Making a Compost Bin

[@johncooper8686]

That’s some compost bin. Great to meet you at Makers Central on Saturday- enjoyed the chat (the retired civil engineer from Belfast)

[@garyhollywell2112]

Great opportunity and project securing ownership of your additional land this should keep you very busy all year round. Looking forward to seeing the transformation and envious at the opportunity and challenges ahead of you.

[@andycooper4485]

I'm enjoying watching this new land project. As for "The Shed", I think Shergar is in there.

[@cornwallkid100]

Great little job will be OK after it been there a while 😁😁😁

[@_Daegon616]

Awesome video thank you, glad I got that mug from you over the weekend now so I could have a coffee to watch it. Was great meeting you and glad I got to find out about your channel 😀

[@grotekleum]

Excellent stuff, thanks for sharing. Some ideas from my experience: I'd have 2 extra bins so that the compost can be turned into them in turn - that way you won't be putting new stuff on old all the time. Chicken wire or some other small diameter mesh will prevent stuff falling out and allow air in, also helps keep out animals, though the more enterprising animals will tunnel in one way or another. Single planks slotted into a channel at the front makes getting at 'it' easier I have found, also leaves no gaps.

[@s10m0t10n]

If you take the pallet you screwed inside the front and put it outside, you'll eventually find it easier to remove when you want to take the finished compost out. Otherwise the weight of material pushing against it will mean you have to lean over the front (unnecessary back ache) or climb into the bin to take the compost out. I'll also endorse the excellent tip of peeing on your compost to help it along.

[@cbauer72]

I quite enjoy the channel. Over the last few weeks I've worked my way through all of your videos. I just had to chuckle on this one though. After stating that it doesn't have to be perfect and working without a plan, you still put a level on a support beam. Can't take the engineer out of the man. Love it! Keep up the good work.

[@SpartanMJO12]

Nice one Mr Matthews - feels good that you're recycling pallets to recycle plant waste!

[@michaeltester5187]

Making compost, and using it, is my favourite part of gardening 😊

[@bscott77]

‘Makes the structure much more stable’ …. See what you did there 😊

[@colinbleach9390]

Another brilliant video ...love the use of a level when you said it didnt matter ...love it

[@wernervanniekerk7579]

made a compost bin last yeah, achievement unlocked. Made it out of pallets. made it...almost like this one...its wonky, its uneven. it makes compost. No measuring, no thinking, just screws and some apple cider. A thing of beauty!

[@paulcassidy8130]

I wouldn't put a roof on. I built 4 large bins several years ago and, as an experiment, added lids to 2 of them while leaving the other 2 open to the elements. The latter produce compost much faster, presumably because they get the moisture you say is needed from the rain. Some plastic sheeting on top of the material with slits cut in to let the water through helps the heat build up. It's also worth adding shredded paper. So all my confidential documents go firstly into the shredder and then to complete the secure disposal onto the compost heaps.

[@carllamb6711]

Hi Stuart There’s no stopping you now mate with all this new land mate, have you treated yourself to a new wheelbarrow it did look very shiny

[@emdotdee]

Time for a water butt or 5. Not that we’re getting much rain at the minute. Who knew throwing bits of random wood together would be so relaxing?

[@Stu1982]

You could also wee on it too. As that helps break down and aid with decomposing.

[@sharonmc5192]

Great stuff. Re the water issue, can you stick a water butt down there? Might help a little

[@valborchardt3596]

Very good video Stuart, thank you….i just feel sorry for your back, carting all that stuff. At least you have a nice wheelbarrow to help….take care as always

[@jwatkins123]

Was great meeting you at the weekend Stuart, looking forward to seeing what's in that shed!!

[@CarpioTheOnlyOne]

Decent size water butt collecting from your soon to be fun roof. Cheaper and faster than the hose!

[@paulp96275]

Great work try catching rain water in a 1000L tote they come with there own tap on a pallet just mount in strategic places great vid 👍👨🏻‍🏭

[@markelliot1248]

Nice recycling video. Couple of bays may help, so you can have one ready and one to put new stuff in. Also from the look of the brambles it could be way too small unless you shred them.

