Make COMPOST with what you HAVE

[@iamjohnnyohio]

All of your videos are enjoyable to listen to and i freaking manage to learn something. Thank you sir.

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

@@iamjohnnyohio thanks for the kind words!

[@thessselencio7236]

Hello from Philippines.. thanks for all informative videos Sir..

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

Thanks!

[@mbion001]

I had never heard that fungus can deal with Roundup. That is always been my biggest concern with using straw or hay. Where did you learn that I would love to hear more.

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

There was a study done about the effects of round up on soil life and it showed that it caused some bacteria and fungi to become resistant which worried some people into thinking pathogen spread could occur. Some fungi were able to break it down into food. Fungi at Chernobyl are consuming radioactive waste. Round up is weak so I'm not sure how they'd fair against some of the other brutal herbicides they use to terminate straw. I haven't had issues with straw as long as it smelled like fungi before I used it

[@WhatWeDoChannel]

Thanks for this! My garden is on a much smaller scale than yours but I love making compost! I think it’s the best thing we can do for our soil! I have never used wood chips, I didn’t think they would break down so fast, but that pile of chips was impressively hot!

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

@@WhatWeDoChannel I bought compost and it was terrible. I realized I had to make my own so I've been making as much as I can with anything I can. Most of the chip breakdown happens after it cools. Fungi move in and work fast.

[@4quall]

Another great video Rob. I cold compost but its always fun to listen to that Burbank accent 😂

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

@@4quall 😂

[@dorisb505]

How do you turn that?

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

I take off the ring, move it, and flip it with a hay fork into the same empty ring

[@sitealive]

I used to add hair clippings and pee to speed it along.

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

@@sitealive There's a jug full of yellow liquid behind the chicken coop 😂 excellent nitrogen source

[@kelleclark]

I followed your directions and can never get my pile above 150 degrees? They only ingredient I don't have is the Comfrey (mine are babies)...any suggestions?

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

@@kelleclark how big is the pile? Usually low temps are from lack of nitrogen and moisture

[@kelleclark]

@@FastGardeningMichigan My cage is a little wider than yours...started out layered nearly to the top. Shrank down very quickly with a clear plastic cover. I used a generous helping of chicken manure/shavings and the pile was well moistened...I'm stumped :( Our temps have been in the 90's, so that should have helped? Last years compost provided me with MANY mater/cuke volunteers, so I know I need it hotter.

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

@@kelleclark if it shrank that fast it might be hotter towards the middle. Not sure how deep your thermometer reaches. Ideally 120-140 is better. Whenever mine isn't hot I add more greens during the first flip. I've actually got hotter piles from grass clippings than chicken manure.

[@kelleclark]

@@FastGardeningMichigan Thanks...my thermometer is 24" but I'll add a little more greens next flip. I also add quite a lot of coffee grounds when clippings run out.

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

@@kelleclark there's been many times mine wasn't as hot as I wanted. Adding more greens usually works. Good luck!