Make Your Own Compost (JOSH'S EASY METHOD)

Composting can seem like a mystery. Some people throw everything in a pile and let it break down over time, on the other spectrum, some folks get very technical with ratios, temperature and timing.
In this video, I am going to show you a simple system for composting that makes it easy and doable, yet dependable so you are not waiting until “one day” when it is all finished!
Composting doesn’t have to be intimidating, or take a lot of time, and can be done with minimal effort. With a few basic steps, you can make enough compost for all your gardening needs right in your own backyard.
For the full step-by-step instructions, visit the blog: homesteadingfamily.com/how-to...
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MORE ABOUT US!
WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo
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Click any of the links below for instant access to free video training resources:
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Click any of the links below for instant access to these free downloadable PDFs:
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- Permaculture for Your Homestead- PDF download that is an introduction to permaculture with some strategies for applying it to one’s homestead and garden.
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- Carolyn’s Cottage Garden herb list- PDF with Carolyn’s favorite herbs for growing at home.
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- Save the Crumbs- Several Recipes for using bread leftovers, a less committal entry to bread than the workshop.
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- Fearless Fermenting- A PDF on basic lacto-ferments.
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- Fermenting Tomatoes- PDF download on fermenting tomatoes
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- Preserving Culinary Herbs- Downloadable, step-by-step directions to drying, freezing and salting culinary herbs.
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- Render Your Own Lard- PDF with instructions on how to render your own lard.
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#compost #composting #diycompost #compostingforbeginners

[@7Risen7Phoenix7]

My dad has been composting for about two years, and I've been working in the produce department of the local retailer for a year, and as such soon after I was hired I mentioned it to my department managers, who both gave me the green light to collect browns (which, for me, is exclusively cardboard that I cut up into small squares) and greens (which tend to mostly be cabbage leaves and corn husks, but sometimes also asparagus trimmings and bell pepper shells). So now my dad has ample access to whatever he needs, in the ratios he needs. Of course I'm still ensuring my professional tasks are taken care of...... :D

[@servantrose]

that is awesome so a lot less is wasted!

[@bhagyalaxmisirupuram9046]

You dont know how happy your dad is with that Because for compost lovers, it's precious😂

[@apiecemaker1163]

If there could be a pretty compost pile, you just made one. Gardeners layer cake. Great job!

[@GoingGreenMom]

Glad I am not the only one that was thinking it could be a naked cake.....

[@apiecemaker1163]

@@GoingGreenMom I know it won’t look that way when he turns it but you are exactly right. We got my mom one of those for her 80th birthday. They are so pretty. Now that you said it, that is exactly what it looks like. 👍💛☀️

[@branchingoutpermaculturewi4766]

I never thought when I was younger that some day I would really appreciate a mound of nice black soil. Lol 😂

[@wrightchance5891]

😂😂😂

[@charlenelynch6505]

Lol

[@melissasmomglam]

Never thought I’d be making it 😂

[@branchingoutpermaculturewi4766]

@@melissasmomglam GOOD LUCK IN ALL YOUR GROWING EFFORTS

[@svelanikolova5776]

Same here. I never tought I will be knee deep in horse manure and get excited for the next load.

[@cindyskillman544]

Thank you! Finally a composting method that looks like something I can actually do and succeed at! 🥰🥰🥰

[@svelanikolova5776]

Trying bedwarm towers and in place composting

[@brittanyash8340]

Great video. You really did simplify everything. Thank you. You and your wife, Caroline, are wonderful teachers and educators.

[@mjacobs5875]

I can’t wait for the next video to see how you turn that pile.

[@cindygodfrey615]

Is there a video on how to turn it? i did not see it. Only saw sifting...

[@mjacobs5875]

Cindy Godfrey it will be in a future video.

[@kassyjacobs6768]

I was wondering that myself

[@fishmut]

More than likely he used a front end loader with a bucket , ie tractor with a bucket on the front after taking the wire off. Just a thought. 🚜

[@YourMom1138QQ]

I had to watch that gorgeous drone footage more than once. Such beauty in a composting vid of all things! Major kudos to your production guy(s).

