Making Compost in 30 Days Using Pallet Wood Bins

If you have a backyard garden then you could probably use tons of compost to fill up your beds and supercharge your plants. Here is how to make great compost in 30-45 days with nothing but leaves and grass!
Making The Pallet Compost Bins: I got the pallets for free and screwed them together. Chicken wire attached with horse-shoe nails helps to keep the materials inside the bins while still allowing air flow.
Compost Recipe: 2 parts browns, 1 part greens and make sure that you mulch everything up really small to help it compost quickly. I use a lawnmower.
Building The Pile: Layer the brows and greens or better yet mix it all together. Water each layer as you build the pile so that the materials are moist like a sponge but not soggy. For best results make your pile 3 foot high and wide.
Composting Time: Turn the pile weekly until the temperature drops below 100°F - usually about 4 to 6 weeks.
Sifting The Compost: Build a sifting box out of 2x4 lumber and 1/2" metal screen. Sift the compost before putting it in your garden!

[@rickoberdier6628]

For those of you new to composting this is one of the best videos I've seen that does not waste a lot of your time watching it. He covers the important things like C and N ratios and pile size, moistening the pile but not drenching it. Blending up vegatable/fruit waste is a great way to make it much more consumable by the worms but not required. He doesn't mention worms but the worms will come up into that pile in the middle of January because it is warm and they will help break it down and put worm castings throughout the pile. It really is black gold. Great Video sir and you did it in 6 minutes.

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

KISS, keep it simple stupid... no ham handed cameo's... nerds to the rescue, lol... compost happens, no one way to do it...

[@biancailca20]

@@chiefearthhealer8099 I've watched a bunch of videos on composting lately and they all said not to do it because it may attract pests and also smell badly. I've seen people bury meat products in the yard, but they said you have to bury it deep so as not be found by animals. I wouldn't put meat in the compost pile, to keep it tidy :)

[@koltoncrane3099]

Bianca you can compost meat. I’ve been watching others do it. You need to order black soldier fly larvae and they’ll eat whatever including meat and leave a grass. Then you can feed a fat larvae to your chickens. I think it’d be worthwhile ordering some in April say and raise them and let them turn into wasp like bugs to then lay eggs so you’ll have tons of frass and broken down material the rest of the year.

[@CaptainMattsWorms]

Add some Worms :) I raise millions of worms to create fertilizer for my Garden and to teach others how to care for them :)

[@glorious_conqueror2021]

❤❤❤

[@TM.BECK14]

This video is like listening to Bob Ross but for composting. Strangely calming 💙

[@czroberts3806]

Best reply EVER ~ !

[@TM-we6eg]

I agree lol 😆

[@johndeyoung9230]

True lol

[@savvy2639]

make some happy little dirt right there. lol. love that BOB ROSS .. good quick video for composting - just what I needed today.. its not so complicated to do. thank you.

[@Xainfinen]

I was looking for a few videos to refresh my memory on compost making and found yours. A pretty solid guide in a little more than 5 minute that cover everything. Nice!

[@jamesgames4280]

Very cool. I’ll definitely use this info. Thanks a lot. God Bless

[@isabelladavis1363]

Great information on temps etc,really need to get one started this year,thank you for sharing

[@EMo5ive]

I've been searching high and low about how to compost and this is the best explanation there is. To the point, no fluff, and nice visuals. Great work!

[@Barak911777]

Wow agreed. So much noise in other channels

[@DjSkipAlexander]

I just made one pallet bay but after your video and instructions I am gonna get back out and build a few more. Glad I found you. Thanks

[@thrive-like-a-viking]

great video thank you for being clear and strait to the point

[@Pondandgardensanctuary]

beautiful looking compost Very cool video

[@sdkhjlhdsduiuiuiui]

That's some beautiful looking compost 👍

[@tesha199]

Amazing video, so concise and with 100% time spent on most important aspects of composting

[@goldfish02rex]

This was so extremely helpful in only 6 minutes. Thanks!