[@velcroman11]

It’s very important to keep the compost bin moist. Just like keeping the water up to your plants and lawn. You can have a dry compost bin but it is really, really slow going. A wet (moist) compost bin is loaded with worms and they are the most incredible soil makers. Dry bin no worms, wet (moist) bin and you will have ready to go garden/lawn compost up to your ears.

[@Bettys_Eldest]

How about building a composting toilet in one of those sheds, that way you wouldn't need to keep nipping back into the house in your muddy boots every couple of hours. Will also provide accelerant for the compost bins.

[@19bengobengo52]

Another good one mate! Can I just point out that you can add urine to a compost bin, lots of nutrients in it. You've built yourself an outside loo!

[@airborneinferno]

What’s the Interesting looking driver bit that you use on your impact driver for screws? Seems to hold the head of the screw within a socket? I’m coming to the end of a big pallet construction for seating and a pergola and it’s still bothers me about dropping screws!

[@idi0tdetectioninprogress]

Water supply? Build a staging and pipe up as many barrels as you like, our friends over the pond do this rather well on their ranches. Alternatively, get an in line pump which attaches to a battery drill.

[@olson.pamela]

Hey Stuart I use a hose 250 feet long up at my farm. There is a well., not anything fancy. It works fine, no loss in water pressure. ( this surprised me too the first time I set it up. I expected a dribble but got same pressure.)

[@nigellambert511]

You will probably need another bin in the area to the left, to make a 2nd bay!

[@davidpinchbeck2134]

Always enjoy your videos and this is a gd one! Composting is great and compost is a wonderful thing! I'm sure others will tell you that you're going to need at least two more bins so that you can turn your compost to accelerate the process. You should buy your farmer neighbour a pint every time you see him because the stuff he's giving you will guarantee superb compost. Lucky you. Enjoy!

[@ProperDIY]

Thanks again!

[@davidpinchbeck2134]

Here's a link to a short video by some very good friends of ours, Ellie & Ben, who are excellent and very knowledgeable gardeners. Ellie, particular, loves compost and is very expert at making the stuff. They have a KZbin channel 'The Wild GDN' which follows them resurrecting an old, overgrown allotment. Their latest offering 'Spring has sprung' shows Ellie planning her new compost bins. I recommend it - and them - very highly. They're excellent presenters too, rather like your goodself. Pls take a look as what they're doing is quite relevant to some of what you're planning in your field. All the best, Dave.

[@stevenfromleicester2529]

My kind of project this, a complete seat of your paints bodge job with a load of old crap wood.. 😂

[@jayt9882]

Don't know if anyone else has said about not composting woody stems like brambles? Better off bonfiring those with along any other pernicious weeds. The ash produced will be useful on the land.

[@The_man_himself_67]

I was about to make that same comment. Best thing to do with brambles is burn them along with their root sytem. Woody stems take years to break down if you don't shred them first. On the other hand, horse manure is solid gold!

[@lone318]

Thank you surely it is a fun job😄

[@ProperDIY]

No problem 😊

[@sackville_bagginsess]

I've had to clear a bramble patch that big before. I found the best approach was to cut the stems at the base with long handles secateurs, then pull the 3-5m long stems out by hand wearing decent gloves.

[@nigel4425]

Me too... But I do the opposite - cut what's in front of you and work slowly forward across a width of about 6 foot, cut pieces to a length of about 3 foot, stack in small piles - cutting small helps to keep the pile from getting overly tangled and helps the drying process if you are burning. Cut 8"-12" from ground level which helps with the digging out of the roots, marks the spot and gives you something to pull on, although getting a fork under the heart of the root is the key. If you are composting all that, you are going to need a bigger bin!

[@musheopeaus4125]

Mate make three bays and use 1 each year . No turning no Messing about . Chuck everything in it .next year start next one and so on after 3 years the first one will be lovely crumbly compost with absolutely no faffing about

[@isthisthat]

boy this channel has taken a turn.. I'll still watch every video but not excited as I was at the start..

[@TheClembo]

True to your word Stuart. Well done, don't forget as long as you are not overlooked to 'relieve' yourself over your compost bin contents is perfectly acceptable, or use your watering can maybe! It all helps with the breakdown necessary. Just don't video it please! ATB.

[@snakebitex10]

Add the roof, some guttering and a water butt. Water problem fixed

[@MartinCymru]

just put all debris in a heap. turn over mid season with mechanical digger. compost bins I use to plant veg in 2nd year

[@zbumbi]

Or just mix it with manure and then cover with straw and grow sunflovers and squash the first year. Instant garden beds.

