EASIEST COMPOST EVER! / JANUARY 2023 / EMMA'S ALLOTMENT DIARIES

[@CamperVanTango]

Hi Emma, you would be absolutely amazed if you put a bucket or small bin with a lid you can fasten shut and a handle to carry it in your kitchen, ours is about 12 ins high. We fill it with all veg peelings, used T bags, used filter coffee egg shells, small bits of card (must be un-cooked food nothing like rice/pasta/meat etc) and take it to your allotment compost bin every few days or so just how quickly it will help with your compost bin. It doesn't have to be anything fancy ours is a small plastic waste bin like you can use in a bathroom, you can clip on the lid so no smell lol. Also don't let it get full and heavy just get in a routine of taking it every other time you go. Since we started to do this we manage to recycle 30 to 50 per cent of all our natural uncooked food waste and turn it into compost and it's double the reward. Love your vids

[@smallbackgardenplot7273]

So pleased your compost is looking great well done 👏 👏👏👏 Xxx

[@andyfarmer759]

Nice one Emma, you got the compost sorted and it seeed to lift your mood to a new level. You seemed quite excited after you had finished, that is what gardening is all about, having fun.

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Oh yes, it did. It's something I've been putting off for a long time so felt so good to find tackle it! x

[@beachduckcrafts3768]

Your rabbit waste is great for the compost bin too 👍🏻

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Collecting it up today. Pippin is very confused about where it's all going! Haha! x

[@vwotherspoon7029]

Your doing a Grand Job, you make me laugh you remind me of myself so happy there's ladies like us out there ☺️ I learn as I go along I watch Gardeners World and read up on stuff lol

[@familygarlick179]

Well done starting to make your own compost heap. It does get quite addictive haha!! Anyway - you can also add layers (2 or 3 inches) of the horse manure/bedding that is delivered to your site. It is basically green and brown, eg poop and straw or sawdust depending on the stables. The urine in that manure will act as an activator and make it heat up quicker, and therefore rot down quicker. Also if the weather is too wet add a solid top eg polycarbonate or plastic sheet so the compost doesnt get too wet. Good Luck :D

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Yes everyone is saying it gets addictive and I think they might be right! x

[@marykappesser5145]

Emma, I just love your enthusiasm for compost! In my experience, everything organic will eventually compost down, given enough time and moisture. even those vines and brambles. It may take a couple years. uggh. But that compost looks rich. Your garden will love it.

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

I really hope it turns into useable compost! Really going to try this year x

[@triplegoddesssoapery]

Spring bulbs are very hardy, I would be shocked if they died from a little cold and snow. I'm on Vancouver Island and our winters are very similar to the UK, sometimes a little colder, and hotter/dryer in the summer. My bulbs have always been fine. Even lettuce, roots, and other greens usually survive. It helps if the cold comes with snow, creates insulation. 💚

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Yes, I have a feeling they will be ok. It's just so unusual to see them pop up so early like this! x

[@cathgurney6112]

Great compost stuff thank you for making me laugh and smile loving your attitude. Compost looking good well done for tacking it and see you where making it xx love worms 🪱

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Who doesn't love worms! Haha! xx

[@juliewhite2688]

Oh I’m so glad you’ve done your compost. I said it was pretty easy and it will save you so much money.

[@SoilToilAllotment]

Happy New Year Emma! 😁Great job! If you have any Christmas money left I'd recommend the book 'Gardening Myths and Misconceptions' by Charles 'No Diggety' Dowding. It's all useful stuff but chapter 8 is 'Making and using compost' and well worth a read. Have a great growing year!

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Ooh, what a great suggestion, thanks so much! x

[@Brenda-xc7sq]

Well done Emma for getting to grips with your compost heap. If you dip cardboard in your water trough for a minute the layers willl fall apart easily and make it compost quicker. I find it fun collecting greens and brown and am totally addicted to making compost. It will save tons of money too.

