. I will be mulching with wood chips soon so this summer it can hack the heat better.

[@melissatosetti1247]

This was the best video on composting I've seen in the decade I've been trying to do it myself! Thank you.

[@inkydoug]

My dad made lots of compost using just lawn clippings and dry oak leaves run thru a shredder, he just layered it in big rectangular piles as the materials came in, no bin or sides of any sort, and watered it down. That stuff would get righteous HOT as it rotted I remember.

[@alstevendiamante354]

I love this guide. Fun, Easy to understand, inspiring.

[@russelltheone6969]

Sorry for the 2nd comment but I have cows. Fresh poo is awesome with old garden soil or last years compost with fall leaves and greens. It speeds it up like crazy. A few weeks and ready. Always keep some compost to add to your next batchea layers. Them microbes will be happy little critters. Cheers!

[@GardeningAustralia]

Thanks for the tip!

[@wimberley707]

This is the most delightful video I've ever watched! I already wanted to start composting, but now I know there's a paper flicking dance involved, I'm way more excited!

[@blink4711]

Your a legend. So many great tips. I have my compost bin under a tree so I''m making a mistake there, but it worked ok for what I added. But the carbon factor is important. I have so much to do tomorrow to improve my heap. Great video.

[@lisakarkosky6478]

Ok I don’t think I’ve ever got more excited about composting than when I watched this video lol 😂

[@markielinhart]

Had to watch this again. Costa you rock!

[@hrock7763]

Where has this guy been garden knowledge gold

[@KoendeJong]

Nice of you to give the microbes something to read!

[@joansmith3492]

In my experience, it works best if you turn the pile at least once. When your bin is full, turning it into the second bin evens out the moisture levels, adds more oxygen and gets it going faster. Then let it sit while you fill up the first bin again. IMO stirring it doesn't work as well. Seems like there is always a dry spot or super wet spot that stalls out and doesn't break down.

[@zahidiqbal1453]

I am Pakistani I like it

[@passion4tropicalplants513]

Love the spiral compost tool! Great information! I can't garden without compost, plants grow much better. 🤗👏🏾🤜🏾

[@gabrielasantos8289]

Costa is amazing! Great fool proof compost tips!

[@oldmanpottering]

Compost Carbon Dance 😂 that was awesome, can definitely see the Greek heritage coming out 👍

[@GladiatorReid]

Whats that screw tool called? Worst thing about compost is turning entire heap, but that tool is a must

[@ObjectiveMedia]

Compost turner I think

[@rolfpoelman3486]

What do you think about a compost tumbler, or a DIY type?

[@miketing6971]

Compost auger I reckon

[@cyphersworld]

It's a compost aerator

[@YenZenBamboo]

It’s tool No. 101 Oliver

[@saeedkanuga8374]

Such a passionate and knowledgabel person. Salute from Canada

[@oldtyres36]

Costa is King!!!

[@selftaughtkh]

Love this. Like his illustration and teaching... Funny

[@Brandtphenom]

Remember biomagnification, If some household products contain a glue or adhesive, those may build up to eventually become absorbed by plants. Please remember, we could be farming Hemp to reach a sustainable tomorrow. Please write or call big businesses and demand single use wrappers be made from hemp so we may COMPOST them. Thank you. Excellent content 👌🏼

[@ObjectiveMedia]

The problem is that the petrochemcial industry is subsidised by “our” governments, thus making oil-based plastics and chemicals so artificially cheap that bioplastics can’t compete (bioplastics containers are around 3 times more expensive despite requiring far less energy etc to produce)

[@FatihKarakurt]

Your enthusiasm is contagious!

[@thenaturepatch]

Love this!! Great to see how easy composting is! Great video ☺️

[@uchibauki2515]

I can’t imagine how hard your job to maintain the garden, salutes to all farmers 👏👏👍🏻

[@rhiannonh5202]

Have been using Costa's tip of starting the 50/50 ratio in the kitchen compost bin with layering carbon in between the nitrogen layers since this segment aired and our compost has been SO much better for it and we've also been using carbon sources more now which previously would have been recycled which is still great but takes carbon to transport and water to recycle. The best solution ever!

[@gracehc9356]

This was such a great/ informative/ fun composting video ! Thank you for this!

[@JohnSmith-dt3iw]

what a great in depth guide to compost

[@rhiannonh5202]

love the kitchen cady idea, started using it this week :)

[@ickynugson]

I look forward to more findings and research in this field of "compost archaeology", some truly essential work. Thank you!

[@xSk8inpanda]

love the energy! cheers!

[@itsshwetas]

What a fantastic video. Thanks guys. We're composting in a small rotating bin on our apartment balcony and this is perfect for my husband's learning!

[@NMW80]

I want to get one of those rotating compost bins. I think they are much easier to have so you don’t have to turn your compost by hand. Do you like them?

[@itsshwetas]

@@NMW80 it's definitely easier than turning the compost heap my parents used to have. Would recommend one with a handle though. Ours doesn't have one and it's not even half full, yet is pretty heavy to rotate.

[@NMW80]

shweta oh ok cheers will do

[@Joedirt5]

So much info omg. This thing is the best thing you can watch on the abc

[@nainatxene7824]

Amazing video! Love this brothers energy 🤟🏾💓🤟🏾

[@mce_AU]

Thanks Costa. So informative. Cheers.

[@vuonsendavn]

so beautiful

[@barbarapascoe5673]

Fantastic clear teaching, thank you!

[@poolman8676]

That beard it's forming it's own compost. It's full of nutrients and black gold!

