The #1 Secret to Get Your Compost Pile Cooking!

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Leaves are the most important ingredient to make excellent compost, especially if they're shredded.
While they compost regardless, shredding them increases the efficiency/temperature of your pile.
Collect as many leaves as possible during the fall to keep your compost pile cooking through the colder months.
My goal is to show you how to create the best compost with the least amount of time and effort. Let's cut down on what we send to the landfill and create an excellent soil amendment to grow your plants.
Be sure to hit the Like button, leave a comment, and stay tuned for even more composting tips!

[@angelahuddleston]

I'm so thankful for your videos . It's how I've learned to compost as well. I have been turning my pile mf I couldn't find leaves so I have a friend that has a tree business and he had a BIG pile of shredded tress. So I got a truckload and this is what I use as my brown. So keep your videos coming

[@crazyaboutcompost]

+Angela Gray Thanks for the kind words- I appreciate it! That's excellent that you have such a reliable volume of materials... that'll make composting a breeze. Whenever I get contacted about odor issues, it's always related to not enough brown materials being used.

[@Trackhoe075]

Excellent I’m gonna now( I mean in May) lasagna up my 4 other 4x8 raised beds sit back and let mother do her work again thanks Tyler for your quick and supportive response’s have a great day

[@patross7036]

I read that adding green material such as lawn grass will help with the breakdown of the dry leaves as it adds moisture to the mix

[@padude131]

Thank you for the quick response!

[@Trackhoe075]

Yes I have been following that on your channel as well as some of the very ingenious suggestions from piano wire to guitar strings although the .095 seems to be the way I may try first I too am not in a rush and I have plenty of leaves and grass that stronger line is welcomed but certainly not required!! I’ve also heard that mixing in a little bit of damp leaves(not soaking wet) may also cut down on dust!! I’m certainly not looking for perfect equal sized leaf bits and I’m sure Mother Nature won’t mind either...lol

[@ImASurvivorNThriver]

This was great! Thanks for sharing.

[@crazyaboutcompost]

Glad you enjoyed it. Leaves are the key!

[@Trackhoe075]

I’m also very fortunate to have plenty of leaves at my house that I know what’s in them and if I have to replace some line here and there doesn’t bother me at all especially since it will give the motor a chance to cool down a little too

[@JuicingGardener]

I'm glad I just found you. My compost has been an utter disaster. Time to master it. Digging into your videos. Thanks much. :-) ~Sheryl

[@crazyaboutcompost]

+JuicingGardener (Sheryl Mann) some of my videos are just me letting the public in on my own dumb curiosity, while some are to help solve specific issues... I find both perspectives important. If there's a question that I don't have a video for, please let me know and I'll give it a go making one. I have an e-book getting finished up at the moment- once that's ready to go, I hope to address everything in one piece.

[@JuicingGardener]

***** I do have a question. I've just learned about composting in-situ where you just add the greens and browns right into the beds, not into a compost pile or bin. Have you tried and had success with that? i've been doing it instinctively without knowing there was a name for it! Thanks. :)

[@crazyaboutcompost]

+JuicingGardener (Sheryl Mann) I personally don't have any experience with this, as I don't have a garden to work with (I wish I did!). This method does work though, with the exception being the winter where the ground freezes.

[@WhatWeDoChannel]

I did enjoy that, I love composting! Klaus

[@tylerw2531]

Me too- thanks for watching!

[@ChristopherEPineda]

Thanks for sharing, Tyler! You're awesome! :D

[@crazyaboutcompost]

thanks for watching and for the kind words- more videos soon! let me know if you have any composting questions!

[@ChristopherEPineda]

crazyaboutcompost.com hey you're welcome, I've just gotten really serious about composting this year. I signed up for the free email course. I'm hoping to produce enough compost for all my gardening needs.

[@kafinn5302]

What a nice guy ☺️

[@aparnaganapati]

Thank you for this video. Where did tou buy the composter?

[@SirPablo2Pablo]

This is brilliant

[@Trackhoe075]

Thanks for the quick response you just got another sub! Yes it’s the same bin you have! So if I have it filled by May by next March/April I should have some decent compost! Provided of course the layering was correct?

[@tylerw2531]

Absolutely- no doubt about it!