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

I think I'm going to get addicted to it pretty soon myself! x

[@dereknash3638]

It is what it is and what it is, is crap 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣👍 Don’t forget you can tear cardboard into small pieces and add at any time as a brown, you don’t need to put cardboard in as as a layer break it in to small pieces first, you can also add wood chips and kitchen Veg waste. Think about building a second compost heap, so when you come to use your compost, you have somewhere to put the layers that have not yet broken down, allowing you access to the usable compost. Or put a moveable front to your compost heap. Don’t forget to water in between layers to keep it moist, and to turn your heap every so often. Great Job, best of luck.

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Great advice, thank you. I'll be building a second compost heap out of pallets just next to this one and then hopefully I'll have two on the go! x

[@beverley1539]

Hiya Emma, oh I’m not the person too give advice on compost. The one thing I’ve learned watching similar channels like yours and the same for mentioned. A 3 bay compost setup. Anywhoo . Agree with all you chatted about re the pizza night etc. I stopped buying strawberries from grocery stores years ago, you could taste a chemical even after a wash etc. I purchase mine now from little local farmers. The prices might be a bit more but it’s worth it for peace of mind knowing where my foods come from. Blessings luv Ontario Canada Thankyou 🐝🇨🇦

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Totally agree with you! x

[@staceyxx8495]

I cut a little door at the bottom of mine to get the compost out x

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Thats a great idea!! x

[@ross6343]

GREAT video Emma...well chuffed you should be regarding your composting endeavor [there's basically two 'types' of composting methods - hot and cold. Just a FYI suggestion...I would've 'screened' that bottom layer. Here in the States, I can get what's called 'hardware cloth' made of galvinized metal [half inch squares] that I put on a screening frame [which I made]. I place that screening frame on a wheelbarrow and then fork my compost onto, shake the frame back on forth and what 'filters' through those half inch squares is black gold - the best compost you'll find. Do a 'search' on 'compost screeener' to get a visual idea of what you can make. About the basic differences between hot and cold composting...here's a short video link [worth the watch - about ten minutes] that I've found to be the best explanation of both hot and cold composting - HOPE this helps grow your knowledge base: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qV60oKxqeZqZa80

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Such great advice, thank you so much. I'll definitely be checking it out x

[@jeanniemullinder9038]

'whatever it is - we deal with it' - great attitude. Would like to share this, I've wanted Victoria plum trees for longer than I can remember, but could never afford them, i.e. minimum £39.99 at garden centres - ouch ! but yesterday found that Tesco had some delivered, good sized healthy at £7 each or 2 for £12 - so I invested in 2. So get to you local Tesco to see if they've had their delivery yet.

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Ooh, thank you so much for this! I have one near me and I'll go and look this weekend. Fingers crossed! x

[@davewilkes1657]

hi Emma sorry I forgot to mention that you might like to know that you could put grass cuttings in your compost which helps break down

[@rachelmorris6597]

Hi Emma I struggle with making compost to so I will be following the same steps as you x thank you

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

I really hope it works for you too! x

[@kangtani_indonesia]

Thank you very useful information for making compost and can be an inspiration for my farm

[@YourMom-kg1tb]

I'm with you 100% on the chemicals used in our grocery store food. I've had fruit, and other things go bad from big box stores, and they smell like chemicals. Keep on growing your own. Love your content!

[@garyclifton2180]

Wonderful video Emma xx

[@joannewilliams5589]

Food scraps and lots more green. Xxx

[@plantsdaft]

I'm terrible when it comes to this. I have one of those typical round barrel shaped bins with a lid and for the past year I've just been stuffing everything in to it without a care for ratios. It seems to always be full or 3/4 full, I'm too scared to deal with it 😭

[@carolemills2338]

You are such a joy to watch. Thanks for your videos 🥦

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

You're welcome! x

[@philippahobart4499]

Think lasagne layers - greens - dead twiggy things - torn up cardboard - repeat!

