How To Make Compost FAST IN GROUND: Plants, Worms Will LOVE This!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

If you enjoyed this video, please *Like* it and share it to help increase its reach! Thanks for watching 😊 TIMESTAMPS here: 0:00 Advantages To In Ground Composting 3:06 DIY Composting Rotten Fruits 4:18 Where To Buy The Composting Bucket 5:46 How To Make An In Ground Composter 8:20 Installing And Filling The Composter 11:53 Incredible Results After 3 Weeks! 14:51 In Ground VS Above Ground Composting 17:58 Adventures With Dale

[@reneedrock2907]

Thank you again for all that you share to help us.

[@scottscriticalmass]

Thanks for sharing! I have a few in ground composters throughout my yard after starting with just one a few years ago. I love them and more importantly, so does my soil, trees and other plant-life! I know you know what you're doing, but I'd recommend adding more browns to the mix when possible. I've found adding ~50% browns really speeds things up, while giving worms a good environment to lay their eggs and also reducing smell and unwanted insects. A win-win-win! It's truly amazing how fast nature takes care of things when given the opportunity. Love your videos. 30 inches of rain in less than a month. This Californian's mind is blown.

[@springflowerdark2137]

Billy at perma pastures has an 18 day way to make compost. It is very informative.

[@scottscriticalmass]

@@springflowerdark2137 - Found the video and added to my watch list. Thanks!

[@DavidMFChapman]

@@scottscriticalmass I was going to say “more browns.” I store shredded autumn leaves for this purpose.

[@veronicadoggone5660]

I didn't want to buy more plastic so I doubled some Amazon boxes, cut the bottom flaps off and did everything else the same. For the lid I used an old trash can lid, like your compost trash can. We'll see how this work out 👍

[@1man2many]

Excellent idea! When I had a red worm compost bin I learned they LOVE corrugated cardboard. I think it's the glue they want, but who know what goes on in little worm minds...

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Controversial statement, maybe, but the plastic thing doesn't bother me. All the water lines in my house are plastic. My garden hose is plastic. The refrigerator filter is plastic. All the drip irrigation lines are plastic. At this point, it's unavoidable. I do get concerned about the chemicals inside the paper products breaking down in my soil, though. I do use cardboard as a weed matting here and there, but I have driven by paper mills and smelled them, and whatever is actively decomposing from that paper in my soil concerns me more than a plastic bin that is resistant to decay. In my opinion, most of our problems with plastics is drinking things out of plastic bottles. Bottled water, acidic drinks like soda, alcoholic beverages (aluminum cans are lined with plastic), etc. is where a lot of the bad stuff happens. Drinking solvents out of plastic that have been sitting in there fore weeks or months is what I try to avoid.

[@helenc.9008]

I love your channel & I've learned a lot, but with all due respect, like a friendly disagreement among friends, you can keep all your plastics, I'll keep my cardboard even if it's just a drop in the bucket of all the plastics I'm forced to use. Consumers' buying habits can change things in the long run. I haven't heard about any health hazards of using cardboard - yet - despite how a paper mill smells, which I have experienced. And I'll use silicone where I can unless or until they find negative health effects of it. I know there may be some with high heat.

[@AlexanderMoore5133]

​@@TheMillennialGardenerunfortunately I think both are likely of concern. So much of what makes up our modern environment was never rigorously tested to be safe for humans. Seems like we've been paying the consequences with cancer rates over the last few generations.

[@veronicadoggone5660]

​@@TheMillennialGardener I agree with all the points. My choice of cardboard was just to not BUY more plastic. It is everwere and unavoidable. And I'm trying the concept out... plus I get a ton of cardboard from my own & my neighbors online orders.

[@cvzphotography]

The trash can composter has been a huge help for me. Thanks!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Awesome! So glad to hear!

[@1man2many]

One option would be the yellow Tidy Cat 35# litter pails. They ARE UV stable for several years, I've used them as planting pots, and soil mix holders. You MIGHT need a bungee cord to keep the lid closed after a long time, but that easily hooks onto the rim where the pail 'bail' fits in. Hope it helps!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Interesting. I have a gnarly cat allergy though 😺

[@gertrude6737]

Tidy Cat buckets are useful for a whole lot of things!