[@purplehomestead1534]

We love Compost! Subscribed

[@czroberts3806]

Whoa ! Wanted quick way to compost grass & leaves ; got just that with this brief & in-depth awesome video. GREATHANX!

[@frederickastilla1018]

Genius work! Thanks for this information. It helps a lot. Really !

[@honeyy79]

Awesome! I will make pallet composters too now ;) Thanks for sharing :)

[@willmegehee]

Thanks for sharing! I built some last weekend and have temps of 130 going after a few days of layering dry leaves, chicken coop rankings, and chopped greens that were bolting in the garden!

[@Kyaide]

Thank you for sharing the process, I was specifically looking for an update of how it changes visually. This will really help me figure out when my pile is close to being complete.

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

When I sift it I throw the chunky stuff back on the pile... no waste in nature!

[@DrJohnAP32]

Very helpful. Thank you.

[@opindras.bangerh129]

Thank you for showing a start to end process.

[@preciousmetalhead5155]

Excellent video!

[@Iquey]

This is awesome! Your system is probably one of the most valuable constructions in the neighborhood.

[@Steve-oj2lx]

Finally someone recommends blending the kitchen scraps plus water!

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

And run the big chunks of yard waste through the mower... break it down for faster processing!

[@Ser-xk1pu]

Nice one,looks well done.

[@philgurian868]

Great information and nice presentation, thank you for sharing.

[@PaulKurz]

Your voice together with the calm music is so soothing. kinda like the Bob Ross of gardening

[@duniatani007]

Fine compost. Thank for your information my friend

[@ForkinAllotment]

Great idea, I love it

[@eleanorwilliams9245]

Great video! Thank you! :)

[@deborahgrantham7387]

Compost Bin = 8 straw bails, stacked two high square, 30 minutes, $24 ....perfect decomposing compost bin. Insulation on sides,aerating in the corners,easy to move 👍

[@BlakesNaturelife]

Good video was helpful 👍

[@angelinaYYZ]

Thank you, this is a neat idea

[@svetlanikolova7673]

i do cold composting in place , or i lile it high and when fall comes i throw it in the garden , or I let my worms do the work for me. Either way, i dont turn piles unless i have to move the pile more than 30 feet

[@isabelladavis1363]

Great idea on the slurry love it

[@wel_leb9254]

So needless

[@mrcyr5685]

Thank You For This Video of Knowledge of letting us know what u do.. I live Up In New England States (Maine) so this is my 1st winter with my 3 Bay Compost System.. u gave me positive energy to know it can be done and what to expect, THANKS!! -Josh A. Cyr (From Maine)

[@judithsumitraburton1447]

Wow - AWESOME!

[@sandhollowhomestead6972]

Black gold for the garden!

[@StayPrimal]

Wow this tutorial is gold

[@craftfarms901]

GENIUS!!!!!! Such a great idea 💡

[@gpdirectionsgoalachievemen5680]

Benefited from your video than all the others I've watched on the subject. Yours was simple; the others were not. Thanks. Subscribed.

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

Mahalo... tried to make it simple so that people can understand the forces at play. Many people have had a compost pile but never produced usable product.

[@veteranvlogger_swarnajit]

Very nice process for making Compost. It's an unique method Thanks for sharing such a nice video. I liked your video and SUBSCRIBED to follow your all future videos

[@joestockton7016]

Brilliant.

[@jesusvalle3503]

Thanks to u I have my pallets been s build up

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

Right on!

[@alieninstallation50]

thanks for the vid!

[@theoverworkedgardener5648]

Really enjoyed the video

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

Mahalo!

[@anniefrankenstein1989]

Great video ty

[@shaficbesher6463]

It really is black gold. Great Video

[@royhoco5748]

very nice system, mine is similar and very effective. I add old straw and a dose or 2 of wood ash and some shredded paper and cardboard. I also add fresh dug earthworms

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

Very nice!

