How to make a liquid fertiliser (that doesn't smell bad!) from nettles or comfrey.

[@trevonjugmohan2377]

the cow in the background is just adorable. 🐄

[@LearnPermaculture]

Yes indeed... :)

[@dungtranphi4400]

As long as I see you collect the plastic drill waste and put it carefully into your pocket, I know this is the decent person that I should respect. You are very careful

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thank you! :)

[@biscuit7910]

Thank you from Peg in America. I am so thankful I found your nonstinky method. Awesome Thank you so very much for sharing your expertise. I can feel my garden growing already for the summer of 2025 . ❤2 u & all. Keep growing. God Bless

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thanks Peg, it may not make much difference to the plants, but it does to me. And I still have a social life. :D

[@1973sophia]

I love the cow freely roaming in the field ! what a way to live !

[@Corné-o6h]

Someone who collects small particles of plastic like that I can really appreciate!

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thank you. :)

[@jamesgarner2103]

makes perfect sense. you dont want them in your soil or garden.

[@LearnPermaculture]

@@jamesgarner2103 I agree!

[@smeargut1809]

For the weight I would suggest mixing a blob of concrete and sticking a piece of scrap metal into it to act as a handle so it can easily be pulled out.

[@tubthump]

I was thinking engineering bricks or old storage heater bricks with some rope tied around each one

[@itsamedjmario]

Great idea !!!

[@smithy4121]

@Smeargut I love that idea was going to say you could attach rope to your handle too.

[@MsDream]

Awesome suggestion

[@eudaemoniac3449]

Kettlebell . .

[@cosmicmenace]

I tried this with comfrey quite a few years ago and completely forgot how well it works and how easy it is! I'll have to get started on doing it again now.

[@LearnPermaculture]

That's great to hear. :)

[@fortbumper]

and no chemical !

[@MikeAG333]

@@fortbumper I We all know what you mean, but everything in the universe is made of chemicals. This method of producing fertiliser is entirely a chemical process.

[@zebmartin995]

It's great how many different ways there are to extract nutrients from unwanted plants. Thanks for the video. It was very thorough and informative.

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thanks Zeb!

[@Mrbfgray]

And wanted plants such as comfrey(sp?). I grow some of that but need to move it out of late day hot summer sun, doesn't take that well at 105 F without constant water.

[@craigdonald551]

⁠​⁠​⁠@@MrbfgrayMaybe try growing tithonia diversifolia (Mexican Sunflower) instead of Comfrey

[@Mrbfgray]

@@craigdonald551 Appreciate the suggestion, my comfrey is doing better this yr, dropping a lot of leaves but not entirely wilting like it used to. About yr 3 I think now, getting better established, only sporadically watered it even at 110F. (water is expensive here)

[@Mrbfgray]

@@craigdonald551 For what it's worth--comfrey is reputed to have litany of 'medicinal' uses. I'm more or less immune to bee stings (last I checked) but got nailed by a wasp several months ago and it hurt a little for days, not used to that. Then I got wasp stung again a week ago and it dawned on me comfrey might help, half hr later picked a fresh green leaf, with no expectations, wadded it up to juice it into stung thumb. Easily could be coincidental but sting went away quickly.

[@genericuser2339]

Really good video thanks. So much better than so much online. Your honesty shines my friend!

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thank you! :)

[@dodgygeezah4707]

Great tutorial. Clear explanation. Thanks for taking the time to do this and sharing the love! 😊

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thank you! :)

[@jonisolis9645]

I don't have any nettles or comfrey but I do have weeds and grass clippings that would work. Thanks for sharing this info. I really did not like the stinky stuff.

[@LearnPermaculture]

Pretty much any leafy healthy looking plant that you know not to be toxic should be good. Grass cuttings however tend to clump together and go anaerobic (even without a weight on top) so you might be able to put a little in your mix but not too much. Nettles and comfrey have quite chunky stems which create air spaces in the mix - grass does not.

[@jonisolis9645]

Thanks for the added info and you did not say what this liquid smells like. Smells like dirt? @@LearnPermaculture

[@LearnPermaculture]

@@jonisolis9645 The aerobic liquid feed doesn't have a particularly strong smell. 'Leafy' I supposed I'd describe it. Not like soil.

[@one_wild_gopher3078]

I've been doing this for years but my favorite plant to work with as a silage is clover clover will breakdown and Juice up the chlorophyll best plus if you use it on your vegetables like I do mostly tomatoes it makes the tomato plant fibrous sturdy my tomato plants got 7ft tall last year and the tomatoes were very good tasty like tomato should anyway enjoy your time out there and I see a lot of people doing this these days it does work believe it or not happy trails

[@LearnPermaculture]

Sounds excellent! Nettles are an abundant weed which many people can find close by, but if you've room to plant clover it's a very valuable cover crop / nitrogen fixer too. :)

[@Dobromir_Chodkowski]

I liked when you put that plastic spirals in your pocket 5:18. Unexpected but well appreciated! I am looking for a liquid fertilizer that doesn't smell bad as I have neighbors very close. Does it still work, two years later?

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thanks! Yes, it works fine - no smell from the barrel. The only thing that will create a smell is if you bottle it for later use without filtering out any bits. In a bottle those bits will decompose anaerobically and make a bad smell.