[@FineFeatheredHomestead]

Thank you for the reminder! I knew this from Monte Don, but overdid the kitchen scraps in our compost tumbler. Flies developed. Abd we didn't have much brown material other than cardboard then. Fortunately, another tip was to dump a bit of compost material from our tumbler fir the chickens to break down, and then just pop it back in the tumbler. Voila! No more flies, happy chickens, and rich black compost developing! 🥰

[@sammia4227]

I have dry leaves everywhere. That’s what I use for my browns :)

[@villagesteader3552]

Thank you. I’ve watched many compost videos but this is the most helpful one. I have had very little success with composting so far but I am seeing my mistakes now! 👍🙏🇺🇸🤓

[@mohamedali-agripenneur]

Awesome. Very simple. You've simplified composting taking it out of the rocket science realm into the layman's terms. Thanks

[@wendyplear82]

Josh, I appreciate your teachings!

[@melissasprinkel1670]

Wow you place is gorgeous! Look at that view and river 😍

[@farmsteadknits1165]

I love how you have made this process so simple. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Looking forward to the next video

[@LindaPenney]

Awesome update Josh thank you for sharing

[@kellyh8218]

LOVE the aerial view!!!!

[@GreatGrannyFreeBird]

thanks Josh. Love the tip about the pipe in the middle to provide air.

[@maryt2529]

Anxiously awaiting the next episode!

[@bethsands7665]

Hard work and a wealth of nature-knowledge pays off ! Awesome video and homestead ! Thanks.

[@southernskytngardendiy]

Went back and found this one. Such good and clear info as always. Thanks!

[@HomeHarvestCo]

I've learned so much about composting from your channel. Thank you for sharing!

[@MommaJessiesCraftyHomestead]

Thanks for making this video! Love how you explain how it works. Definitely will be starting that here soon!

[@clivesconundrumgarden]

Excellent video, great tips !! We've started our first compost this summer. Looking forward to learning and growing

[@tracygreen5244]

You say 30 to 1... yet you did 2 to 1. Doing my pile tomorrow. First pile for our new garden on this new property in Oz. Love your videos.

[@senkowbuilders]

I questioned the ratio also

[@helenerickson8455]

The nitrogen pile has lots of wood chips (carbon) in it, so it is only a small percentage nitrogen (the manure and urine). That's why the difference.

[@tokidada1010]

@@senkowbuildersPeople ask this question all the time----when he said 30:1 ratio, I think he meant that brown leaves themselves have a carbon to nitrogen ratio of 30:1. The leaves practically have no nitrogen. The 2 to 1 ratio is referring to the amount you actually use to make the compost. So 2 browns amount to 1 greens amount. Hopefully that clears that up. Happy gardening

[@atrenthillman]

Wow! What a beautiful place.

[@karenkelly2135]

Loved this video! Thank you so much! Very helpful!

[@reomarcilo4648]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge👍👍👍

[@brightstarr57]

Super video! Thanks!

[@rockkhound943]

Great info . Be starting a couple of those this coming week . Thank you and looking forward to the follow up video

[@carolynmoody9460]

this video was the best I have seen. thanks for the step by step an explanation as to HOW AN WHY..many blessings to you and your family ❤️

[@joanreid2804]

Great video! Thank you for sharing.

[@josie_posie808]

This is the most satisfying compost lasagna I've even seen come together. Please share updates! 💖💖

[@ruthcowden1386]

Wow! Your homestead is gorgeous!

[@raquelucha22aldaco13]

I was left wondering how one “turns the pile?” I wish this would’ve been explained or added to the video. Thank you though for showing us this video and teaching us.

[@TheDjcarter1966]

Lot easier with an open pile instead of using wire

[@vaadabella7172]

I was coming into the comments to see if that “next video” was linked here.

[@charlesherringtoncalboiler1743]

U put a shovel in and take a hard right turn. Repeat , easier than it sounds.

[@Ocgt]

Facts. Where part 2 bro ??!! 😭🤣

[@ProLifeCharlotte]

Your homestead looks like a dream, right down to the windy road along a windy river through the mountains.

[@dexterking7662]

Of all the videos I seen and composting yours is the best👍

[@Jeckenstein]

Great work, man. Thank you for this.

[@smeargut1809]

Great vid, I’m building a line of 6 4x4x4 foot compost bins made from fallen tree branches for the frame and filling in the sides with pallets.