[@brandywineblue]

​@TheMillennialGardener it's cat saliva you are reacting to. The litter can be used by a friend who has cats, or it can be used to soak up grease spots in your garage/driveway, etc.

[@mariap.894]

Your best buddy looks so cute and happy to go for a walk😍🐕😍🐕🥰🐕. Thanks for sharing this video sweet Anthony 🙏

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Dale is so happy this time of year once summer breaks. He hides indoors late May into September. When the October cool comes, he comes out of his shell and wants to be outside all day. It's great to see.

[@dao8805]

Just one more reason this has become my favorite gardening channel! Thank you for sharing :)

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you so much!

[@rainbowfox1934]

I appreciate the information that certain things ferment and smell bad. Great idea of a buried composter.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It's really awesome! NO SMELL! The ground absorbs all the stink.

[@lisaemerick6614]

I made one of these a couple months ago as an experiment. I used a spade drill bit and the holes came out wonderful. No cracks and the holes are so smooth so it doesn’t hurt the worms.

[@amberathillsidehomestead4831]

I have one of these in two of my raised beds and those two beds produced better this year than my other beds so I’m adding one to each of the other beds. I added worms to mine and layered the browns, greens and worm bedding when I set mine up.

[@JazzDogTraveler]

You have some healthy Black Soldier Fly larvae there. Those guys are always hungry and eat all the time. The adult flies look like wasps, but can't sting and don't even have mouths. I love to see soldier fly larvae in my compost barrels. They also make great food for chickens, fish, and reptiles.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

They are devouring the compost. They are of no harm, for sure. Only benefit.

[@Norbingel]

@@TheMillennialGardener Have only heard good things about them. They break down food waste, including meat, extremely fast. I have tried 3x to cultivate those but have been very unfortunate in their late, egg hatching stage.

[@Bonsaihoagiaysanvuon]

Rồi đen cũng được😂

[@daisyhaven9831]

Loved this video, so clear and helpful. I've got some in ground worm farms in my raised garden beds and they are so useful and really help in reducing the waste leaving my property. I add in shredded paper, loo roll cardboard etc too as I find that if the decomposing mix is too wet the plants growing around the bin do badly. Too much nitrogen I assume.

[@MichelleHeltay]

This is brilliant! An in-ground composter like this is so expensive in Australia! Thank you for this. So simple!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome! You can buy these pre-made online for $50, but you can literally make it yourself in 10 mins with a drill bit for $12.

[@Defender_messenger]

I made in ground worm composters for most of my raised beds out of strawberry planters and they work wonderfully!

[@nick-hdh]

Could u explain this?

[@Defender_messenger]

@@nick-hdh it’s the same concept as this video except I’m trying to avoid plastic as much as possible in my garden so I used terracotta strawberry planters. You bury them in the ground just like this and top with a terracotta pot that fits the top hole. I started each pot with a handful of worms and soil though as the lowest hole of the strawberry planter doesn’t reach low enough for the first small batches of compost to reach allowing the worms to pass from the garden into the pot. Once you have about a 4-5 inches of compost though thr compost will touch the holes and the worms can pass through freely. There is the drainage hole on the bottom of the pot but it’s so small I wasn’t sure if worms would go in.

[@vcookster3915]

I like your use of the Craftsman square box and lid. Really looks like it was intended for this purpose! If you do have those spare 5 gallon buckets around and are worried about durability, you can still use that 5 gallon round bucket and to delay the UV degradation, you can just spray a couple light coats of spray paint on the outside surfaces exposed to the sun so the paint blocks most of those UV rays.

[@gannas42]

That is the appropriate way to deliver such a groan-worthy pun, my friend. Cheers!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Bad jokes, I know a few.

[@MartaPena-k7m]

I have had great results with the garbage can composter. That also was a great contribution!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Excellent! I'm glad to hear it! I'm currently visiting my brother, and he built 2. They're both doing great!