[@katherinepotts3723]

Very grateful for this. Have tried the method with water but it was soooooo smelly. Am on a budget so it will be a big help for my allotment. A big thank you.

[@LearnPermaculture]

So glad that it helps Katherine.

[@margueritespringer3687]

This is the funniest video I've seen for ages 😄😄 thanks

[@stephenmoss9842]

Thank you for a very clear explanation as always.

[@LearnPermaculture]

Glad it makes sense. :)

[@oldbear6813]

This is an awesome idea and I'll be doing a much smaller scale but can use it for all my gardening weeds.

[@LearnPermaculture]

So glad to be of help. :)

[@wisewordings]

This looks great. I did the nettles and water thing and boy does it STINK! If this truly doesn't smell I'm going to be thrilled.

[@LearnPermaculture]

It has a smell (like many things) but it's subtle and certainly not bad.

[@yellowbird5411]

Your method is so much better due to the often off-putting smell of fermenting plants in a water solution. I've done that, and the smell won't even get off my hands. It is distinctly unpleasant, in my opinion. Your method seems to work as fast as the water method, not even needing covering to discourage mosquitos or smells escaping. Those two things alone make your method better. I am going to try it, but probably not with a barrel, maybe just a five gallon bucket to start and see how it goes. I have the buckets, the weights, the out-of-control vines and weeds, etc. and in this season in Florida, the rainfall. There is a man who converted his 1,000 acres over to natural fertilizer using the water method plus micro-organisms for breakdown. But it takes a year for the breakdown to be complete. He has big tanks that strain the solution and sprays his fields. I don't know if your method would help him or not, as he does focus a lot on fungus/inoculant. Anyway, his KZbin channel is The Plant People, and I think you both have much in common. Perhaps you could share information. The method of making "home brew" is key to circumventing the fertilizer shortage/price, even for big growers, if they are willing to learn this method of soil building. Thank you for a great video. I have never see this method before, in all the videos I have seen. Please make more of them to keep them circulating on KZbin and other sites so farmers looking for alternatives can utilize your method. You could do a series of "shorts" on KZbin, and that would help.

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thanks Lynn, I shall look up The Plant People! I learnt how to do this from my friend Pat Bowcock at Ourganics and I think she learnt it in turn from someone in Eire. Anyway, the limiting factor I think is the amount of leaves you can obtain as raw material, but even making a little can make a significant difference.

[@EmilyBieman]

Great video and really good to know. Thanks. I’m going to set it up today. I live in North Queensland Australia. It’s the dry season at the moment, and there’s definitely no nettles or comfrey around! So I’m going to try it with some local weeds; Farmers Friends, Sensitive plant and Caesalpinia leaves.

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thanks Emily! I'd say any plant that produces lots of fleshy leaves and is non-toxic could be added to such a mix. If they're growing well enough, they probably all the nutrients that plants need to grow in your soil. It's good to experiment!

[@BillynBertie]

Thanks for the inspiration. I have used nettles soaked in water for years but I wanted to make a concentrate which is easier to keep and store, and we have vast amounts of nettles here. Although I won't be doing literally what you have devised, I have an old redundant worm bin which can be easily converted to do the same thing. I am actually going to start on it this afternoon. Good video and clearly explained. Thanks.

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thanks BertieFox, I hope it works well for you. :)

[@Canna1d]

I'm so glad I found this. I've been looking for a way to make fertiliser which doesn't smell as I can't use the smelly stuff at all. Your instructions are very clear. Thank you.

[@LearnPermaculture]

You're welcome. :)

[@LaSuculentaCasaVerde]

Every day you learn something new and today is no exception... What a great explanation and teaching. Thank you very much sir. I am taking the first steps in permaculture and every day I am more passionate, I had read about the nettle method, which I don't have at home, but I was seriously thinking if nettle is sold for seeds or something like that. But I had never heard of this getting on the skin, that was great to know. Ruled out the water method lol. As soon as I have the opportunity to do this as you explain it to us, believe me I will be extremely happy, like today, to have found you. I stay on your magnificent channel. Greetings from Tulsa, Oklahoma.

[@LearnPermaculture]

You're welcome! Have fun experimenting. :)

[@FoundationForFamilyFreedom]

Look up how to identify nettles, they are ALL around you. You'll never look at weeds the same when you identify all the plants outside your door. The Earth has a symbiotic relationship with us and provides all we need on a personal basis wherever we are ❤ Seriously, you probably have nettles on your land or somewhere you have access to. Blessings

[@SimpleNaturalPractical]

Great stuff mate, love your process to liquefy weeds to fertiliser without a stinky brew, airating with aquarium bubbles is fun too, but this is the simplest for sure, I'll definitely be doing this. Thankyou

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thanks! it was originally taught to me by Pat Bowcock at the wonderful Ourganics in West Dorset. It's been the only method I've used for years...

[@Adnancorner]

You can use large pebbles or large particle concrete sand from the riverside or from the fields where you can collect while planting plants in the soil. 1 inch pebbles can works as well, and it would be a one time investment as they would last a long time. There is also a possibility of you trying glass beads too, which will never decompose as the pebbles will shrink over the years because of the acidic liquid from the rotting of leaves.