[@aileensmith3062]

Interesting and plain simple method of beginner composting. We are trying to start our compost pile via wooden pallets. We do not have access to wood shavings like you. Although we do have plenty of animal manure. We have been shredding and using a lot of cardboard. We just cannot seem to get our mixture to heating up. Now to find the next video and trying to "unlock" our problem. Thank You for a simple and well informed video!

[@gretchenarrant8334]

Your property is absolutely beautiful!! And with the water so close!!

[@cardwellfarm2812]

Hey there from Cardwell Farm! I loved this video, composting is so important and isn't something we have talked about on our channel yet. This looks like a great method and we have sooo much excess of most of the components. Thank you for posting this video and for making such great content!

[@4RTigers]

That river😍 first video I’ve watched from you. Nicely done!

[@returntoyehovahthelord6185]

I have had very minimal success using the tumbler system. I thought we didn’t just get enough hot weather but it seems now that the size of my pile/area wasn’t big enough. That’s my first point I took away from this. Thank you.

[@woodsie5796]

Love it, Black gold!

[@GraftingTactick]

Great video, very informative, great tutorial. Thank you 👌

[@goatheadink5563]

Thanks for posting this video. Soil health is the most important issue facing our world today. With the planet's agricultural topsoil already half degraded amending with organic matter (plant and animal waste) is the only remedy. I've seen this in my own garden, after 7 years of improper composting my soil became almost worthless. Now that I'm implementing Josh's method my soil is richer than ever, and full of earthworms. Our nations need to set up policies to bring back the organic content on our farms, not just for our health and prosperity, but for the prosperity of the generations to come. Thanks again 🙏

[@ursinidaho]

Thank you for this very helpful video.

[@garyb4929]

great detailed description.

[@protgsowat7270]

Great teacher...thanks for this very informative video

[@BrendaJBarNett]

Great info....thank you!

[@spoolsandbobbins]

EXCELLENT video! Precise and clear! Inspirational!! Gonna go turn my compost now! From Nova Scotia

[@suzannenickerson4283]

Nova Scotia here too, lol 🙋‍♀️

[@karenchandler2921]

I have never heard of using urine for a composting pile. These are the reason why I love watching your KZbin channel. Thank you!

[@bhagavanramana9936]

best compost vid i've seen so far, great info ty :)

[@mattpastell3728]

Great info!

[@aliciafisher7130]

Thank you so much for sharing the ratio of the green and brown I started a compost pile but it wasn't doing too good and that might be the reason cuz I was not sure about the ratio and I made it in a box so I think I'll take every other board off to get more oxygen

[@tazerguy]

let alone the set up is amazing, that drone shot at 10:21... yea you made me pretty darn envious on that one sir!! one day ill have this set up... thank you for all your hard work and content you provide!

[@monikabiyatrice8755]

Love this recipe

[@Jenn9lamb6088]

Thank yall very much🥰😎, great video. Wow, yall have such a beautiful place! Lol, loved the air ride😎! Thanks for everything yall do❤️

[@jacksonakson8224]

2 parts of saw dust/wood chips to 1 part high nitrogen greens would produce a C/N ration of around 337:1 (about 10 times higher than the target of 30:1). I typically use 2 parts greens to 1 part brown leaves which results in ~ 30:1

[@dawnpettiglio6930]

We do something very similar. We use 1/3 spent straw/dried leaves + 1/3 manure + 1/3 other greens (grass, kitchen scraps, coffee grounds, green garden waste)

[@tommy-ij9nd]

Nice explanation….thank you for taking the time to do this video!

[@HomesteadingFamily]

Glad it was helpful!

[@suzannebazeghi5698]

thanks a lot you answered all my question finaly a i am be able to have good compost

[@4seasonsTrucker]

Love your land! Been trying to find my farm for a few years, won't give up regardless of age till I find it

[@freestonsfinest4002]

Learned so much! Thank you!

[@ericdemeo5249]

I’m so jealous! You have a gorgeous piece of land!

[@Happyhippy70]

Thanks for the info ☺️

[@melanieallen8980]

great!!!😊

[@drbombaysnurse]

very helpful. thank you.

