New Gardener Compost Series E-3: Completed Compost, Thumb Measuring Greens & Browns & Using Straw

It's been 120 days since the last compost video and I have completed compost. I go over a layering method of greens and browns and how to use your thumb to measure. General tips on moisture, layering, using inexpensive straw as your carbon and covering your piles as ways to help you get... compost! The most important thing is to start piles now.
My New Book: The Modern Homestead Garden: Growing Self-Sufficiency in Any Size Backyard.
You can find it at these different locations... Thanks 4 the Support!
Amazon: www.amazon.com...
Barnes & Noble: www.barnesandn...
Books A Million: www.booksamill...
Metric Conversion
1 Inch = 2.54 Centimeters
1 Foot = 0.3048 Meters
1 Gallon (US) = 3.78541178 Liters
1 Fluid Ounce (US) = 29.5735 Milliliters
1 Tablespoon (US) = 14.7868 Milliliters
1 Teaspoon (US) = 4.9289 Milliliters
Please Help Support My Channel: The Rusted Garden Homestead - Thanks!
Visit The Rusted Garden Seed & Garden Shop: www.therustedg... - Seeds, Starting Supplies, Neem Oil, Peppermint & Other Oils, Calcium Nitrate & More.
My Social Media Links: Or use my LinkTree to Find Them All: linktr.ee/Ther...
Follow me on Instagram:
/ therustedgarden
Join me in my FB Group: The Rusted Garden: All About Vegetable Gardening / therustedgarden
Visit My Original Blog The Rusted Vegetable Garden: linktr.ee/Ther...
Contact Me at [e-mail] for questions or if you are interested in collaborations, affiliations or advertising.
I now have an Amazon Influencer's Storefront. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It is free to use.
Just use my... The Rusted Garden Influencer's Storefront link at www.amazon.com... anytime you shop.
I put the products I use, in videos, there and have gardening products set up by categories. Here are the direct links by description.
Great Gifts for Gardeners in Your Life
www.amazon.com...
Products in My 2020 KZbin Videos
www.amazon.com...
Seed Starting Supplies and Grow-Light Stations
www.amazon.com...
Containers, Pots and Small Greenhouses
www.amazon.com...
Better Greenhouses, Shade Cloth, Tunnels & Cold Frames
www.amazon.com...
Fertilizers & Amendments: Indoor and Outdoor Gardening
www.amazon.com...
Disease and Pest Management
www.amazon.com...
Garden Tools: The Rusted Garden
www.amazon.com...
Gardening Books and Resources
www.amazon.com...
Products I Use and Recommend. I have an affiliation with them:
The Hungry Bin Worm Composter at My Seed & Garden Shop: www.therustedg...
VermisTerra Worm Castings: Use the Discount Code THERUSTEDGARDEN on VermisTerra Products and save 10% at vermisterra.com/
GreenStalk Vertical Gardening: Use the Discount Code THERUSTEDGARDEN on GreenStalk 'Vertical Tier Systems'. Use this link and enter my code for the discount store.greenstal... or this short link lddy.no/4eal
Garden Shelving Systems: Use the Discount Code THERUSTEDGARDEN on Shirley's Simple Shelving and Raised Bed Products at www.shirleyssim...

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

My New Book: The Modern Homestead Garden: Growing Self-Sufficiency in Any Size Backyard. You can find it at these different locations... Thanks 4 the Support! Amazon: www.amazon.com/Modern-Homestead-Garden-Self-sufficiency-Backyard/dp/0760368171/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=The+modern+homestead+garden&qid=1595425421&sr=8-3 Barnes & Noble: www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-modern-homestead-garden-gary-pilarchik/1137153105?ean=9780760368176 Books A Million: www.booksamillion.com/p/Modern-Homestead-Garden/Gary-Pilarchik/9780760368176?id=7961563419439#

[@erickelly5395]

ordered mine yesterday. looking forward to it.

[@GreenLove1]

I feel like everybody needs to go through a rite of passage thing with compost which includes creating at least one pile that smells like sewage, another that never decomposes because it has too much browns and is too dry, or has big branches, and then finally you get to that magical combination that creates black gold for you. Oh and ya, along the way you pick up a tumbler, a stacker bin, a DIY setup and of course the compost thermometer, the special compost turning tool and other paraphernalia. Ooops, is that just me!!!! Happy composting, everyone, and thanks for sharing your wisdom, Gary!