[@helentc]

I like this method best. The water method, obvious drawbacks, especially when on a shared property. The fermentation method requires the expense of the sugar. I don't see any drawbacks to this one. I also appreciated hearing which plants preferred which, well plants, ex; Comfrey or Nettles. Not having a current source of nettles, Comfrey will be my go to for now, with the addition of my weeded plants. Thank you for a great video. Appreciate the "scrounged parts" aspect too. :-)

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thanks Helen, I especially enjoy putting to good use other people's junk. Hopefully a lot more leaky water butts will be saved from landfill now.

[@abbyscott4457]

I agree. I don't mind the smell of the anaerobic stuff, but I lease my uncles land and he's not fond of it, lol. I'm excited to try this!

[@annlyder8657]

Thank you. Its so much better without the smell. How long does the liquid keep?

[@LearnPermaculture]

It is isn't it? I store the last batch of the autumn overwinter and use it in early spring, so it can keep quite a long time. The most important thing to do is to sieve it well before bottling it - if there are any bits in it they'll decompose anaerobially in the bottle and make it smelly. Then keep it somewhere cool and dark - we put ours in the garage.

[@grahamgynn8606]

brilliant - always regard nettles as a crop but this is better than just adding them to my compost heaps! Will get on it dreckly. Graham (Cornwall)

[@LearnPermaculture]

Proper job!

[@Mrbfgray]

Nice simple practicle easy and cheap. May try it myself.

[@TheSybil47]

Thank you so much for spending some time on showing me how to use nettles.

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thanks Sybil for watching. :)

[@dogslobbergardens6606]

Makes sense to me! It reminds me of the KNF prep Fermented Plant Juice, but they add a lot of raw brown sugar with the plant material to draw out the liquids much faster and feed beneficial microbes. That certainly works, but at least in my area those amounts of raw sugar end up being pretty costly, and that partly defeats the purpose of making one's own fertilizer in the first place. I have more time than cash, and there are other good ways to encourage the friendly microbes. I've been using anaerobic comfrey and weed teas for a couple years now, and I'm sort of used to the, uhh, "tastiness" of them. But my wife would probably appreciate me using this version instead ;)

[@LearnPermaculture]

I think she might. :)

[@zam1007]

sugar? any free fruits or berries e.g. blackberry, spoiled strawberry, apples can perhaps be a sugar source.

[@LearnPermaculture]

@@zam1007 Sugar is usually added to make compost teas or other ferments. That's a different brew from this one. Fermenting nettles with sugar will make a much stronger fertiliser. At the moment we eat all the fruit we get, but some day we might have surplus. :D

[@matthew04101]

i don't like the idea of using sugar or molasses. for the same amount of money i can just go buy a few bags of compost.

[@LearnPermaculture]

@@matthew04101 The beauty of this method is no need for the sugar.

[@craigdonald551]

Just made similar out of a 55 gallon plastic drum. As I’m in the tropics I’ve used Tithonia and Moringa with an added dash of Leucaena, instead of Comfrey and nettles.

[@LearnPermaculture]

Sounds like a perfect locally adapted version!

[@blueraven2345]

Thank you so much for this and so clearly demonstrated too.

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thank you!

[@bexxISM]

Love this video, I'm experimenting using primarily nettles, with clean cardboard, a bit of brown sugar, and some other compostables.

[@LearnPermaculture]

It's always good to experiment! :)

[@denisdb725]

Nice tutorial. Good explanation. But why the drilled holes you made are not alingd with the broken area in the barrel?

[@LearnPermaculture]

I drilled them along the line of the seam which is the lowest point and where they can be easily aligned above the collecting trough without having to crawl underneath. :)

[@denisdb725]

@@LearnPermaculture OK, that was not 100% clear in the video. Thats why I was asking the question. Enjoy further composting and gardening.

[@LearnPermaculture]

@@denisdb725 No problem, thanks for the clarifying question. :)

[@marymcandrew7667]

This was very interesting to me, I only knew about making stinky Nettle tea and this year was going to try again but with a bucket that has a lid. I'll try and think of a way to use some of what we've got around here to make your setup, I only have new rain barrels, maybe I'll use some buckets. Thanks for a very well explained video!

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thanks Mary! Yes, you could use do this on a smaller scale too. Start with what you've got and when you have the chance to get an old water butt or similar you can scale up. :)

[@sukkar5200]

This was a complete guide and excellent idea. Thank you for sharing.

[@LearnPermaculture]

You're welcome sukkar. :)

[@iwantcheesypuffs]

Excellent demo! Thanks for sharing. Will also try this with decomp as items from the garden are done and the fall leaves start coming down. Would like to know the growth production increase with using this method.

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thanks! The best time of year to make this is when the plants are actively making leaves - generally in the spring - as we're collecting the sap/juice. Once plants start making flowers and seeds they pretty much stop making leaves. The liquid does store very well though - in a cool place - and if you ensure that you don't bottle any undecomposed 'bits' it won't smell bad either. I haven't specifically compared the results of feeding with nettles or comfrey vs any other fertiliser, but it's certainly an improvement on none and apart from your time it costs nothing.