[@bluebutterflywellness2273]

THIS IS GREAT! in the past I experimented successfully with dollar tree laundry baskets enclosed in a mesh laundry bag but like you said, it didn't last long as the mesh bag also began decomposing. Currently I use leaves in plastic bags with holes punched in to make compost, but your method would help me use more of my food waste as well. I also bury food scraps mixed with soil and red clay when putting in new plants, but this would be a great long term solution to employ. Thanks for the great tips!👍🏽💕🦋

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you! In my experience, these UV stabilized totes last quite awhile. I expect this to hold up for many years, and it's about $1 more than buying a 5 gallon bucket and lid that will disintegrate in a year.

[@bluebutterflywellness2273]

​@@TheMillennialGardener Unfortunately due to dynamic pricing, this bucket went up double in price, so I went to Home Depot just up the road from me and purchased a 27gallon tote for $10 that I will use instead. It doesn't have handles but is large, wide and deep enough for me to be able to turn things over and shovel out the compost when it's ready instead of lifting out the ground, so thanks for the inspo! 👍🏽💕🦋

[@KIMF13]

Thanks for sharing! Just made mine today. Used a step drill bit which drills holes through plastic much smoother without having to switch out drill bits!

[@newlifecalling2233]

Yea! I've been waiting for this. Amazon, here I come. You're the best!

[@nick-hdh]

Now if they could learn how to pack boxes or not tell you one del date at purchase then change it to a month later over 3 days after purchase.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I appreciate it!

[@ChefSammySunshine]

Not me yelling “HI DALE!” when he popped in the background at 3:49 😂 I started my trashcan composter this spring and its been a learning curve but it works great! Im really excited to find a spot for in ground composting before it gets too cold to dig!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

4 out of 5 doctors agree that Dale is the best member of the household. Glad you're enjoying the composter! It's fun to figure out what breaks down best.

[@deborahcaldwell9775]

This is a wonderful video tutorial

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you! I appreciate it!

[@MiladyMeowMeow-bf7nk]

I would love to see some cooking videos from you! I'm very interested in healthy meal ideas straight from the garden 😍

[@binwaelle1138]

Thanks for the shearing 👍

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome!

[@johnwood738]

Enjoy the video a lot. I can never make enough compost. That’s why I’ve gone to giant pallet compost bins. The only thing I find that I can make enough in and I have several to feed all my garden beds.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!

[@Christopher-xd5in]

Love the raised bed vermiculture idea. Very cool. I was just thinking about building a 4×4×2 raised bed for berries.

[@Christopher-xd5in]

Happy gardening y'all

[@wendyreynolds2261]

I bought a barrel composted and put everything in there, but it has taken months to break down. This makes more sense for spoiled fruit and plant based kitchen scraps. Also worm castings are garden gold, so double bonus! I plan to give this a try in my N FL garden!

[@elizabethblane201]

I use a 17 gallon tote, and cover the lid with cardboard so it doesn't break down from UV exposure. When the tote is almost full, about once a year, I start putting the scraps only at one end of the tote; this causes the worms to migrate to that end of the tote where I can easily separate them out and harvest the remaining vermicompost, which I store in another underground container for later use. I also put larger, 1 1/2" holes below the top rim and cover those holes with screening to prevent flies from entering. Animals cannot get in. I also have the tote in the shade where it will never overheat during the really hot days in summer. I think underground is the only way to go protect your worms and to keep critters out and the eliminate any smell.

[@deejae8295]

I have a place for an old apple tree gave into snow - Mageddon during 2021. I think this would be a perfect place. It’s in the middle of my garden.

[@terrinegron]

Thanks so much. I also use big bottles with holes that are imbedded in the middle of my raised beds, and I always fill it with kitchen waist.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Nice!

[@kristin143]

amazing! I'll be buying one the next time we go to the store. thank you for doing this & sharing it to us 😊

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're so welcome!

[@kristin143]

@@TheMillennialGardener have a great day! and keep posting helpful videos. 🙂

[@catecurl3790]

Very interesting and thankyou

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome!