[@owenngala3469]

Cool stuff

[@homesteadingpastor]

Thanks for sharing this video! I really enjoyed it, very informative! We are actually in the process of working our 18 hot compost pile, last flip coming up this weekend 🙌🏻👍🏻😊 We got the idea originally from Billy Bond over at Perma Pastures Farm. 👍🏻🙌🏻😊 Thanks again.

[@zakaijohnson9421]

18 piles?

[@letsgobrandon4601]

Good video. Thanks

[@suziehartwright]

Thank you!

[@mycountrymylife7759]

Nice one, Please share next part of composting.

[@ediemurray1692]

Ty

[@shonnbell7887]

Josh I would love your advise in setting our homestead up in Naples... appreciate all your insight... God bless

[@MC-pl3vs]

Ya'll I live in Florida and so want rich soul to grow great food! I promise our compost gets to temperature. So blessed to live in an all year growing season.

[@rebeccamercer4160]

Thank you, and thank you Josh! That helped out so much! I will make sure to watch the next video! What do you think about the black cow manure and the organic compost, you buy at home depot ? God bless you and your family!

[@kingspal99]

thanks! we made ours to roll over every now and then and worm castings worm casting is the best put hand full in ur plants too and one is just a dumping place kept only 2' high long rows chicken stir plenty enough later we add potash and other things before using

[@deborahtofflemire7727]

I need this video.

[@northwoodsyankee3528]

That's one pretty pile.

[@jessicastead5544]

I'm intrested in hearing more about the thermal composting. I'm hoping to build a large pile that has water filled pex to heat exchanger heat my greenhouse this winter. Have you ever tried this? Also I just build your bean tunnel. It is going to be the star of the garden this year. Thank you for explaining all the details. You are both true teachers.

[@bsod5608]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/boGagYuqpq6sr5o It can be done. But it require a huge pile, and also depend on your location in the world. It is probably easier to put a large compostpile inside the greenhouse. Good luck!

[@raystevens2900]

I love the simple way the speaker here breaks down the steps for compost! I want to keep improving my own backyard garden compost pile. So, this takes me back to Junior High geometry. What is the formula to figure the length of fence for a three foot diameter cage? 😀 I think it includes π

[@lamgardn3800]

Nice composting video, as far as it went. It would be nice if you would tack on to this video a demonstration of what turning it looks like, with helpful tips and tricks.

[@MrMcGillicuddy]

I do this style in my greenhouse with my chicken deep litter in the spring as a seedling tray heating mat. I used to do the 18 day super fast style but IMHO I think it sort of defeats the purpose of no tillage because it offgasses a whole lot of carbon when you turn the pile everyday. I've personally settled on a happy medium where I build it let it heat up and then break it up after it gets to 100 and then pile it once more and then just let it sit for 6 months. Making a spring and fall pile gives me 2 cubic yards just from my chicken coop deep litter and then fall garden scraps mixed

[@danielleterry180]

How long do you have to let your chick stuff sit to be good for gardening?

[@MrMcGillicuddy]

@@danielleterry180 basically I'm adding about 6 inches of bagged leaves into my chicken coop/ greenhouse ever 2 to 4 weeks. I wait to add more until I see that the chickens have basically scratched around enough to break the leaves up into shredds where you don't see whole leaves anymore. It take 20 or 30 chickens about 2 to 4 weeks to do that. Then I just add another six inches and I do that for 4 to 5 months thru winter. I then take the chicken poop leaf mixture which is very potent and I make a pile as follows. I lay down about six inches of fresh whole leaves in a 4 foot by 4 foot area. I put about two gallons of water sprinkled on that . Then I add about 4 inches of that deep litter poop mixture and wet that down with 2 gallons water. I keep doing this lasagna style until it's 4 or 5 feet tall. I cap it with dry leaves put a tarp over it and let it get up to 130 to 140 and it will slowly go down to 100 F over 2 or 3 weeks. Then I break it up and repile it checking to make sure moisture is there but not dripping wet. So I basically pile it let it heat up and cool and repile it 3 times in a span of about 6 weeks and then I let it sit for 3 or 4 months until fall and then transfer it into a pile in my garden. so it takes about 5 or 6 months before I apply to beds. That final transfer I do one wheel barrow at a time so that it gets one final thorough aeration. I find it stays in the beds for longer than fast cooked 18 day stuff and I broadfork and top dress so it works perfect for me. I let it sit out in the open in the garden for a couple weeks then apply it to my perennials and my fall shallot and garlic beds. I put 4 to 6 inches on my garlic and shallot beds but everything else I put just about an inch or two. It's fully composted but a bit more rough looking so I use it like a compost mulch hybrid and it works great. I don't even really need to water anymore other than initially transplanting and spot watering a few stragglers. Hope this helps you :)