[@tomfisher3117]

I've used comfrey tea for years. I also chop and drop it as mulch. I use Russian Bocking 14 with an NPK of 1.8-0.5-7.0. I brew it in a 32 gallon black garbage can. Let it sit for 3 months to a year. I don't strain it, I just take the sprinkler off the can so I don't clog up the cans. I also use fermented plant juice made from comfrey which I foliar spray. I use only 1/4 teaspoon for 5 gallons. It's very powerful stuff. I also make lacto microorganisms which is also fermented. I combine it with the fermented plant juice and spray it every two weeks. It works pretty well. The only other addition I use for supplemental fertilization is some fast acting bone meal . I will use it when I start to see flowers forming on my tomatoes and peppers. Love it! Blessings to you. This was a wonderful video.

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thank you Tom! Yes, the Bocking varieties produce a lot of leaf and stem in a small space compared to the smaller ones, though I find the latter good for chopping and dropping around young trees where they won't overwhelm them. It sounds like you have a great system there. :)

[@r.perkins2103]

I suppose to make FPJ you could add shredded sugarbeet if you have the room to grow it. I do like the big bin method though. I have a theory that the best food for plants is themselves - juiced, composted or dried and ground as everything they need is there in the right proportions.

[@LearnPermaculture]

Yes indeed. That's why healthy weeds are perfect.

[@jackysmith169]

Looking at it, it would be a really good way to pre-process any sort of perennial weeds before adding them to the compost heap. Once they've been in there for a few months they won't regrow, even from roots. You wouldn't be so sure about the content of the liquid but that's a small price to pay. Thanks!

[@LearnPermaculture]

Yes indeed. As long as you added your weeds before they seed. :)

[@Time2ski27]

I might have missed this, but do you dilute the slurry before you put on your veg? And, in a real dry climate, will the debris break down without water? I live in the high desert of SW Colorado. Thanks. Great presentation.

[@LearnPermaculture]

It's very much a liquid, but it does need diluting. I'll add one part to between ten and twenty of water (half a litre in a ten litre watering can) depending on whether it's already been diluted with rain.The leaves do have some moisture in to begin with, but a little sprinkling of water from time to time will ensure the decomposing microbes have enough moisture to do their work.

[@Time2ski27]

Thanks for getting back. I will be trying it out.

[@lpmoron6258]

I made some of that with water and the smell is positively the most horrid thing I have ever smelled I can smell it 20 ft from the barrel and it's almost airtight. Can't wait to try this! Nice neighbors behind you. Never play loud music or romp in the gas! Or bum. Well, they might bum a handful of grass.

[@LearnPermaculture]

Yep! The anaerobic version really stinks. This is so so different.

[@muthurivitchchannelenvironment]

Beautiful organic solution to a problem

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thank you! :)

[@muthurivitchchannelenvironment]

subscribed too. My channel promotes permaculture too. check it out

[@southafricanrhino]

I really love this idea, thank you. It's much better than the anaerobic method! Will be trying this very soon :) I also very much like your stone retained garden area, it's beautiful!

[@rufia75]

His garden is definitely epic! and this is a great DIY fertilizer, by looks of it.

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thank you! I hope it works well for you too. :)

[@gladysmodisane7065]

I make it with all my fruits leaves trees, thanks very much.

[@naveedeqbal]

Nice guidance sir. Can this liquid dilution be used in hydroponics system?

[@LearnPermaculture]

The dilution of the liquid feed is fairly imprecise unless you keep your system indoors - as you can see I don't. If you did you may be able to more precisely dilute it for hydroponics but I don't have any experience of that, sorry. I guess you'd have to experiment.

[@trish3580]

Thank you so much for this video-perfect for me in so many ways. Your teaching style is so welcome. I have a very modest and am not very strong but this looks very doable for me....I don't have orange bricks but will figure something out (none to find nearby). Re comfrey - I don't have nettles but have an abundance of comfrey a couple times in the summer (right now it needs cutting). Can I use comfrey for everything in my garden? I heard you mention tomatoes but I need to have something to use on everything-potatoes, greens etc..maybe berries? Thank you so much for your help with this. .

[@LearnPermaculture]

Yes, anything that will lift the barrel above a container will do - my friend Pat uses a pair of old van roof bars. Comfrey is very good too. It's more suited to feeding plants when they are in the flowering and fruiting stage and comes a bit later in the season, but I always make a barrel of comfrey liquid too. Yes, this will work for any plants that need a feed though for potatoes you could use the leaves as a mulch instead and save the work. I actually wrap a comfrey leaf around each seed potato when I plant them in the spring.

[@MyFamilyGarden]

Love these types of projects! A drainpipe/waste pipe works quite well,

[@LearnPermaculture]

Yes indeed! Smaller scale, but same functionality.

[@craftypam9992]

I use a piece of piping, with a funnel at the bottom to fill a collection bottle, and the bottom of a pop bottle at the top of the pipe to serve as a lid (added after some daft sparrows decided to nest in there). I stuff slightly chopped leaves in the top, get the juice at the bottom. I've never actually removed any leaf matter from it, it all just seems to disappear. The whole kit is just inside the greenhouse door, so it's a bit warmer. And close to where I want to use it!