[@anniemills2522]

I purchased a couple of little buckets with lids and handles on amazon,,,they are 3 gallon, so smaller and hole I had to dig not so deep. But this way of composting works great. I move my buckets every spring, and use them in my raised garden beds....and in them I put my kitchen waste. (no dairy/meat/onions, etc)

[@tinab7791]

I bet this would be really great for everything I clean out of my chicken coop. Definitely trying it!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

If I had a chicken coop, I'd have one next to every fruit tree 😀

[@tonyajackson8827]

Wow, what a cool idea! I’m going to have to plan something like this for my garden. I have a good above-ground compost bin and a tumbler, but I think one or two of these in the garden would be great!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Having both an above-ground system and underground system is great. The smelly stuff gets buried underground, and the cleaner items that don't smell bad go above ground.

[@pamelachappell1089]

You always have great ideas. I enjoy your videos and learn a lot from you. Thank you for taking the time to share.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome! I'm glad it was helpful.

[@Gardeningchristine]

Used my own cold compost on a couple beds this year and I had a carpet of purslane and tomato seedlings. I mulched over them and it was fine but you would have thought I planted micro greens it was so thick.

[@SeedtoSprout-k3f]

Sure! Here’s the translation: "Wow, this video is amazing! I really love how you demonstrate making quick compost without any unpleasant smell. This method truly saves time and effort. Just $12 for a DIY composting machine is such a great deal! I'm also impressed with its ability to compost fruits without worrying about pests. Looking forward to seeing more useful videos like this from you!"

[@gregheaney4034]

Thanks mate. From Australia👍

[@shawncastillo210]

I have been doing in-ground vermicomposting (with worms) for years & absolutely love the results! Here is how I do mine: dig a hole or trench 2' deep. My bed is 2' deep by 2' wide by 6' long. If you can't do an in ground, you can do an above ground raised bed style by building a 4-sided frame, no bottom, with a top. Make sure the worm bed location is not in the direct sun - they like cooler, more moderate temperatures. Sift the dirt you removed from digging the trench using a sitting screen to remove rocks & sticks. If you have an above ground bed add several bags of raised bed mix (I prefer organic but you use what you want). Fill the trench or raised bed half-way up with soil. Add mulched leaves or other fine brown yard waste. I add coconut choir, worms love it and it makes a good bedding material. Then add kitchen scraps. No meat, dairy or anything with oils or seasonings. I use organic green waste from my garden (must be chopped or munched into small pieces). Rind from watermelons or cantaloupe in 1 or 2 inch chunks are the wormies favorites! They do not like onions or garlic so I leave them out (dry paper skins are OK). Egg shells need to be pulverized to a fine powder, otherwise they cut the worms soft skins (they shells don't break down anyway so unless powdered, I leave them out). Tea bags, coffee grounds, peelings (no apple cores - they will sprout), small rind pieces, leafy greens, all that kind of stuff is great. I layer brown waste, dirt or bed mix, green waste (kitchen scraps), more dirt until the trench or bed is 3/4 full. Once you have a good 3 to 4 layers, you are ready to add worms. I order 250 red composting worms from Uncle Jim's Worm Farm online (www.unclejimswormfarm.com). Cost with shipping about $50. They will arrive in about 2 weeks. Put them in, cover them with a light layer of dirt or bed mix. I moisten the top layer, pay some black landscape fabric over the whole thing, top with a plywood or other wood lid and leave them alone for 30 days. You can continue to add kitchen scraps and a light layer of dirt to the trench or bed but don't turn the worms just yet. They need time to adjust, breed, lay eggs, etc. I After about 60 to 90 days, carefully turn the soil over with a shovel. Exposing the bottom layers to the top & pushing the top layers down. You should see that the bottom layers are breaking down nicely! I turn my worm beds about once a month (after the initial establishment time has passed). Spring & fall, I sift the dirt, saving the sifted worms, and as I remove dirt, I add new organic layers, more dirt or bed mix and cover - letting the process continue for the next few months. Every time I remove dirt, I add more dirt or bed mix plus my organic waste, this keeps the whole process working properly. There should be no obnoxious smell (it should be a nice clean dirt smell). Keep the bed moist, not wet and keep covered from pests & direct sun. If you keep feeding the worms, they will keep working & multiplying! Every year, I start a new bed using worms from my prior beds. once you make the initial investment in worms you shouldn't need to buy more unless voles or other burrowing vermin get in. You can put screen in your trench or under your raised bed if you have vermon problems. I put chopped straw on top of my beds before winter to give the worms insulation (they will freeze if they cannot go deep enough in the winter to get below the frost line). I also throw some burlap bags or additional black landscape fabric on top of the straw before the ground freezes. This is by far the easiest, cheapest, most productive composting method I have used (and I have tried many)! If you can dig a hole, trench, or build a raised bed (with partial to full shade), you can do this!! The only initial investment is the red worms (no nightcrawlers), some coconut choir (or shredded newspaper works too) to get the bedding started and dirt (which is free if you dug the hole)! If you used raised bed mix you will have that initial cost but a few bags of soil will support THOUSANDS of worms! Just keep layering, moistening the soil, feeding the worms good greens and kitchen scraps and they will stick around forever & work 'dirt' cheap!! Happy vermicomposting everyone!