[@garlicmanuk762]

thankyou my friend

[@williambeasley6448]

Thank god I was hoping id find a video showing me how to make a hot compost in this little of time I cant wait 3 ta 4 months like with other active composts it wouldn't be ready in time for me to use for this years garden

[@Hogster202]

I have a friend that bales silage for a living . He always has bales laying around that are already decomposing. I use that for my brown.

[@bevsartsandcrafts715]

That is so quick! I quite like using compost at the previous stage as a mulch. I'm building a pallet compost bin is week as I find the one I'm using ( black dalek shaped one with a lid) is quite difficult to use as it's hard to reach in and mix, so I'm looking forward to having a bin like yours that I can hopefully have as much success with. Thanks for the video :)

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

Aloha!

[@TGSureal]

How has the pallet bin worked out for you? Pros/cons? I'm getting one started and would like to hear your opinion.

[@sorinankitt]

Nice work. For egg shells, collect them in a small pail in the kitchen. When the pail is full, place the egg shells on a cookie sheet in the oven and dry them at medium temperature for a few hours or whatever is needed. Then use a grinder, such as a Magic Bullet to pulverize the shells into a powder. 👍

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

i add those to my garden beds.. love egg shell powder!

[@grlnexdoorable]

Won't it go foul?

[@Kathysart]

LOVE it! Thanks so much!!

[@KimberlyBarkdoll]

This is literally what we have in my backyard. I just used it to top off a 16'x4', 4" deep, raised Hugelkultur bed. Amazing. I only had to use 2-3" of organic raised bed soil as a topper for direct sow seeds. Cheapest garden I've ever made. We just kept a repurposed ice cream bucket next to where I prepare food, and all the scraps, leaves and anything that used to be alive, i.e. dryer lint, etc. and the kids take it out every morning and cover the scraps with leaves. Once a week we spray it with water if it;s not the rainy season and then pitchfork it after a while before turning it into the 2nd stage bin. I wish I had more grass around me(Florida) I would get it from the neighbors if I could.

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

I mow public spaces sometimes to get more greens...

[@berri5769]

Would love to do this in the community garden but it’s hard to do it as a group 😂 we had our first attempt and no one was bothering to chop up their stuff before throwing it in. Now it’s a big mountain of plants fully intact that are dry 👎 but I’m here learning to make a smaller one in my plot ❤️

[@EM-ps4kr]

That is funny. Its called “Whole foods” not whole compost unless they want to harvest it in 2 years 😂.

[@apiecemaker1163]

If you could pull it out and have someone just run a bush hog blade over it, that would chop it down. Shouldn’t be a loss just a few more steps. Good luck.

[@zinkelo]

Thanks for the information. Good compost must have four things. 1) carbon C - brown leaves 2) Nitrogen N- green leaves 3) Oxygen O - constant turning every 2 or 3 days 4). Water H2O , water is very essential for good composing.

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

One my challenges is keeping it properly moist. I am lazy... totally lazy. Got lots of other things going on... we are at a 70% unemployment here and I opened a food pantry in my business. Moist like a sponge, keep the tree roots out, when it cools down add grass clippings to fire it up again.

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

@Cristo Viene Pretty much any kind of greenery...

[@mrpix3011]

Bocachi is faster: translate.google.com/translate?hl=&sl=es&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fbocashi.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F10%2F05%2Fcinco-formas-de-preparar-abonos-organicos-fermentados-bocashi-jairo-restrepo%2F&sandbox=1 translate.google.com/translate?hl=&sl=es&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fmorralcampesino.wordpress.com%2F2013%2F10%2F27%2Fpanes-de-piedra%2F

[@zone4garlicfarm]

@Cristo Viene Greens includes manure. Anything with more nitrogen than carbon.

[@grlnexdoorable]

@@TheBackyardVerticalGardener ask a recipient to water.

[@rodmcdonald4707]

My chickens turn over my compost pile and they love it.

[@seo155]

They also poop in it adding ammonia and other micronutrients as well.