[@jksatte]

Thank you for this info. I live in town and don't have access to a nettle patch but I have plenty of weeds lol, so I guess they will do.

[@LearnPermaculture]

Pretty much any weed growing happily in your garden will contain useful nutrients for your plants. Just use the leaves and stems though as they break down more quickly and avoid putting in seeds if you can.

[@tubthump]

@@LearnPermaculture would grass be ok (couch grass I think)?. (Thank you for this inspiring video!).

[@LearnPermaculture]

@@tubthump I've not tried, but it can be a useful mulch in the garden if applied thinly enough. I would imagine nettles and confrey are better because they root more deeply than grasses tend too and so could be accessing more minerals/nutrients.

[@rasserfrasser]

First year grower here, trying to get away from spending so much money and stay natural. Been watching a number of videos on JLF etc and blessed to have came upon this. Would you say there's a benefit to nettles vs. comfrey or is it pretty much the same fuel for the process? Thanks so much for posting your experience.

[@LearnPermaculture]

Hi Xander, glad you're finding it useful. Nettles and comfrey are complementary. Nettles come earlier in the year and are high in nitrogen, which your young plants need to make stems and leaves. Comfrey is a bit later and is rich in potassium and also phosphorus which your plants need to make flowers and fruits. A prefect combination, but if you only have access to one to begin with, that's still good. Happy gardening!

[@rasserfrasser]

@@LearnPermaculture Super, thank you sir for the response and articulate explanation. I really appreciate it!

[@LearnPermaculture]

@@rasserfrasser You're welcome. :)

[@ivanchl]

Amazing! Thank you for the video.

[@melanieallen3655]

Great idea!!very well explained.Cheers from Australia!😁

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thanks for watching!

[@udayakumar-fb9hf]

Great technique from a Master. Thank you Aranya

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thank you!

[@chaddamp2894]

thanks,i really need to have a nettle corner on my allotment asap,great presentation !!

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thank you! :)

[@susanravizzotti2287]

Thank you for the thorough explanation. I’m in the subtropics in Australia, lots of sunshine and moisture so I think this method is perfect for the many weeds I get. I don’t like throwing any organic matter away unless it’s diseased so I’ll keep the pernicious weeds for the anaerobic water method and other weeds for this aerobic method. Great advice, thank you 🙏

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thank you Susan! :)

[@robertoller8637]

REALLY clever. I will be trying this out. Thank you!

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thanks Robert! :)

[@handlethehandle7]

Fantastic teaching. Thank you

[@LearnPermaculture]

You're welcome Sonia. :)

[@jeffreyimperial4891]

I followed what you did. my plant in good shape very effective liquid fertilizer thank you very much🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@LearnPermaculture]

So pleased to hear that Jeffrey! :)

[@msredwun]

How has the smell been for you?

[@peterfrance702]

Impatient people like me can skip to 8:30 or 9:00 for the useful info.

[@anscents2422]

Is it an idea to soak seeds in the nettle liquid with water and what ratio should I use. And use it also for the soil for those seeds

[@LearnPermaculture]

I've never tried that - seeds tend to have all they need for the first few weeks of growth, but you could experiment (with something you have a lot of, such as lettuce) and see if it makes a positive difference. If I did I think I'd use it more dilute than when feeding a large, hungry plant. Perhaps diluting 40 to 1 instead of my usual 20 to 1.

[@CandleMakingUK]

So you don't cover the bin to stop the rain? I am thinking about colder months

[@LearnPermaculture]

It'll stop producing come late autumn / winter, and you won't have demanding plants by then, so the main reason to cover the bin is if you're getting a lot of rain in the spring / summer. Early spring, I clear out the old decayed stem fibres and start again. You do want a bit of extra moisture on the leaves to help the decay microorganisms, but not too much or you'll have a dilute solution and have to empty the container more often.

[@CandleMakingUK]

@@LearnPermaculture thankyou. Take over my first allotment plot this month so trying to learn all I can. Luckily I have a load of Comfrey growing on it

[@LearnPermaculture]

@@CandleMakingUK Spellchecker... I assume you mean comfrey, though a load of comfort would be nice too. :) Enjoy!

[@CandleMakingUK]

@@LearnPermaculture haha. Yes. It auto corrected and I didn't notice. Just edited

[@jessies6193]

Excellent video Aranya :)

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thanks Jessie. :)

[@GmGarlo]

if you get a down pour of rain or its raining alot , do you have to cover the top to keep it from getting too much water?

[@LearnPermaculture]

I do. With old scaffold boards. It needs a bit of water, but if it gets a lot your liquid feed will be more diluted and you'll have to empty the container more often or it'll overflow.

[@tomlawless4406]

What if it’s raining a lot would you cover the top I feel like I would make a kind of umbrella lol

[@LearnPermaculture]

Yes I do. The bacteria that break down the leaves need a little moisture but not too much. so if you're expecting a lot of rain then covering the bin would be a good idea. Otherwise you'll be having to empty the containers more often and your liquid will be more dilute. I have a couple of old short scaffold boards I use for this job.

[@tomlawless4406]

@@LearnPermaculture ahh okay, cheers I’ll definitely give this a go 👍

[@cowboyblacksmith]

I may try a smaller version using my bokashi 5 gallon bucket, it has a drain hole and everything and a false bottom with holes.