[@mariel.8809]

You are brilliant. Thank you!

[@huckleberryfinney4393]

Thank you for taking time to write it out!

[@teresa-ux8db]

Why not night crawlers? Pretty cool instructions 🎉🎉

[@Equinella]

They aren't the best composters as they are deep burrowers, as apposed to something like a Red Wigglers that live near the surface and are excellent composters 🙏🏻 ​@@teresa-ux8db

[@Equinella]

There are some myths sprinkled in here, but overall good information 🙏🏻

[@Guppy_Girl]

Great video, I’m going to try this out. When I set up mine I think I’ll use some of the dirt that was dug up when making the hole to the composter. That’s always worked well for me when I did a shaded trash can composter. I think it has to do with adding some of the bacteria that’s already found in soil.

[@melissaharland5609]

Thank you for sharing, I can't stand stinky anything, I've been burying compost forever in different areas of my garden. I might try buying a container, albeit um 65 n look for ez ways to save my physical energy, Been getting advice from your channel more than a decade. God bless you for sharing 🫂

[@CapeFearDragon]

Those BSF larvae are doing all your heavy lifting. They're such a clean, efficient composter, I wish people knew more about them and used them more.

[@soraiasalehi1378]

Another beautiful video, learn a lot , thank you 🙏🏻

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome!

[@MomAsol]

Thanks for sharing

[@ChristmasStitcherAtHeart-Greg]

Thank you! I've anxiously been waiting for this video. I'll have to make my own soon.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome! Let us know how it works out.

[@jSheapullen]

Great bucket! I do this but not in venter of bed as i cant get to it when plants are doing well! I recommend corner.

[@marciawarden5021]

We have a composter made exactly like our raised beds 4’ x 8’ x 24” I’ve been careful not to put seeds in it, but I’ve been throwing our damaged fruits away along with cores and such, I had been told not to put onions in my compost so I’ve been wasting black gold! We cover with a black tarp on inside and built a frame with insect screen on top. I believe we can use this to put in a corner and get more compost! This is our second year and we’ve started using our black gold!

[@annettemarie2076]

Great idea. I’m going to do this. Thank you 😊

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome!

[@Bonsaihoagiaysanvuon]

Cảm ơn anh chia sẽ cách ủ phân cho cây❤

[@thatzmyart]

Must try this. Thanks for sharing

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You’re welcome!

[@marthareyes4024]

11:49 - 11: 52 is priceless.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

If you love bad puns, you've come to the right place.

[@GreenLove1]

This is similar to the subpod that I own, great way to compost, but you have to go outside to put scraps in, not fun if its freezing outside. I have recently started doing bokashi composting for my food scraps...that way I can just keep it indoors until the bucket is full, rather than take small quantities of kitchen scraps out to the garden every couple of days. Plus you get free liquid fertilizer! I am loving it so far! Will make a video shortly.

[@scottscriticalmass]

I have a Subpod as well and really like it. Bummer that they went out of business.

[@jamesvillas428]

this is a great idea. thanks!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome! 😊

[@KR-os6nn]

I think the rain may have supercharged your compost due to the worms, maybe even trying to make it out to the surface of soil. Very cool experiment, I love that tote bin in the ground idea :-)

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I can't imagine 30 inches of rain doing anything good, but maybe that's because I develop an extreme hatred towards rain in our summers because we get way too much 😂 Now that our dry season is finally here, I'm not as mad at the rain anymore.