[@kikiKaysie]

Chock full of yeast and bacteria perfect for composting 😀

[@poolman8676]

@@kikiKaysie keck yeah lol

[@lucasberard]

Great video! Lots of great tips, and very entertaining. Looking forward to seeing more!

[@demacherius1]

I love the energy that guy has. But I am not sure about the ink from newspapers and the Homeoffice.

[@madeoftime6553]

I spent about 20 minutes researching this just now. I would avoid composting paper with colored inks, especially glossy stuff. There has been a trend toward plant-derived pigments in colored newspaper inks but it would be worth investigating for your paper source. I didn't look into colored paper but that would be worth investigating. I personally would have low concern about composting newspaper with black ink, corrugated cardboard, and things like the molded pulp (paper) egg cartons in the video. Many VOCs that go into making these things are made of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen (and no other elements). Not only would these chemicals have to persist in a composting situation (where their elements are food for microbes), they would have to be taken up by plant roots for a significant fraction of them to get back into your diet. Persistence is possible but depends on the bonding of the elements within each chemical. The specifics of such a cycle would be worth examining for each chemical of concern. Keep in mind that I just scratched the surface. I see some sources with an anti-chemical bias touting concerns that don't apply to composting. But I see some industry or popular science sources glossing over compounds that serve as pigments, resins, film formers, or otherwise tune the properties of the ink. None of these are necessarily bad, but worth investigating. I mention the names of these material categories because they make it easier to dig further and find specific chemical names.

[@Sssmaug]

@@madeoftime6553 This is a great post - hope it doesn't get missed by those who voiced their concerns about paper products & cardboard. I've come to the same conclusions as you - avoid the bleached, glossy, highly coloured stuff & focus on rough newsprint & plain old cardboard if extra carbon is needed. Charles Dowding (UK) is a great teacher too, & has an excellent KZbin video about composting. I love EVERYONE who promotes & practices this essential process. 💞

[@mumintaha7883]

This is brilliant! Thank you for sharing all this.

[@infiniLor]

costa is adorable! lol

[@DjSkipAlexander]

A pleasant morning spent watching a great video on how to.

[@TheBeStLifehomestead]

I'm digging this dude he looks like my Australian brother I am also allergic to haircuts and razors

[@oumdarineoum4416]

انت عفوي اشكرك كثيرا

[@kidsnkittens]

Love this! Such a great teacher.

[@veronicarobilliard8538]

i make compost with layers of paper, sprinkle of coffee grounds,sprinkle water, grass clippings, sprinkle coffee, sprinkle water, and keep repeating, till bay is full, its worked great in my veg bed for years, now its got very heavy and as if no air in the soil, what can i do ???

[@beachystarlovelife3869]

Loved the carbon copy dance!

[@GundamrussGaming]

Costa making it easy :) Going to start mine this weekend :)

[@user-hz8cm1wr3n]

You are so charming!!! Thank you!🙌🏻

[@yenphan8150]

Thank you so much for sharing us your helpful information

[@hannaryerson3304]

Awesomeness, thank you for this ♡

[@runjettyrun3819]

Love Costa 😍

[@YarrHarr11]

Aussie version of crazy Mantzoukas! Love your channel!

[@gregorymoeliker7689]

I use pot composting which adds soil to provide a culture, leaves to provide a substrate for fungi, food scraps, then leaves, then soil, water into a pot and then leave covered for two months. The soil and leaves will then culture the mix.

[@paulbarron7389]

Thanks, Costa always great stuff

[@GardeningAustralia]

Thanks for watching!

[@violetruby1908]

Thank you so much...it is so useful

[@DavinderSingh-ss6lh]

I subscribed just for your style and swag.....

[@truskawkax]

perfect! thank you! this video help me a lot 😊

[@origato4281]

If one has access to a forest or woodlands, they could also find the oldest trees, fold back that top layer of leaves, maybe an inch or so, and grab some of that leaf mold with all that good good mycelium, and toss a bit in your compost to help add some diversity to it.

[@mauricem7007]

Now that's some good advice, thank you!

[@dougm2250]

I like the Microbe Goggles at 3:32

[@marilynvarghese2254]

Very important guidelines 👍

[@fantasorganicgardenbyaor9760]

I love this VDO. Very interesting

[@jezzdogg6857]

I met Costa today. Hes a absolute legend!

[@OBRfarm]

Love this guy!

[@rkaur3244]

Thank you Sir, love from India

[@greyhound785]

If my 2 yr old son will see this guy, he'll start to pray..

[@boudara]

That is amazing compost for garden

[@JillianNorwood]

Great video! Thanks!

[@Alisa-ym8mu]

Thank you!

[@christiandeininger1790]

I love it

[@andreasnowack8014]

Guy is symphatic from beard to toe, got a new abo from Germany up here!

[@aidanngreenwolfe200]

Great video! This is what I was looking for.

[@UtilemUnus]

Fun video

[@danielmandy2776]

Coolest garden gnome

[@theserenityschool]

Nice info sir...

[@georgevalenzuela2489]

Great video!

[@Nonone36]

Very good and useful video

[@suzihomeandgardeninnewyorkcity]

Love your videos ! Well explained 👏

Really good video, informative and fun!

[@tjmarx]

That thumbnail of costa touching his bicep with his opposite hand, while displaying his fist vertically looks as though he's flipping us off.

[@introtwerp]

You actually can put diary or anything organic based in compost as long as its covered well

[@NewMindGarden]

Wonderful video