[@LearnPermaculture]

Worth a go Paul, it's a system that can be scaled up or down - until the container gets too small for the leaves of course. :D

[@violet5610]

This was a really good idea. Thank you

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thank you Violet!

[@HillCountryGardenGirl]

What an excellent demonstration for someone like me who is just now learning about this method. So cool. Thank you for the video!

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thank you Leah! :)

[@andrewstirrat1628]

very informative and great way, Thank You

[@LearnPermaculture]

Glad to be of help.

[@janknapp5353]

Great tips! Thanks very much.

[@LearnPermaculture]

Glad it was helpful!

[@priayief]

Have you conducted a "same season, same plant" test to see if your fermented product (nettles or comfrey) added to your bed produces significantly better results than simply adding nettles or comfrey to your garden beds?

[@LearnPermaculture]

I don't make the fermented version, I only extract the juice. I do mulch with comfrey especially in the forest garden where I can chop & drop it. I'd say that the mulch would protect the soil well and feed soil microbes but this is better suited to especially hungry plants, especially when they're being grown in pots and containers and where mulching isn't really appropriate. So I use both methods, but in different places.

[@babycheesus666]

never expected to get great gardening tips from the late George Carlin

[@LearnPermaculture]

Alive and well, but with a bit less swearing. :D

[@LearnPermaculture]

Now where did I leave my time-travelling telephone box?

[@babycheesus666]

@@LearnPermaculture LOL ❤

[@GeoffSayre]

I just built a slightly smaller version of this based on your video. I had all the materials needed laying around the property. Filled it up with what weeds, grasses, and wild flowers I could cut off the edges of the lawn and garden. I have a question though: do you add water when the weather is very dry? Thanks for sharing this technique. I'm very excited to start harvesting "free" fertilizer!

[@LearnPermaculture]

Hi Geoff, yes, the bacteria will need some moisture. Water it if it looks a bit dry, otherwise it should look after itself. Happy experimenting!

[@GeoffSayre]

@@LearnPermaculture thank you for the reply and advice!

[@GeoffSayre]

@@LearnPermaculture so as an update: I used the extracted fertilizer for the last few months. Using weeds and wild flowers as the raw material produced plenty of liquid. It did not seem to be a strong fertilizer. I had to apply it weekly to get results. But it definitely worked! The plants I tested it on grew well and had dark green healthy leaves. I'm building a second larger extractor for next season. This design is very useful!

[@LearnPermaculture]

@@GeoffSayre That's great to hear Geoff. Nice work! :)

[@yellowbird5411]

@@GeoffSayre Perhaps using a bit less water in the dilution would help?

[@harmonysalem9377]

Merci from Montreal, Canada.

[@LearnPermaculture]

You're welcome!

[@bobthrasher8226]

JADAM uses the anaerobic vegetable digestion method. JLF - JADAM Liquid Fertilizer.

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thanks Bob, yes, I'm familiar with that.

[@donnastormer9652]

I like this idea. You might want to put marks for where the line of holes in on the outside of the bucket. I’m old and would forget where they are over time

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thanks Donna, that's a good idea. On mine I've drilled them in line with the seam on the barrel so I can use that as a marker.

[@SeanTyrell-m6o]

Very interesting video. I was wondering if grass clippings would work in this context or would they stick together to create a big sticky anaerobic mat?

[@LearnPermaculture]

They might be okay as a layer in between the nettles or comfrey but I think on their own they would indeed become a big sticky anaerobic mat! I haven't tried...

[@SeanTyrell-m6o]

@@LearnPermaculture Thank you so much for the quick reply 🙏

[@smithy4121]

Thank you I really like this idea. If your not careful feeding your plants organically can cost a fortune I really like this way of making my own, none stinky fertiliser in large ish amounts.

[@LearnPermaculture]

It can indeed. Doing this is really a no-brainer!

[@ShelNoo]

You got yourself a new subscriber! Does a lid need to go on top or we are supposed to leave the top exposed?

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thank you. :) I don't have lids for two of the three barrels I use but if it's going to rain a lot I'll cover them with something (currently old scaffolding boards) to stop the leaves getting too wet and the solution getting too diluted. Without a lid you also have to empty the containers more often.

[@ShelNoo]

​@@LearnPermaculture Thank you for your response! I am making a fertiliser for the first time at my allotment in a barrel with a tight lid. I have put some comfrey leaves, kitchen scraps, leftover crops such as tomatoes, swiss chard, mustard leaves, pumpkin, etc.... all inside the barrel along with scoops of leaf mould and compost and filled the barrel with water and put the lid on. To be used few months later. Do you think this is also another method of making a effective fertiliser?

[@LearnPermaculture]

@@ShelNoo It's always worth trying to make use of whatever waste materials you have available and it has the potential to make a good fertiliser. I suspect filling the barrel with water is going to make it smelly though...

[@ShelNoo]

@@LearnPermaculture Yes it is smelly but with the tight lid on, I can't really tell. I saw one youtube gardener doing this...

[@LearnPermaculture]

@@ShelNoo Not so much fun when you have to apply it, though your plants should still love it....