[@jeas4980]

That's how ya do it!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks for watching!

[@ShootingtheSoil]

Like it. After awhile of composting be a great spot to pull out the bucket and plant a fruit tree or something! If the bucket was any bigger I would add an air tube down the center but that size should meet the 1 foot Johnson-Su guide for aerobic composting. Depending on soil compaction. Be interesting to add some rock dust along the outside and or bottom. Would add a bit more air and draining, and biology should carry some minerals in!

[@doowopshopgal]

Great job

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you!

[@MrWhyynott]

Thank you for the video. I buried two stacked cinder blocks in the middle of my raised bed.

[@h.sinclair]

cool idea @The Millenial Gardener, gonna try it. In this application or any composting it would be prudent if using plastic, to use BPA-free plastic. Thanks!

[@tobiesmom]

I really like that container - thank you for suggesting it. The 5-gallon bucket lid is very difficult for me to remove but it does seem to be bear proof. P.S. Dale is NOT a lazy bum when it's time to take a W-A-L-K! ;-)

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I really dislike the paint buckets and lids. I understand why they're so hard to remove - they hold paint, so it won't be easy to spill - but the bucket plus lid costs $11 combined now. It's crazy. These are much nicer, in my opinion. Ohh, suddenly when it's walk time, Dale is the most attentive, best listening boy ever 😆

[@tobiesmom]

@@TheMillennialGardener You are always finding and recommending the most useful garden items! I just hope these bucket lid latches are bear proof. At least that’s one critter you don’t have to worry about where you live lol

[@roncatlin7271]

i use this in-ground composting method for my dog poop. i have 1 gallon buckets amongst my ornamentals and with 2 ankle biters they never seem to fill up, even though we have hardly had any rain this summer (ne kansas) and they always seem to be full of worms. i live near a wildlife sanctuary so i don't use the dog poop composters in my vegetable garden for a couple of reasons but my ornamentals couldn't be doing better with no other work than dumping the dog poop. also a note about trash can composting. i am retired so i have the time to stir & mix my compost and i understand that not everyone does. i put everything in my composting trash bins !!! i check my temps when i water which is typically every other day and when the compost temp falls to ~100F i mix/stir/turn. i mow weekly, weather permitting, and when i've finished mowing i will stir the clippings into my composting material and temps are usually ambient at 6 weeks, 60 days at the latest. i also keep a closed barrel of shredded cardboard handy to mix in with the grass clippings. in the fall i also shred my leaves and add them to my compost in the same manner. leaves don't compost nearly as fast as grass clippings but they do stay nearly as hot.

[@MikeDawson1]

I made a post on growingfruit that i'm using similar Home Depot containers to grow blackberries in, and I was told by a few people that they won't hold up for more than one season or so - so do update us on the durability of that Lowes container outside!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I can tell you from my experience that Home Depot / Lowe's paint buckets are toast after 1 year sitting in the sun, at least in NC. They turn to glass. The handles rip off and they shatter, and you have a huge mess to clean up. This pail I bought is a totally different plastic. It's the UV stabilized material you'll get in something like a Roughneck tote. It will definitely fail eventually, as all plastic will, but it will certainly last a lot longer than those paint buckets. Back in the day when those buckets were $2.50 a piece, they were great, but at $6 each now, I don't buy them anymore since they fall apart so quickly.

[@MikeDawson1]

@@TheMillennialGardener I was actually referring to the Home Depot HDX containers that look very similar to your Lowes container, not the paint buckets. I agree that trying to use one of those paint buckets would not last long!

[@MissJubilee]

Question: Having holes above ground makes sense to me - I don’t want it to get anaerobic - but I saw a demonstration of this at a gardening event and he said not to put holes above ground because then the smell is more likely to attract animals trying to break in. Does yours not attract animals (or smell bad to you)? I’ve just started one with all the holes underground. Not sure if I got the balance of greens & browns right, the moisture level right, and now the air as well. But I am heartened that yours did so well in under a month, so maybe I need to just avoid peeking until mid-November! If it’s all rotted and slimy, I can start again and add a few higher holes.