[@tonyqwabe5873]

Slaughter the chickens, their feathers are good compost material

[@notalltheories]

I collect my kitchen scraps throughout the week in a gallon size ziploc bag in the freezer (chopping things up as I put them in) then blend everything up and add to the compost on the weekend, or if I don't get to it right away, it's not stinking up my kitchen for another week. I have noticed frozen kitchen scraps blend up a lot easier than fresh ones!

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

I think you are doing it right, excellent!

[@schmuelsonsradang4301]

Very informative. Simpler and more workable than most videos I've seen on composting. Relaxed voice and background music made hearing easier and almost direcr to the point guide. One question tbough. I livebi a very humid and wet area due to heavy rain. Do I need to cover (shade) my compost pile to prevent from over wet?

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

If you cover it then you can have more control over the moisture levels. Just keep in mind that if you cover it you will need to water it. Keep it moist like a sponge.

[@TreDogOfficial]

I love your compost bays. Pallets can be found for free, chicken wire is inexpensive, and these bays are large and voluminous

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

I even mow (harvest) neighbors lawns to get grass clippings.

[@selfreflection2117]

Thank you.

[@hebguy07]

I have a 10'x6' bin ,and along with leaves and grass clippings & horse manure,i can usually get compost in 30-45 days

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

That sounds like a great system!

[@cloudshigh5091]

Nice. Thanx

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

Aloha!

[@ajitnayak2744]

Love it thank you

[@adamsdiyuniverse-savemoney4563]

Nice video! I just liked and subbed. I was interested as I just made my own little video making a worm compost farm out of old bins etc. I wanted to see how other people did it. Great job!

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

Mahalo. I just sub'd!

[@adamsdiyuniverse-savemoney4563]

Thanks! Good luck with your channel :)

[@ZWATER1]

Ty

[@pietieko1]

Nice.

[@gauchiergrows7267]

Great video, I’m going to sift my compost it’s been a few months. Going to get worms to speed things up

[@gauchiergrows7267]

E Cox I already have a 18L tote inside my apartment I’m composting in, your compost shouldn’t smell at all mine is nice and earthy but I’d like worms to make it faster.

[@ashleymiddleton628]

Am I the only one who think he sounds like a calmer version of Dwight Schrute?! My husband and I were looking up how to start our compost pile and both agreed. 😂 A good beet farm could benefit from some great compost.

[@shehanism]

hahah i notice it now too

[@ashleymiddleton628]

I’m glad I’m not the only one!

[@55Barcelona]

Another great way to break down your kitchen waste is to freeze them. Either in a Heavy Duty Freezer Zip Lock OR I use Snap Lid Food Storage Containers. Freezing Explodes all the Water Bearing Food and it then breaks down Super Fast. In my Verma-composting Beds I feed this to my Red Wiggler Composting Worms in the Spring, Summer and Fall. Super Easy to keep your veggies scraps and paper towels layered in. (No fats or grease) Anyway, Happy Composting and don’t forget your shredded paper too. DannyB from The Urban Worm

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

Great idea!

[@cheaputhyvan4705]

Thanks

[@tomhancock541]

blend your kitchen scraps, keep it simple

[@Pigearvet]

We have one garden no dig and the other is tiled. The No dig is superior! We throw banana peels and coffee grounds out the window into the garden. The bin method is used by a friend of mine. He enjoys great success with this method.

[@Skashoon]

Does everyone who makes compost feel the need to run it through their hands 100 times?

[@shadyman6346]

Yes

[@sweatshopjesus]

You know you want it.

[@colten21210]

Not quite mine is alot of manure lol

[@josephwall9161]

Absolutely! Satisfaction of knowing you did it yourself and didn’t have to buy it

[@mikea9365]

Are you jealous you pile wont heat up?

[@chronicgainzfit]

It's a rainy winter here in the pnw. Can I use shredded paper and paper grocery bags for my dry material

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

Yes! And put a tarp on the pile so it does not get too wet... should be moist like a sponge.

[@ybaggi]

I get massive grass clippings in the spring and leaves in the fall and at a ratio of about 5to1. So what do you do wiht the excess grass clipping in the spring and excess lieaves in the fall?