[@Ocgt]

Looks like a tall pile to turn. But the compost you added looked phenomenal

[@tclodfelter8789]

I have a large pile that's about 3' tall and 25-30' around. I hit it regularly with a tiller to help mix it up!

[@sarahale7214]

Will you make video showing how you turn it?

[@HomesteadingFamily]

Yes! It will be out in the next few weeks.

[@mikemike5516]

You also need to check if the wood shavings are from chemically treated or heat treated wood. Same problem with the straw and grass clippings...but I love the process...got mine up to 75 C, opened it for aeration and brought down the temp to 60C

[@cg8680]

Hey there Homesteading Family! I was thinking. Can you please make a series on parenting tips? Your children seem just lovely and having a few kids myself I know I wouldn't be the only one to benefit from some tips!!!

[@tammarahighley1040]

Check out their playlist on the homepage - there is a list specifically about thus

[@harrisontechburmese2495]

thank you sir

[@palomafarmlandscape7859]

Great video! Do you have a video showing how you "turn it"? I have an idea but just wanted to see if you have a visual already. Thanks and God Bless

[@FloridaGirl-]

Nice to have the wood shaving available

[@susehendricks6217]

The more water the better!

[@equinoxproject2284]

Combining this technique with the air channels of a Johnson Su bioreactor would be awesome, no turning required.

[@ethanboyd7843]

Good Heavens I love that jet black garden gold! I used a lot of caw manure from our dary but the pure stuff from the automated ditch cleaners is too high in wather content and low in nutrients due to a standard dairy diet, especially in winter. Horse manure is primo but harder to find so I started disengaging the spreader paddles and using the compacted betting/manure mix from the pens and just letting the converyor run it off (pull forward slowly or the returning conveyor paddles will drag it back under and up through the floor of your 19,000 dollar spreader lol. But you get a nice 10X20' base about a foot deep to add all your standard garden and house and yard waste to. Turn it with a fork evey once in awhole, till it in the sprinf and it's gold. I wish I had your setup.

[@nickthegardener.1120]

This winter when I get lots of leaves I'm going to add blood fish and bone and seaweed powder and water!😁👍

[@ianjcasul8843]

That's the most laboring part cutting into peaces. I've got small backyard and the source of material less and taking it apart is a labor intensive. And I'm doing it by hands.

[@Hahehhwgajshah72726..]

Camera work was sensational.

[@ChatBot1337]

Im curious about doing compost in an open top, solid sided container, ie 55 gallon drum. Drill a few holes for drainage, take a pvc tree, mount a computer fan on the top, blowing down, and a small solar panel to blow o2 forcing that air back up through the pile. More complicated than I would need, but my mom wants to get into it and shes getting up there in age, making turning a real deal breaker. Would be a cool experiment.

[@ireneasanoma2925]

Hello there, I have watched many videos and many different ways to make a compost pile but yours makes a whole lot more sense so I did exactly what you did. I made The Wire cage 3 foot by 4 foot out of 1 inch wire mesh fencing. I used an aray of different things. Horse manure, Rabbit manure chicken Manure, Grass Clippings, Shavings, Leaves, Broken down wood pellets that are in with my chicken Manure. Can't remember what else off hand but it took me 2 days to build it. I finished it on Tuesday and I just got my thermometer this morning and went and checked the temperature. It's already at a 120° and it went up to that temperature as soon as I put the gauge in the middle. I got the 20 inch gauge. I can't believe how fast it hit that temperature. I am very pleased. Should I wait now until the temperature drops a bit to turn it? I didn't expect it to reach this temperature so fast😳

[@hobi-wan-kanobi2016]

To get started I’m thinking of getting my local compositing and manure and woods chips and shredded pieces to start my pile and then add my waste as time goes on as well because to start out you won’t have that much of a pile if you’re just starting. Or maybe that’s just me.