[@nick-hdh]

Genius 😂

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks for watching!

[@nancyedgerton6291]

I would add shredded brown paper bags or shredded leaves for more browns in the mix.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I try to avoid adding paper products to my compost. I've lived by and driven past a lot of paper mills. After smelling those chemicals, I am very wary of using paper in my garden. I'll use brown cardboard for weed matting, but shredding it and adding it to compost makes me wary.

[@lilchurro3]

This is weird feedback, but the fact that you used gloves to inspect your compost inspired me to go check mine out. I had been using a shovel every once in a blue moon cuz it’s kinda scary in there.

[@melissaharland5609]

I expected to see some worms in there 😮

[@rookiegardeningjournal]

I have a really small garden space, so wondering if I need to do this. I have been making a DIY natural fertilizer instead. Maybe I will try composting. There is so much to learn lol😅. Newbies to gardening, where you at?

[@cameroneverhart6443]

I mean, I use it mainly as a place to dump food scraps... It'd be a shame to throw food leftovers away ya know?

[@innerjon]

What made you decide on that size of drill holes for the compost bin? Would it make a difference if the holes were bigger?

[@ObsessiveAboutCats]

I have a similar in ground composter in two of my raised beds, but I just went to the dollar store and bought two of the wire trash cans for bathrooms. I put a thick layer of mulch on top and that's been more than sufficient. I don't have the opossums you have. I have wondered about buying worms for a while.

[@wrightselections]

I just saw your trash can one yesterday and this one today. Thank you for this! I have what may or may not be a stupid question, but is there any concern about anything from the plastic eventually leaching into the soil? I know it's a heavy duty bucket so it would probably take quite a while, but I want to be sure. Thanks!

[@TheeRustyCage]

Great video/idea! Was the compost warm or still hot when you were filming this or no since you really couldn’t smell anything other than coffee?

[@jaytoney3007]

I found an easier way to do it. With the exception of nightshades, alliums, green beans, and coffee grounds, my scraps go into the chicken run where they are devoured, or left to attract bugs. I have straw spread thought the chicken run. What goes into the chicken's bellies, comes out as poop, which the chickens mix into the straw, and keep mixing. They love to scratch and dig. In the spring and fall, I rake out the straw mixed with poop, and spread it in my raised beds. It is better than the compost in my compost bins, and I get fresh chicken eggs.

[@DavidMFChapman]

I had a plastic bucket that cracked and would not hold water. I drilled 1/2” holes in it and buried it in the ground beneath my cucumber tipi. It’s handy for composting weeds and trimmings while in the garden. Critters come and go through the holes.

[@charlenelohner2079]

Thanks for this video! I think this is a good solution for me as a house renter too. Does this need to be in a sunny area to allow it to heat up like the trash can? I have a full shade corner where even Bermuda grass doesn’t grow (8b Texas) and it would be an ideal place for all my fruit and veggie kitchen scraps. Also, do I need to add “browns”? I don’t have access to browns unless I use brown paper bags and boxes. Thanks!😊

[@newbie_nugs]

Try a step up bit. Best purchase for drilling plastic and buckets

[@NYArts88]

Nice information! Thanks. In the end video which plant in the corner? Palm type. Is it can survive in the winter?

[@rhondakeelin4779]

I started putting kitchen scraps and paper in a pot of old potting soil then stopped adding the stuff and didn't turn it for about a week and now I have a VERY healthy tomato plant that came up. Should I let it keep growing ? Never had one this healthy before .

[@marranewman2224]

Thank you for this great idea. I live in New Mexico where it is hot and dry and most above ground composters don't work because the high heat generated inside the composter kills everything daily. Would this stay cool enough for the earthworms and bugs to break down the food scraps?

[@mariap.894]

I live in Florida and I'd suggest maybe bury the 3rd part of your compost bin, so the worms don't die❤

[@frankiesmith9186]

I use a valve box , from Amazon 😊

[@TheMillennialGardener]

That's a good repurpose since they're made to last decades in ground.

[@bluebutterflywellness2273]

Question: Ive set up my in ground compost bin, but how do you keep flying bugs like mosquitoes and gnats from congregating around the area, especially with fruit?