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Thats a great way of thinking about it! x

[@boansy1]

I am just about to put in another 4 beds and have a tonne of compost and leaf mold for mulch. I now have 3 leaf pallet bins and 2 of compost so my spring prep is looking good. My soil after one year of composting is already looking dark rich and is full of life. If you can get or make charcoal/wood ash spread about half an inch down over your beds for even better condition. All free resources and no need to buy fertilizers. A bit of pee over your bins and beds works wonders 🌷🌱🌱🪱🪱🌼

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Great tips, thank you. Can't wait to see if it's working after a year or two! x

[@boansy1]

@@emmasallotmentdiaries The compost you have at the bottom of your bin will be fine this year for a mulch and really improve your soil. You can never have too much so my advise is to build an area with pallets for a few bins. This time next year you should have enough compost for your plot. A great little project to do now while nothing much is happening.

[@rebeccazody1278]

Emma-I just throw my stuff into the compost bin and let it go. Add kitchen scraps and a few shovels of local soil every so often and “talk’ to it every so often. Lol. I love my compost. If you have worms you are doing a great job. Love your attitude and humor.

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Haha! Yes, talking to it will definitely help. If only it could talk back and let me know what I've been doing wrong... haha! x

[@bluumz-n-veg]

It feels so good to get a dreaded job done! You're right, a key to compost-making is chopping stuff up small. The larger the stuff you put in is, the longer it takes to decompose (sometimes years!) Also, when you're doing the single-bin method... give it a good turn with a fork a couple times a week. Layering is good but air/oxygen is needed, too, since the bacteria that are doing the work need it to function. (The multi-bin method of moving composting material from bin to bin to bin naturally allows for airing/oxygenation.)

[@ross6343]

GOOD advice about turning your heap regularly if only using one bin...and suggesting a multiple [at least two] bin setup! Those more beneficial bacteria [aerobic] need the oxygen turning your heap gets. Cheers...

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Will do, thanks so much for the advice! x

[@gordonholding5621]

You need two bins. Fill one, and leave for months, turning occasionally, whilst you fill the second one.

[@patrick_laslett_allotment]

Yes. There was compost at the bottom of your bin. Thought there would be. Home compost grown new potatoes - tasty! Now you have an added incentive for weeding - the green to go in your compost bin - as in the winter there never seems to be enough!

[@katiesvegpatch]

I think people can really overcomplicate compost making (and there's so much to learn about it), but you've discovered a basic truth: if you make a pile of organic matter it will eventually turn into compost. Thank you for keeping things simple!

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Ah thank you. I'm always trying to simplify things or else it feels too overwhelming and it becomes hard not to just give up! x

[@wordsbymaribeja1470]

Beautifully put.

[@66REDD66]

YAAAAY!!! Compost! You did it! 🎉🎉😊😊 Excellent stuff!

[@danacox7571]

Every time you go to the plot take your kitchen scraps ( peelings, past their best fruit/veg, mouldy bread , stale cake etc), shredded letters, used paper towel, loo roll tubes, used rabbit bedding etc etc. It all mounts up and layered with leaves, grass clippings, garden waste and cardboard should make a great mix. I am obsessed with gathering material, even sweep my street for leaves in Autumn!

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

I'm really going to try this year and make a good amount of quality compost! x

[@richardhart7652]

Don't worry too much about your composting it'll get there it may sometimes take a little longer, instead of pizza how about supper cheese on toast, depending on how hungry you are ,2 or so slices of bread grilled on one side now rub the untasted side with a little olive oil and garlic (if you want) put a layer of very thinly sliced onion and some thinly sliced tomatoes, cover with grated cheese, enough to cover everything,pop back under the grill till the cheese is melted and browned to your liking, eat and enjoy. I prefer strong cheddar. Teach your children to do it.

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Sounds amazing! x

[@nature.at.play.]