[@homewurks1]

Apparently, if you wee on the compost it enhances the chemical reaction

[@JontyConway]

I've been meaning to ask, and it's probably been mentioned before in your videos - what's the driver bit called that you use so that it magnetically looks effortless?! Thanks!

[@wernervanniekerk7579]

DeWalt DEWALT DEWDT70535T Impact Torsion 3 x PZ2 50mm and Magnetic Screwlock Sleeve

[@twincamtim]

Compost corner! 😎

[@williamwales6619]

Nice to see you up tae yer kneecaps in Silage/Compost.🤣Noted the Rough Joinery in the making of the compost heap. Engineer eh! Whit part of yer training covers that??😗 Nae probs. with moisture for yer heep up here. 🦆Lovin the video. Thanks😇

[@cannontrodder]

I thought this garden series wouldn’t apply to me. Just had an offer accepted on a house that needs some serious clearing of the garden. How good was the timing on this video?????

[@ProperDIY]

Glad I could help!

[@magill4046]

Great stuff (I predicted this build in a previous video😬)

[@adeh503]

The hedgehogs will love that

[@MiniLuv-1984]

Great build - fit for purpose. Perhaps you can talk a bit about compost - you were talking about moisture levels...how can you tell you have the right moisture levels? What other info would be useful for us compost newbies?

[@michaeltester5187]

The brown part needs to be just damp....I’ve heard it said that it should be like a wrung out sponge. The greens always contain water anyway. Trial and error will teach you. Too little water and you’ll have a dry heap that does nothing. Too much and it’ll fester and smell. Not worth getting too precise about though. Can just turn all the material and adjust the moisture levels with more water or more dry material. Everything rots down eventually!

[@nigelstewart9982]

Like pasta. Damp enough to be soft and nice to eat. Not so damp to be a soggy pile with no airflow.

[@MiniLuv-1984]

@@michaeltester5187 Thanks Michael, that explanation gave me a great starting point.

[@MiniLuv-1984]

@@nigelstewart9982 The airflow is a clincher Nigel, thanks mate.

[@stuartday1876]

If you put a roof on it you coud collect rain water into a water butt maybe.

[@Bettys_Eldest]

You don't need a longer hose, just make use of the natural compost accelerator you carry around with you. Save water, don't need to flush the loo either.

[@FrankWoodPhotography]

Ha!

[@jayt9882]

Good enough for Bob Flowerdew... ;)

[@stevejeffery4951]

It’ll keep the badgers away too 😉

[@howlis]

When you get the roof on just add a water butt.

[@paulhodgson4790]

When you stick a roof on it have a gutter and a water butt. Save buying another hose!

[@ZanderKaneUK]

MDPE water supply video coming soon.

[@TheWardagh]

Very interesting. I’ve avoided composting as I’ve been told it will attract rats. Any measures you can take to stop them? Get the cat to live in there maybe!? 😁

[@Liam....]

With the amount of brambles you've got to clear id say you would be better to pile them up and burn them.

[@johnbell7552]

Why not run a water line all the way down the field 🤷‍♂️

[@garvielloken3929]

😎

[@patrickkelly7085]

NAIL WILL FAIL ONLY A SCREW CAN DO.

[@sadielouwho5795]

Maybe its time to run some pvc pipe out there and add a faucet? Would make your life a lot easier. 🙂

[@bikerjon153]

Get yourself a water butt. Once it's full should last a while.

[@olson.pamela]

Does anyone have a comment about just having a compost pile? Instead of building a bin?

[@becca1927]

The one job you should have a face mask on for especially working with damp hay/straw because of the possibility of farmer lung

[@ralphtaylor5328]

Stuart have you thought about enclosure for recycling bins? Son has been nagged by girlfriend to do something.

[@KGDIY]

Wack a roof on and a water but 👍🏻

[@Loosehead]

Wilkerson, not Wilkinson.

[@andypaddon8531]

First comment :-)

[@cableitoh01]

Second comment :-)

[@gizmo6164]

I’m DESPERATE to know what’s in the shed! My therapist is sick of hearing about it. 🫤#overexcited #howmanysleeps