[@ninograndjean9618]

I had to try 6 Times ;). Now the Compost fumes when i turn it. I was so happy XD

[@Ckeese75]

I’ve been shredding my cardboard boxes with my 12 sheet paper shredder. Believe it or not it did a great job and it didn’t bog down the motor, IF, it was single layer only. Working and breaking down fast with veggie plants/kitchen scraps/and fresh grass clippings. Smells wonderful and earthy. The straw works really good too but breaks down slower than shredded cardboard. Thanks for the tips Gary. I got started!!! And I’m really happy for it. Waiting on my worm subpod, that should be fun too!!! Thanks for your encouragement!!

[@jblewis1975]

I love using cardboard - I shred paper towel and toilet paper rolls for my worms, and I tear up boxes and use my push mower to shred them. I use leaves in the fall when they're available. You're absolutely right, about two inches (or a thumb) of grass has worked best for me. Composting is one of my favorite things to do in the garden 😁

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Cardboard is golden Please check out The Rusted Garden Seed & Garden Shop for all your gardening needs: www.therustedgarden.com

[@janicesgarden5748]

The last minutes explained it all best. Love composting

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Composting is awesome. Something I want in the first videos is to just get people started. Get your Fall Garden Seeds & Spring Seed Starting Supplies at... Please Visit The Rusted Garden Seed & Garden Shop: www.therustedgarden.com

[@emilybh6255]

You can break it down even faster, if you poke holes in the tarp so you can let the rainwater in. Also with your first metal fence bin, what you could do is lift that bin up over the pile and move the bin over to an empty space next to it. Then with a pitchfork, lift the contents not broken down over to the metal fence in the new location leaving the completely broken down compost at the bottom ready to use! Shovel that compost into buckets with lids and use in your garden No need to wait 90 days! Just keep moving the bin with uncomposted contents to a new location and harvesting the fully broken down compost at the bottom ever three weeks or so. Then start a new compost area there after the fresh compost is all dug out.

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Genius. SO simple. Love when that happens. Thanks Get your Fall Garden Seeds & Spring Seed Starting Supplies at... Please Visit The Rusted Garden Seed & Garden Shop: www.therustedgarden.com

[@joysworldhobbiesgardening7321]

Thanks for sharing this compost techniques I would like to make my own compost, very helpful.

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Glad to help. It is best to just get started and learn the ratios and all that. Get your Fall Garden Seeds & Spring Seed Starting Supplies at... Please Visit The Rusted Garden Seed & Garden Shop: www.therustedgarden.com

[@ecologytoday]

Thanks for the composting information. Would appreciate tips for small space lots and community garden plots. ( ie no large open compost permitted.)

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Probably the tumbler on a stand. It works but just not practical for my needs. Get your Fall Garden Seeds & Spring Seed Starting Supplies at... Please Visit The Rusted Garden Seed & Garden Shop: www.therustedgarden.com

[@bowsie6129]

How about starting composting in a compost Tumblr or a trashcan. I lived in a mobile home with a very small yard and I used to compost from a trashcan. I would load it up and every now and then I would dump it out with a pitchfork type thing and shove it back in there. 😊

[@pa.fishpreacher6166]

I have a tumbler, and made a lot of compost this summer. I added a little blood meal to it and it broke down quicker

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Thats a great tip Get your Fall Garden Seeds & Spring Seed Starting Supplies at... Please Visit The Rusted Garden Seed & Garden Shop: www.therustedgarden.com

[@wendyc.5769]

Thank you Gary!! You’re a solid resource for A-Z gardening. God bless you and your family 😇🎣

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Very appreciated Get your Fall Garden Seeds & Spring Seed Starting Supplies at... Please Visit The Rusted Garden Seed & Garden Shop: www.therustedgarden.com

[@PokeyBessie]

Composting is easy if one knows the basics. A good rule of thumb is a 2 to 1 ratio for Browns to greens. Usually you can find a good list online. IF you go overboard with greens it can be soggy and start to smell. Great things people can use ever day is coffee grounds nad coffee filters, straw, grass, and I have rabbits so my wife puts the hay/poop stuff in there too. Rabbit poop is fairly neutral whereas chickens it is very very high in nitrogen. great video Gary!