Totally agree with you about the organic growing! I'll be investing in some decent netting as it's still our first year, it's definitely needed for those Brassicas!

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Yes, netting is something I use a lot of at my plot. Especially now I've learned how damaging butterflies can really be! x

[@AndrewJarvisJersey]

Amazing Emma, loving your videos, I have just taken on an allotment and compost was my first thing to tackle, i have built another box so we have two and one is used to turn into and its working really well. Also just grabbing any kitchen scraps (Raw), coffee, tea leaves and whatever from home, it really adds up quick. Keep going, its so rewarding!!!

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Oh wow! You were way ahead of my when I first got my allotment plot! x

[@RickallsBushcraft01]

Sand pit for adults 😅

[@gemmaargrave33]

I understand that used coffee granules are good for compost too as well as veggie peelings

[@gardeninjake]

I need to go out and work on my compost bins as well. Mine look a lot like yours before you chopped it up. I started off good cutting everything up into pieces but then it got hot and I didn't care anymore. Love watching your videos. Keep up the great work!!! Update: You inspired me to get up off my butt and tend to my compost bins. Both bins are turned into one with cardboard top and bottom and everything is all chopped up. Got about 10 gallons of usable compost off the bottoms. I also wood chipped 2 of my 5 rows between the beds. Now Im hot and tired, but it feels good to have that much done.

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Oh wow! This is amazing! So glad I motivated you to sort yours out and what a great result. It always feels good when you Geta big job like this done, especially when you've been putting it off for so long! Well done! x

[@margaretjennifersamson5984]

Hi Emma 👋 How are you? Love watching your videos. They cheer me up and I just love the way you do things! 😜 This just popped up in my mind when you told strawberries. Maybe you can grow your strawberries in your home garden. So that as soon as they are ripe, the kids will hunt for them which leaves none for the sluggs. Happy gardening. . ☺️

[@helenlatimer9230]

Well done Emma. I think your compost is awesome it’s well on its way. I totally agree we just don’t know what in our good anymore. X

[@kikik5266]

What made you think the compost on bottom isn't usable besides the plastic etc? My compost needs turning and investigating. I'll probably toss the bottom of it into my beds this year. It's my last year in this house. Gardening in Alaska has been insanely hard. Lol but my cabbages did marvelous last year. I have to tear down my compost spot, which I placed terribly, to sell the house etc. So what I have that's usable will get used. I've felt very similar about my compost heap as you have about yours. Hoping to be surprised.

[@gordonholding5621]

Compost is wonderful. Stick with it.Add animal manure and kitchen scraps to get it going.

[@janetjenkins7782]

You can never have too much bunting!!!! I make bunting and hang it around my house! 👍🏻

[@edzakete.3700]

I live opposite a Green flag park who don't use chemicals so I collected a load of leaves and will mulch with them... try that emma?

[@gordonholding5621]

Tear up your cardboard into smaller pieces. Cover with a thin layer of soil.

[@andrewbloomfield8043]

hi Emma some of the plastic is coming from the cardboard you are putting in the compost heap

[@NickSBailey]

that compost looks well on its way people who don't compost will never know the feeling lol all the leaves I collected last year have made really good leaf mould now in less than a year I read oak leaves take longer but they haven't, but my compost heap isn't so good you've inspired me to sort it out

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Oh so glad I've inspired you! And yes, I think I'm going to become addicted to composting pretty soon. x

[@miko362]

You ma lady make my day. Every time I watch your channel I leave with a big smile 😊

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

So glad to hear it, thanks so much x

[@jeanhelliwell8160]

That's brilliant. Well done, but, I would remove all that bramble, I would think all that will root

[@familygarlick179]

yes agree the brambles roots are very hard and 'stems' could shoot & root and of course doesnt rot very easily. Just dont put any more in please :D

[@moba3362]

11:30 you should take of the shipping labels of your cardboard. otherwise you'll get some chemicals in your compost... also it doesn't compost that fast... btw: i have no clue why your compost bin is full of plastics and glass. i only put compostable material in my bins...