[@funkarola]

I guess unless you're filling it right up you can cut part of the barrel off so it's not so tall too

[@LearnPermaculture]

Yes, indeed.

[@funkarola]

@@LearnPermaculture thanks 🙏 great tutorial I'll definitely be doing this! I'm looking for ideas for compositing chicken manure too

[@LearnPermaculture]

@@funkarola Well, chicken manure is high in nitrogen so I'd mix it with anything that's high in carbon.

[@michellelinnert]

Would one be able to do this with grass clippings as well?

[@LearnPermaculture]

A little perhaps but nettles and comfrey (and similar plants) have quite chunky stems which ensure there are air spaces in between the leaves. This keeps the barrel aerobic despite the weight pressing down on the leaves. Grass clippings are much more likely to go aerobic unless you add more stemmy plants.

[@anscents2422]

Can I use this a few times to give the soil a boost, a month before i put the seedlings in the grond?

[@LearnPermaculture]

It's more of a plant food I'd say, but you can keep it in bottles to use later if needed - we do. A better thing for your situation might be compost tea - but that's a whole different thing.

[@carrolinenewtonisaac3234]

Thanks for sharing

[@ShelNoo]

Hi. How long will the fertiliser keep for? Also how do we store it? Thanks

[@LearnPermaculture]

I store it in 5 litre bottles in a cool place. As long as you filter it first to remove any bits it won't smell either. If any undecomposed bits end up in the bottle they'll decompose anaerobically and make that familiar bad smell. We store ours for months at a time, especially over winter. Just keep it cool and in a sealed container.

[@kicknadeadcat]

I have found if I put an aerator in after the comfrey is finished for a couple hours it removers most of the stink.

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thanks, is this for the traditional version with leaves in a tank of water, or after this version? What size pump do you use and do you also use an airstone?

[@falfield]

Thank you for a well-explained method. I've not made liquid feeds to date and have just had a bigger compost operation as a result. With 2 allotment plots and gathering all raw material that comes my way, I've ended up with 16 dalek bins - all full at this time of year (end May). The reason I was prejudiced against liquid feeds was the smell of anaerobic decomposition (not relevant here) and the lack of control available over potency. I was hoping for more on the latter, which you partly addressed in the video and in comments. There's no point having a fixed dilution ratio if you can't control the strength of the initial liquid. Maybe it doesn't matter as long as it is 'somewhat' diluted....what do you think?

[@LearnPermaculture]

You're right - if you leave the lid off (as I tend to do) then it'll be more dilute when it rains more often. I tend to judge it on the basis of how dark it looks and dilute accordingly. Certainly you could exclude all rainfall and add a more controlled volume of water for wetting the leaves but I haven't found the need to do that. My approach is to start by using a more dilute solution and then increase the strength a little at a time if the needs of any plant arises.

[@Yakfisher1000]

Great video thanks. I'm just going to do this with a barrel I purchased today, but looking at the base the internal high spots are in the middle and the low area is a ring running around the base edge (if that makes sense). So it would be wrong to drill holes in the middle for the liquid to drain down into a collector, so I thought if I installed a basic plastic tap at the very bottom and not drill any holes, i could just tap it off say each week. That would work would it not??? Look forward to your comments-thanks

[@LearnPermaculture]

That's a good question. Well noticed! The holes don't have to be at the lowest point, although if they are the liquid will come out and can be used sooner. If you just had a tap on the side I think you'd have quite a lot of liquid inside before you could drain it off - pre-drilled tap holes are always a few cm above the base because of the size of the tap flange. Also, the tank is often quite strongly curved near the bottom, making it more difficult to get a good seal around the tap. Or are you thinking of the tap being underneath - given that the tank needs supporting, presumably at the sides? That might still be awkward. Obviously, I can't see your tank but how I'm picturing it I'd be inclined to drill a few holes in the low point around the edge at the front (and if my collector was long enough like they are here, also at the back). That said, if you fitted a tap and it didn't work well (or it didn't drain well) you could still remove it and try drilling some holes instead. I hope that helps!

[@Yakfisher1000]

@@LearnPermaculture Thank you Sir for the quick response. You are correct the tap would have to be underneath which would work given that it is raised off the ground and there will be no pressure. I will try with a simple plastic tap like you find with brewing kits/water storage containers. Appreciate it will be pointing out unless I can find one with an elbow or make something up. The other idea I thought of was to use a pool noodle (one of those long closed cell foam pipes kids play with in water) and stick it in the inside around the bottom to pack out that hollow that goes all the way around the outer edge which would divert any liquid to the centre. Again I hope this makes sense without photos. Thanks again from central NZ

[@LearnPermaculture]

@@Yakfisher1000 It's always good to experiement! I think the tap sounds like a better option - the foam pipes might not stay where you want them to, but worth trying if you already have some.

[@Yakfisher1000]

@@LearnPermaculture Cheers, will try the wee tap first. I was thinking of using some sealant to keep the pipe/tube down. Will let you know how I get on-Thanks again

[@LearnPermaculture]

Best of luck @@Yakfisher1000 !

[@novampires223]

Terry King, a wonderful master gardener does this on a grand scale on his plot in Britain. Can't remember his channel name, but it should show up with a KZbin search of his name.