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Thanks Get your Fall Garden Seeds & Spring Seed Starting Supplies at... Please Visit The Rusted Garden Seed & Garden Shop: www.therustedgarden.com

[@ceecee-thetransplantedgardener]

I've watched all in this series now, great stuff, thank you. Do you have a alternate nitrogen suggestion if untreated grass clippings (or enough grass clippings in general) are not readily available?

[@ARLITAGARDEN]

Thank you for the tips it can help who like to do Garden like me.

[@stevevalk8898]

I have been using straw now all this summer and it works great along with all the grubs in it. The grubs are like a eating machine. Any thing you put in your compost, especially spoiled or rotten tomatoes squash and so on. The grubs will eat a whole pumpkin all most over night. I use a sifting screen 3x3 with 2x2 lumber with small openings in the screen and put it over the top of my wheel barrel and that will keep anything like the grubs or any thing else you don't want from getting into your soil, and just put the grubs back into the compost.

[@nosaltiesandrooshere7488]

👍 Sehr gut und schön, danke!

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Thanks!

[@wendysgarden4283]

In the US, Dollar Tree has $1 tarps. Can't find them cheaper than that! : )

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Good deal! Get your Fall Garden Seeds & Spring Seed Starting Supplies at... Please Visit The Rusted Garden Seed & Garden Shop: www.therustedgarden.com

[@crwood439]

Thank you for the info- I’m a new composter and the thumb measurement is perfect. I was misinformed that it was 2:1 brown to green. Can you correct it after it has started? I’m using a tumbler composter due to limited space

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

So basically there are so many ratios and you are doing it right. You just start. If the tumbler is cold, add greens. If it smell really bad add straw or browns. I really want people to try and once you start, the mixing gets easier. Good luck. Get your Fall Garden Seeds & Spring Seed Starting Supplies at... Please Visit The Rusted Garden Seed & Garden Shop: www.therustedgarden.com

[@KathyinVA88]

Thank you Gary! This is an excellent video.

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Thanks. Hope to encourage people to start making piles. Get your Fall Garden Seeds & Spring Seed Starting Supplies at... Please Visit The Rusted Garden Seed & Garden Shop: www.therustedgarden.com

[@KathyinVA88]

Gary Pilarchik (The Rusted Garden) I have purchased seeds for spring from you and just bought your new book. Looking forward to reading it!

[@angelamorelock4128]

No kitchen scraps? Love your videos! This is my 1st year gardening & I have learned a lot from you! Thank you!

[@Ed1Ward]

Compost tumbler. Compost worms. Doing great for 12 months. Then suddenly worms all dead. No onions, garlic put in. Not sure why. Maybe too much grass clippings Have to start again. Just thought, also put shredded paper in with them. Maybe the paper(no plastics) was toxic.

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Hmmm odd. I put onion in my worm composter. No issues. I wonder what happen. Did it over heat. That is my best guess. Get your Fall Garden Seeds & Spring Seed Starting Supplies at... Please Visit The Rusted Garden Seed & Garden Shop: www.therustedgarden.com

[@Ed1Ward]

@@THERUSTEDGARDEN Is in acool spot in the shade. Survived a hot last summer. Really strange. About to empty it, clean it out thoroughly and order in new compost worms.

[@rufia75]

I mulch my grass because: 1. some chemicals were used in it in last couple of years and I try to keep my vegetable garden inputs as clean as reasonable and 2. Feeding nutrients back into the grass so it's healthier without needing a fertilizer. It seems like you have a more clover-based lawn, which is typically healthier and better at self-sustaining. I wonder if it fixes nitrogen and so doesn't benefit as much from something like mower mulching?