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

So do I. I think there is still just so much rubbish around the back of my plot. I sometimes dig it up and it gets moved about. It was a complete rubbish tip when I first got it so will take some time to remove it all I think x

[@aceofspades5786]

bought a cheap shredder on facebook, £20 and shred all the green first. speeds up the process

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Great idea!! X

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

Lol the issue I have with my compost is I have to move it to very year for unforeseen reasons lol 😅

[@emptynestgardens9057]

Hi Emma. Here in Canada if we get an early thaw we mulch over the growth lightly with leafs or straw. Nothing drastic and you won't need to grab extra compost. 👍🏻

[@markb1487]

As a landscape gardener of 23 years now,,gardening is a learning environment. I have 4 compost bins,,1 full of compost,2 with nearly compost,3 with half done, 4 with brand new stuff..Built them huge. They are 8ft high 8ft wide by 8ft.. Also slats at front to remove if necessary. Also 3 last bins covered,.. It's interesting to see beginners..💯👍

[@susand4424]

Thanks for a great video! Getting my first allotment plot at the weekend and your videos are so helpful. Had the same experience with a cherry tomato in a M&S pre-made salad, tasted of chemicals so threw the whole thing out!

[@RussHjelm]

One of the big questions you have to ask about compost is whether you want to do a hot pile or a cold pile. Hot piles take a lot more turning and need careful amounts of green vs brown inputs. Cold piles are more forgiving but take longer to break down.

[@davewilkes1657]

hi Emma the worms are called danderbeeners there good for compost and you need to get rid of any brambles and bind weed and the other thing you may like to know is to cover your compost the top with some thing like carpet which keeps the heat in

[@moonwrasse]

Yay. Your kohlrabi is still alive in the poly tunnel.

[@thatgirlthatgrows]

That compost looks great Emma! I seriously need to look at mine and sort it out! 😅

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Hope I've given you some motivation to get going with it! x

[@fergusdangerfield156]

Well done Emma, that's the start of a good compost pile.the best soil will be under the pile! Don't forget to keep a good mix going and ask your local coffee shops for used grounds to mix in, they are full of nitrogen and the worms love them. I have subbed to your chanel as I want to watch you progress. What part of the country are you in?? I wouldn't dream of telling you what to do but I have learned so much from KZbin and would recommend that you check out, simply gardening, terry King, self sufficient me and muddy boots. Watching these will bring useful suggestions for others. Good luck xx.

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Thank you so much for those recommendations! I’m in south London x

[@joannewilliams5589]

And try to make more bays to turn the compost into. At my community well-being garden, I have 4 bays, 4 bins and a big pile of 2 year old woodchips. Save lawn clippings in the summer. The green gives heat which will kill bindweed. Xxx

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

I have plans to make a second bay next to this one with pallets. Stay tuned! x

[@pjd2709]

In 2022 carrots I've purchased and opened, a few days later you could smell the chemicals in the bag, so I threw them out, yes it is getting bad the produce in the stores! Farmer's markets maybe better......? For your compost maybe an added layer of cardboard on the top....to keep covered, you do need moisture but not sloppy.

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

I will go back and cover with something to keep it from getting too wet. Thanks for the tip x

[@barbarariddick5321]

Emma, just in case, you left your scissors on your back fence by the strawberry rack. Just in case you can't find them. Well done with the compost.