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thanks! Yes, I see that he uses the pipe method, but on a bigger scale than the usual drainpipe. Good if you have a structure to attach it to. Not sure he has any more volume than a butt like this can generate though...

[@rsimmo3]

Can we add cardboard or other typical composting material? Eggshells and paper?

[@LearnPermaculture]

I wouldn't, this is just a system for breaking down green nitrogen-rich leaves. Any of those other materials would just clog up the barrel. I'd put such things in either a Hotbin or a normal compost heap where they'd have more time or heat to break them down.

[@elizabethasoy6249]

Thanks for sharing,very helpfulnto a new beginners to have a garden at our backyard

[@LearnPermaculture]

You're welcome Elizabeth. :)

[@andydurbs]

Great video, time for me to look for these items 🙂

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thanks Andy!

[@ChristabellaH]

Excellent

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thanks Lauretta. :)

[@ladasamara2158]

Hey, thanx a lot for both this idea and video. It is a real pleasure to watch you. I've been using other method for many years, but I will try this for sure. Just one short question-when you put green stuff inside for the first time, do you use some water at that point? Or you leave as it is and wait for some rain? Keep up the good work. All the best from Serbia!

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thanks Lada. :) I just put it in as it is as there's plenty of liquid in the leaves themselves and packed in the barrel there's little surface for evaporation. I only sprinkle water on it if it's dry for a couple of weeks.

[@ladasamara2158]

@@LearnPermaculture Thank you, it makes sense. All the best

[@andrejofak4787]

HI, thank you I have just subscribed to your chanell :). Could you say would this work for seaweeds aswell?

[@LearnPermaculture]

I haven't tried it. I imagine they'd take too long to break down and too easily become anaerobic, like the piles on the beach have a tendency to do already. Perhaps the very fine seaweeds, but I don't think it would work for kelp etc. We are close to the coast and collect washed up seaweed for the garden every winter but just use it as a mulch. Mostly, you'll be needing liquid feeds in the summer anyway, when hungry plants are in active growth. I think that seaweed liquid feeds are made using some process that involves boiling.

[@andrejofak4787]

@@LearnPermaculture understood, so if they use boiling the iodine si gone. When you use seaweed as a mulch, do you wash it before hand, to remove salt? The process you introduced is realy great. So what about if we don't have acess to confery or nettles in decent amounts? Could grass or fresh lives yeald some liqid or not?

[@LearnPermaculture]

@@andrejofak4787 We don't wash it because compared to the amount of rain we get here the sea salt on the seaweed is relatively small. It also provides good trace elements for the soil. And we only apply it once a year. Despite that the yield has been significantly better compared to the year we didn't get around to collecting it. If you don't have access to comfrey or nettles then any fast growing leafy plant that you know not to be toxic could be a good substitute - other leafy weeds (with thick stems) from your garden or locality for instance. Alkanet I've used. Borage is good too though as an annual it's not nearly as productive as perennials. Grass I find to be not as good as it compacts easily and goes anaerobic (smelly).

[@andrejofak4787]

@@LearnPermaculture thak you for your work, that is some great info!

[@LearnPermaculture]

@@andrejofak4787 Thank you!

[@JoMo-o4o]

Cool, thanks x

[@rickasinghbhoola8719]

Hi, can I make a tincture for human consumption using washed nettle leaves compressed in a sanitised container. Dilute it in a 1 to 20 ratio & drink daily.

[@LearnPermaculture]

That's a bit beyond my realm of experience. I can say that young nettles are a great addition to our diet - very nutritious. As they get older they get a bit high in iron.

[@mikediamondcoxon6556]

Exelent many thanx and you have a very tidy garden

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thanks Mike!

[@bromers1985]

Great video, thank you very much

[@LearnPermaculture]

You're welcome Sophie! :)

[@learnmathstatisticswithfun2633]

How much concentrated liquid fertilizer do you get with a full barrel? The yield? I am not convinced by this method. Since your barrel is not closed (unless I missed something), how do you account for water evaporation and/or top leaves getting dried in hot weather? How efficient is this method? I am curious. How do you control insects/pests that may get in in search of food in an open system like yours? What about smell? How many weeks does it take on average collect your liquid fertilizer?

[@LearnPermaculture]

Thanks, though that's a lot of questions in one go.... and tbh I've answered them before below.... The yield varies depending on your local climate (evaporation vs rainfall), the size of your barrel, the quantity of leaves etc. These factors affect quantity (and rate of production) as well as the concentration/required dilution ratio. Insects are part of the process of breaking down the leaves. As I already mentioned, in a wetter climate you'd probably want to cover it sometimes, but you will need some water input to keep the decomposing organisms happy and to wash through the solution. The main benefits to me are the lack of smell over the anaerobic method, having no standing liquid that attracts mosquitoes etc. and the fact that I can use containers that are no longer able to hold water. We have a couple of nettle barrels and one of comfrey and they produce way more than we need to feed our plants (we have a few 5L bottles still in cool storage from last summer).

[@hermanmason9635]

Where can you get ur barrels at?

[@LearnPermaculture]

It depends on where you are, but I manage to acquire water butts that people are throwing away because they have some damage and no longer hold water.