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Good points. I mulch mow too to keep some out there. But I am letting my whole lawn do as it wishes. No chemicals on them. I like the clover is taking over. Get your Fall Garden Seeds & Spring Seed Starting Supplies at... Please Visit The Rusted Garden Seed & Garden Shop: www.therustedgarden.com

[@kurtfirestone2761]

If grass dries out does it become a brown. Also can you store green grass for aliitle later will it still work as a green

[@kele1264]

Decades ago a friend maintained a compost pile. She would turn it once a day with a pitchfork so that bees or wasps wouldn't nest in it. She fell ill for a short time, and didn't turn the pile for maybe 1 or 2 weeks. When she did go out to turn it, she discovered the hard way that bees/wasps had made a nest in it, and she was swarmed. She survived because she was not allergic. Do you find bees/wasps nesting in your compost to be a problem?

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Hmmm. Never have seen a sting insect. Might have been a local problem Get your Fall Garden Seeds & Spring Seed Starting Supplies at... Please Visit The Rusted Garden Seed & Garden Shop: www.therustedgarden.com

[@johndoe-yw7eb]

I have a question that is somewhat on topic: at the end of the season, should I pull all the dead vegetable plants and weeds from my raised beds, or shovel them under and let them break down?

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Really your choice. if you have a good 4 months of beds that sit, under the earth works faster IMO. But either way. Sharing Your Garden, Volunteering Locally or Donating are great ways to help and give back.: Here is our landing page for more information www.communityecologyinstitute.org/greenhouse-project.html

[@learningaswego9287]

Thanks for all the compost tips! I’ve been reading your book as well and I really enjoy your straightforward advice. One question: my husband did a weed and feed treatment on our grass in September. Would it be safe to use for compost in June?

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Thanks for the book support. Probably. But I would cut the first and toss it just to be safe. Please subscribe as it really helps me & please visit The Rusted Garden Seed & Garden Shop for your fabric pots, fall & spring seeds, seed starting supplies, peppermint oil, neem oil, TRG merchandise, and more at www.therustedgarden.com As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualified purchases. Check out my Amazon Storefront for garden lights, seed starting supplies, fertilizer, pest management, books and more! www.amazon.com/shop/garypilarchiktherustedgarden Check out my new gardening PODCAST Gardening Coast2Coast at gardeningcoast2coast.net with CaliKim.

[@rufia75]

I made a compost pile 4x4x3 feet that is 95% made of: shredded fall leaves and used coffee grounds. Really hard to measure how much coffee grounds you're actually using in terms of using a layer thickness method because the grounds are so small like sand, so it tends to kinda filter down into the leaves below it especially since they are shredded. Especially as you try to even out the layer. Which is kinda good because more mixing will help. Still....I'm not sure how good my ratio is. Time will tell.

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Yeah the exacts measures are hard. For that reason I try and give principles. It really is about just starting and experimenting and working out ones routine. Good news is it all breaks down eventually. Thanks. Get your Fall Garden Seeds & Spring Seed Starting Supplies at... Please Visit The Rusted Garden Seed & Garden Shop: www.therustedgarden.com

[@roadmap5351]

Gary, how often do you turn the pile?

[@ndrunningriver]

Thanks for all the informative videos. I’m brand new to gardening and I’m glad I found your channel! I haven’t started composting yet, I am kind of filtering through the Internet to figure out how to get started. I just watched your 3 episodes, and I just have a few questions. Maybe I missed the answers, I’ve got two little ones running around so it’s possible, but what is the reason for moving compost over? Can you not just keep piling new stuff on top of an already decomposing pile? Or what about mixing it in? What has shown to be the best method? And also, I have seen a couple other people turn the compost regularly as part of the practice. I heard you say that you can, but you don’t have to. Is there any evidence showing that one or the other is better? If composting can be done without turning, why do people do it? Honestly, I am really busy, and trying to garden in the little spare time I have. So, if it can be done just as well without turning, the less time needed, the better for me. Thanks again for your content!

[@Shoshanim222]

Hi Gary, do you ever use the remnants of brown corn stalks and leaves for the “browns” in lieu of straw? I am just wondering how fast this would break down.

[@milkweed7678]

Great videos as always! How do you feel about mixing in good topsoil from another place on your property into native clay or poor soil? Tilling it in? I know compost improves clay but I wonder how this method would do? Then you can build a raised bed over that area with much better soil under it, I would think. Saving your compost for most of the top areas in you garden. Thanks!