[@ramnereds]

Thank you for an inspirational video! Just want to comment that there are less work consuming ways to make compost. I am particulary skeptical to the mixing of kitchen waste. I throw kitchen waste in a compost bin, dig small ditches in the soil and put semi-broken down compost in them early spring or late fall, cover it and let the worms do the job. I do not mean to be a besserwisser, just want to add. Your compost look just great!

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

Regardless of the materials being added you want to grind them down and mix the entire pile up at one time. If you keep adding stuff you are starting over every time and it will never finish. Grind it up, make a 3' x 3' pile and keep it moist like a sponge. Turn it weekly and it should finish in 45-60 days! This is with temps of 70°+.

[@mrpix3011]

@@TheBackyardVerticalGardener Bocachi is faster: translate.google.com/translate?hl=&sl=es&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fbocashi.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F10%2F05%2Fcinco-formas-de-preparar-abonos-organicos-fermentados-bocashi-jairo-restrepo%2F&sandbox=1 translate.google.com/translate?hl=&sl=es&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fmorralcampesino.wordpress.com%2F2013%2F10%2F27%2Fpanes-de-piedra%2F

[@woolybeast1399]

Great video. Good tip about blending food scraps together before adding to the pile. What is the purpose of having 3 bays in the pallet composting area?

[@yvonneiwasa6507]

wooly beast with three bins you can let your first pile process without interrupting it, and then start on the next one as you gather materials from the yard.

[@bitzao]

@@yvonneiwasa6507 Great, thanks for the response!

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

Gives me more spaces for making compost!

[@johnc8112]

Great video keep up the awesome work you do. May i use wood chips as well?

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

Aloha. You can use wood chips, the smaller the better, and you will need more nitrogen.

[@johnc8112]

@@TheBackyardVerticalGardener thanks

[@mifecta]

Will be living in Tennessee (zone 7B). Would you suggest putting your compost pile in direct sun or partial shade, given what you said about getting too hot @ 160F? Thanks!

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

Sun or shade - don't really matter. The heat is generated from within the pile but extreme high and low air temps can affect it. You also want to keep it moist like a sponge...

[@jimmyschmidt14]

i just rake in my scraps into the pile. i am not a gardener yet but i have compost at the ready. lol I also do it so the birds have insects to eat and they stick around. Just had ducks today also.

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

Compost happens and it sounds like you have a good system starting! Aloha!

[@michaelgrodecki4159]

Have you thought about adding a few pipes with air holes in them to aerate pile more?

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

Love the idea... could even introduce water when needed... too lazy, hahaha!

[@markthompsoncpa]

How do some venders get their compost so black ?? Is topsoil added??

[@TheParadiseParadox]

Thanks for the video. I'm curious about people's opinions on sifting or not sifting the compost. I was taught to always sift, but obviously the material will continue to break down anyway. And I'll normally mix the compost with dirt to make the soil as well, so it's not like there will be a lack of finer particles. What do you folks think about it?

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

It would depend on the state of the material and it's intended use. Composted mulch as a top dressing is ready to go at almost any stage.

[@harrihauta9141]

dont u get any oil or gasol from the lawnmore in the compost?

[@small-timegarden]

Hi thanks for this video. I'm now starting to learn compostig...seen a few other videos. This one is straight to the point. One question for you...did you turn the piles to aerate( apart from the pineapple part)? Thank you

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

If your goal is speed then turn the piles weekly and add some grass clipping to fire it up again. If you are going for a slow compost then maybe once a month. Be sure that it stays wet like a sponge.

[@small-timegarden]

@@TheBackyardVerticalGardener thank you. I'm glad you responded so quickly. This is going to help me financially

[@mariamaddox5927]

@@TheBackyardVerticalGardener simple but beautiful

[@barleygaming88]

Will this also work with thick leaves like walnut?

[@kricketkitty]

How do you make it the recommended 3 feet tall if you don't have a large quantity of food scraps on hand? It seems like it would take a few weeks to reach that size...Thanks

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

The 3 foot pile is when it really gets hot and cooking. You can use grass clippings, leaves, pretty much any kind of yard waste. If you can run it through a mulching lawn mower first it will help it to break down. If you use the blender to blend up your kitchen scraps they will break down much quicker.