[@drloomis7260]

Unrelated question I planted my garlic a month ago in semi shaded beds I live in CT and they are sprouting already is this too soon

[@mwc4719]

Are the in ground buckets food grade or will bad things seep into the newly composted soil?

[@sarap1409]

I cover my lid with mulch so it doesnt weather as fast. Also i use cheaper buckets and then put a small pot on top

[@francaughlan4424]

Is it ok to add more scapes at different times or does that mess with the breakdown?

[@Livingsamsara]

It is crazy it happened so fast. "The Nasty Scrap Composter" is 100% !

[@TheMillennialGardener]

This broke down in no time flat. Really cool to observe.

[@rebukeFirstQuestionLater]

i would have made the exposed holes to the surface a bit smaller to prevent flies from being able to get in

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I don't think it really matters. The larvae would only help decompose the organic matter faster, and once you dump it, whatever is left would be picked off by carnivores. They'd be sitting ducks exposed. We're also entering the year where the fly problems go away, which is quite nice.

[@JessMN1974]

I'm wondering how well it works when you get a cold winter where the ground would probably have the bucket. I've never had an issue with fruit in my compost but I have an open bottom on my composter

[@gillessellier1451]

I give all my kitchen wastes, fruits and vegetables, meat and dairy to my chickens. And the chicken manure goes to the compost afterwards.

[@seven-in2je]

Yeah but they eat alot of the nutrients right? Wouldn't it be better to compost the scraps?

[@gillessellier1451]

@seven-in2je that's right, but chicken manure is very powerful, so it's best to compost it.

[@seven-in2je]

@@gillessellier1451 or just do both

[@nellieblighhill4575]

The worm poo is the total boss, even better than compost​@@seven-in2je

[@JJamiah]

And they smell like hell. My brother does that and I smell his chickens. My chickens are fed only 1/4 cup of scraps (uncooked veggies and fruit) and then regular layer feed and no skunk smell.

[@annettemarie2076]

You mentioned pine needles. I get a lot falling in my yard and wonder how I can use them.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I rake them into a pile and spread them on top of my fruit trees. I recommend using them as mulch for trees.

[@rockyusa2012]

I can literally imagine the smell by looking at the 5 gallon bucket.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It smelled like sour beer. Very unpleasant. You could smell it from 10 feet away.

[@johnwilson3866]

Hey Dale, do you think it would work if I left it in My raised garden bed in the center in the winter time and just brought up the bucket in the spring

[@mariap.894]

Dale is the name of his dog🙈

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Yes. It will be slower, but soil is always biologically active, especially a foot below the surface where it stays insulated and warmer.

[@woodenjoe]

My property is all clay. I have I feeling that an inground composter would not be able to leech properly given that heavy clay doesnt leech very fast. Cool idea though! Wish it would work for me

[@dreikas9016]

What do you do with this in winter, especially in colder climates?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

The ground stays warm, and black plastic warms up in sun. Things will slow, but it never stops.

[@dawnclayberger688]

What a great idea!!! Awww Dale..he is so beautiful!!!❤🎉

[@TheMillennialGardener]

He is a handsome boy.

[@redneckhomesteading7566]

Do you have problems with flies and maggots getting in through the holes above ground?

[@chantelblake7676]

Do you have a list of where you buy your fruit trees?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Yes. See Monday's video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5ukdIeQbcqakJYsi=sCrRYFdi5IePS3mB It is timestamped in the chapters.

[@Barackrifle]

I found your video from last year (have been following since then). My bins are turning out amazing compost a year later. It's slow at first, getting the levels right. Really I was adding more water than it really needed. I just filled my raised beds with compost from stuff that would have gone to the dump. I have had some seeds come up, but they die off due to lack of life. When I turn it it kills the rest off of them. I have two bins next to each other and turn between the two of them. Thanks friend.

[@DarkangaelBrokenwing]

My husband finds your accent entertaining says it is much like he grew up with.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I grew up in NJ.

[@nancycongiusti7526]

Can this be done during the winter months?? I'm in Zone 7, Northern NJ.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Yes, absolutely. Soil life is always active. It will be much slower, but keep in mind the soil stays warmer a foot below the surface. It'll still decompose.