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

I think it is a good idea to mix it. Break up the clay as much as you can first year and then let it go with layer organic matter on it. I found that works. Please check out The Rusted Garden Seed & Garden Shop for all your gardening needs: www.therustedgarden.com

[@milkweed7678]

@@THERUSTEDGARDEN ok, thanks Gary!

[@CuriousinNY]

I love your compost bins and how you can remove the front slats by sliding them up and out. QUESTION: Do you have a video on how to build that type of front? I put a pallet door on mine and it is hard to move.

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

In that compost and manure playlist, I have one on the build. The 2nd video at minute 6:30 shows the basic idea. kzbin.info/aero/PLMsTQWKi63SQ4-LTPQVo4uvIzAvvaZ63A

[@denisepisarcik6890]

I love the thumb measuring system but why 1: 2 ratio and not 1:1

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

You could use it. I found more green, is better heat. Since the materials will vary garden to garden, 1:1 might work. The thumb is always on hand so once you get your ration it is to build the pile. Get your Fall Garden Seeds & Spring Seed Starting Supplies at... Please Visit The Rusted Garden Seed & Garden Shop: www.therustedgarden.com

[@RiaWallace]

Gary, where did you get your wire bin?

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Used for dogs, off amazon a while back for around $30. Please Ring the Bell (next to subscribe) to get immediate real-time video notifications & Please check out The Rusted Garden Seed & Garden Shop for all your gardening needs: www.therustedgarden.com

[@lilycardoso4679]

I used pine shavings from my chicken coop in a compost barrel, but the shavings don't seem to be breaking down. The volume has reduced by 50%. Can I use it as is?

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Going for fall to winter. You can use it. It will break down for spring. Get your Fall Garden Seeds & Spring Seed Starting Supplies at... Please Visit The Rusted Garden Seed & Garden Shop: www.therustedgarden.com

[@pa.fishpreacher6166]

Question, You said leaves that are green are nitrogen, what is grass that has dried out? Is it still nitrogen or carbon?

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Dried grass becomes a carbon. Get your Fall Garden Seeds & Spring Seed Starting Supplies at... Please Visit The Rusted Garden Seed & Garden Shop: www.therustedgarden.com

[@lynnfall65]

What about old newspapers? What would you consider that? Green or brown

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Newspapers are a great source of browns Get your Fall Garden Seeds & Spring Seed Starting Supplies at... Please Visit The Rusted Garden Seed & Garden Shop: www.therustedgarden.com

[@lostsoul67livefreeordie74]

what if you do not have grass ?

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Anything can be composted down. Leaves, weeds, food scraps. Please visit The Rusted Garden Seed & Garden shop for seeds, seed starting supplies, neem oil, TRG merchandise and more at www.therustedgarden.com & Please Ring the Bell (next to subscribe) to get immediate real-time video notifications of new videos. I have over 1250 garden videos you can search and find the answer you need. Thanks

[@rufia75]

Great video, but if you're consistently able to get above 140ish in your pile for let's say about a week, you're gonna kill off 90% of weed seeds, longer and higher temps, you're looking at closer to 99, so I think using hay in hot composting vs using straw might not be as important (of course if the cost is similar, you might as well opt for the straw or if you're not sure if you can get it hot enough and for long enough).

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

Thanks. I am typically going to heat a pile for about a week and then move it to the big mound. Thanks for the points. Get your Fall Garden Seeds & Spring Seed Starting Supplies at... Please Visit The Rusted Garden Seed & Garden Shop: www.therustedgarden.com

[@daisywade2449]

Thank you so much for the compost videos... I just love to see your videos... you explain all so well!! Clear explanations!! I can only do container gardening... I have a question for you:: on container gardening: Would it be wise and beneficial to plants to put cardboard at the bottom of the container to save fertilizer? I am about to start pretty soon planting fall veggies (as soon as the heat here in California goes away) 😄Thank you for your time.

[@Drakenrider]

i love making compost, but my wife hate my compost and me :(

[@THERUSTEDGARDEN]

I keep mine far from the house Get your Fall Garden Seeds & Spring Seed Starting Supplies at... Please Visit The Rusted Garden Seed & Garden Shop: www.therustedgarden.com

[@glenwillard7537]

If you want to get rid of your Compost Barrels I can take Them off your hands I live in northern Calvert county