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Haha! Amazing, thank you! x

[@mandytaylor1008]

Well done emma 👍to not buying processed foods. Plug the homegrown don’t stop👍. It would be easier if your compost bin had a removable side you can lift out to access your compost. But you are on the right track. We cover ours with plastic or cardboard so it doesn’t get too wet. Anything will compost even twigs if you chop it as that’s what woodchip is isn’t it? But it takes longer the break down. If you put in stalks from sprouts smash them up a bit or get a knife and cut downwards thru the stalk then they will breakdown quicker. I have mulched areas in winter with rough stuff like what you have there and it’s better than not putting anything on if you don’t have access to compost because it will break down in time and feed your ground. 👍carry on allotmenteering

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Thanks for these tips, I really appreciate them. I'll be working on my compost pile a lot this year so hope I see some results! x

[@peaceofally760]

hi Emma compost looks great well done !! pop a bit of manure in there plus some wood chips. Carrot good tip someone gave me, carrot fly can only fly i think something like 76" off the ground so if you plant them up higher than that the flies can't reach them, IT works!!!!

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Great tips, thanks so much. Yes, I heard that about carrot fly too! Thats why I grow them in pots at home x

[@alexhuxley3355]

Looking good with the compost, big improvement. Just need to put all your cuttings IN THE COMPOST at the end of every visit. At £5 a bag you probably will have £50+ worth there when full.

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Yes, you're right. I lose motivation halfway through the year, but not this year! This year I will keep going!!! x

[@gardenfairygodmother1893]

I got my new allotment plot last year and built four compost bays out of one metre square galvanised mesh wire panels held together with cable ties. My first bin was just full of weeds from clearing the plot. The second, third and fourth were mostly old plant matter from the plot. It would take about 3 months to fill each bay. From the outside the bins look full of rubbish. But upon opening out the first bin of weeds, I have lovely rich looking compost! I think on the periphery of the bin, it hadn't decomposed, but it had on the inside. I'm going to use the compost for growing potatoes in bags rather than spread it over my plot because I know it was all weeds. I was lazy and didn't turn them but it turned out alright . I think in future I will line the sides with cardboard to keep heat in and maybe the plant matter on the outside will break down at the same rate as the inside. I also have 4 Dalek type plastic bins in my home garden, they would probably take 18 months to make usable compost. I think having a bigger pile generates more heat for everything to decompose quicker. You will have great compost to use soon.

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Oh wow, I really hope I manage to get some compost soon. it's so expensive to buy and I really want to be able to make my own x

[@carolwhite6979]

your optimism alone should turn it into compost! 😀 Emma to speed up broccoli stems breaking down, cut them into sections and then use a mallet to smash then a bit to start them breaking down.

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Haha! I wish! Yes, I'll break up the stems. Smashing with a mallet sounds like good fun! x

[@kerenlacy-brown8903]

Good for you getting to grips with your compost. It will save you money in the long run! We woke up to show this morning in the North of Scotland, so I had no excuse had to clear out the greenhouse

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

I do hope we don't get snow here. It's just very frosty and cold at the moment. The sun is out though which is nice! x

[@rachaelj4774]

Great video ❤

[@irenesmith5676]

Hi Emma yes I would leave tulips they will cope with the cold & snow lv Irene 😘 xx

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Good to know, thank you! x

[@papusna84]

U can add Your rabbit poo and used hay to your compost

[@nkaradogan34]

Do you use your rabbit poo at all Emma? It's fantastic gold manure that doesn't need to rot it can be thrown on as is. I use my rabbits in my garden and it's brilliant

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

I will! x

[@rosemarymurray8256]

You can also add shedding paper and coffee and tea grounds to your compost, most coffee shops will give them to you for free , your plot is looking great ! 👍🥰😀

[@beverley1539]

Hiya luv, agree years ago when I worked at a restaurant a fellow would collect our used grinds weekly no charge for his garden. Was a win win for all. 🐝🇨🇦

[@rosemarymurray8256]

@@beverley1539 that's wonderful ! I worked for a restaurant for over 23 years and I use to bring home coffee and tea grounds and vegetables scraps for the compost, no I just go to Starbucks and get the grounds, I enjoy my time in the garden but where I live gets really hot in summer, 🥵