[@thomallom5906]

Do you compost 2/1 by w/w or by v/v?

[@wayneburks5872]

I have finished compost in 2 wks but you have to turn it every 3rd day adding a mist of water as needed. Like he said get all of the materials at one time . Do not add anything else later just turn it in 2 wks you will have finished compost. I have six bins. Turn the 1st bin into 2 nd then into 3rd and so on when you get to last bin it will be finished. After I turn the 1st bin into the 2nd I will start new compost in the 1st. It will take several tries to fill the last bin. I try to have compost going all the time as I use a lot. I also like to add worms in the last bin.

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

Sounds like you have a great system! There is hope for the lazy though as slow-compost can create higher levels of nutritional density. Happy composting!

[@dongkraus]

The six weeks time is in the summer, I would assume it takes longer in cold seasons?

[@hannasharkey5040]

Does it matter how much sun the pile gets? I live in the woods, so I want to know where I should place it

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

Does not matter. The microbes that do the work just want it to be warm and moist with plenty to eat!

[@jimmychen3364]

it is good material to cultivate edible mushrooms.

[@916nando]

What would happen if for some reason I Cant get my compost to fully break down and im left with huge clumps. Bot the fine fluffy stuff like yours. Would it be harmful if I throw the clumps in my garden?

[@cgirldiana]

I would use it to fill a bed. Kind of like core gardening. It'll break down; it'll just take more time.

[@marko176schneider5]

😀👍❤Super ❤ 👍 Super ❤ 👍 ✔

[@Brisbanesdaddy]

Is old hay with goat poo in it considered a brown?

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

They hay is a brown but the poo is essentially a green.

[@pmss1182]

Hi, may I know grass clipping when completely dried out still consider a green?

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

There is some discussion about this subject but my experience is that once they dry they become a brown. When fresh and green they are like sugar to the pile - adding more grass clippings get's the pile all hot again!

[@pmss1182]

@@TheBackyardVerticalGardener thank you for the information.

[@mrpix3011]

@@pmss1182 Bocachi is faster: translate.google.com/translate?hl=&sl=es&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fbocashi.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F10%2F05%2Fcinco-formas-de-preparar-abonos-organicos-fermentados-bocashi-jairo-restrepo%2F&sandbox=1 translate.google.com/translate?hl=&sl=es&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fmorralcampesino.wordpress.com%2F2013%2F10%2F27%2Fpanes-de-piedra%2F

[@svetlanikolova7673]

@T Clodfelter I wish I had you close by. i need to fill 600 sq feet with leaves and grass clippings and pile it 6 feet high.

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

@T Clodfelter Mow the leaves up with the grass and you naturally have a good combo. The ratios don't need to be exact for compost to happen!

[@aldente3585]

Ok but better design is keep the bins separate. Use 4 pallets tied together at the joints with ropes. When it’s time to turn the compost, take away all 4 pallets and now you have a free standing pile with 360 degree access with your hand tool. Rebuild the setup near the pile using only 3 sides while you shovel into the new bin. Once the pile begins to spill out, add the fourth pallets and stack the compost high. I’ve been using that method for a year with great results and really appreciate the 360 degree access.

[@andrewchia3136]

Good idea

[@martinparmer]

what about rain? Do you cover the bins to prevent over saturation from heavy rain?

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

My location is under a big tree so I usually don't have a problem with that. If it were to be exposed I would cover it so that I can control the moisture levels.

[@mohammadfirdaus4206]

Good question

[@theherbilizer]

Do you think black polythene plastic wrap lined pallets would make the pile to hot? Just thinking vs chicken wire. Thanks

[@TheBackyardVerticalGardener]

I don't think it would make much of a difference. The heat is really generated on the inside of the compost pile.

[@theherbilizer]

The Backyard Vertical Gardener ok thanks for your reply