[@priayief]

I had been trying to create hot compost for years with little success. This year I collected yard leaves the same as previous years (with my lawn tractor and bagger attachment) but the leaves were a little damp and I noticed that I collected a little bit of grass as well (I probably didn't raised my mower as high as normal). As is my practice, I dump the leaves in a rubber tub and shred them with my weed-eater (gas powered). I found that neither my lawn tractor nor my lawn mower shreds leaves very effectively. Anyway, I put the shredded leaves in garden waste bags and after a day or two I noticed steam coming out from the bags. I took the internal temperature and found that it had reached 115F! I guess I had accidentally made the ideal combination of green/brown and moisture for heated compost. So I built my compost in a similar manner - using the leaves, old grass I had collected and some spoiled hay bales I got for free from a local farmer. Success! Finally reached over 130F. That was about 2 weeks ago and its now starting to cool off - about 100F today. Time to turn the compost.

[@crazyaboutcompost]

Excellent! Yes- leaves (and manure) are two materials that compost all by themselves in the right scenario, and it sounds like you discovered that. Good stuff! Shredding isn't required to compost, but it sure does made a big difference in jump-starting the microbial reactions needed to get hot compost.

[@priayief]

I haven't composted manure (yet) although I do have access to free horse manure from a local ranch. My understanding of heated compost is that one needs the "right" combination of greens (nitrogen), browns (carbon) and water to facilitate the bacteria that create heat. I also thought that there has to be a high(er) brown to green ratio. So, if manure is high in nitrogen, why does it tend to compost "all by itself"? Seems to me that it would be too nitrogen rich. I guess it really doesn't matter but it does intrigue me. I've seen piles of wood chips creating steam as well as piles of horse manure doing the same.

[@manobuddhiwickrama3549]

crazyaboutcompost.

[@m.lansley6590]

I am a beginner at composting. I did some in a rubber bin last year which i drilled holes in. The bin has split open so I stopped using it. I have been composting my scraps into every spare bucket and tub. I also have fashioned a chicken wire pen to contain autumn leaves. I'm not sure whether to save the leaves and compost till spring or add them to my raised bed before I cover it for the winter. Can you advise me please?

[@dorothyandrews8872]

I started 3 compost bins last yr. They are about 3ft high and round. I did the usual layering manure, leaves, green stuff, I am in zone 4 and we get really cold over the winter. I bought a thermometer to be able to ck the temp. Its still frozen. I do have a leave mulcher and really enjoy a day just shredding leaves, so after watching this I will put some shredded leaves on and see what happens. I am really disappointed as I thought I was doing everything right. I live on acreage and have huge amount of leaves so no shortage of those.

[@eros9077]

Thanks for the videos. I just stumbled across your channel and am enjoying your presentations. I was wondering, what do you do with all of this compost once you finish it. Cheers!

[@crazyaboutcompost]

+Eros inChaos Thanks for checking out the videos, I hope they enlighten and encourage you to compost! Honestly, I never think about 'what can i do with my compost' as much as 'what else can i compost?' i just spread it out along the 18" wide strip of dirt that goes down the side of my house and that's that. Anything left over I just give out to friends.

[@eros9077]

Maybe you could grow some veggies in that strip next to your house and see what happens. I bet you'd have some wonderful results.

[@rickvb2709]

I add green grass clippings and it takes right off cooking away.

[@waltk420]

I add a cup of leftover lawn fertilizer on top of my pile and work it into the top accelerates the composting nitrogen = heat. I mix fresh grass clippings with my leaves and stur them in thats usually all the nitrogen thats needed

[@bobbrawley2612]

Wait 303 thanks for your comment. Did you add the fertilizer, dry to damp compost and it heated up the pile?

[@waltk420]

@@bobbrawley2612 yes it usually heats it back up for 5-7 days it depends on how far along your compost is.

[@waltk420]

@@bobbrawley2612 if your pile is to dry it will not compost so keep it moist but not soaked

[@LanceMcSash]

GET GRINDIN

[@pa.fishpreacher6166]

will the container melt if the pile gets to 130 ?

[@cooltv7688]

Can I use rice husk as a carbon source

[@ivegotheart]

thanks for showing how you mixed in the kitchen scraps. did you blend them before you added them. how did you add it? do you get any worms? do you add urine?

[@tylerw2321]

Yes, I shred mine up beforehand, but it's not required. Add your weekly food deposits into the center, rinse out container with rainwater and dump in center, then add three times that amount in shredded leaves and dampen with one watering can. I do have a humanure composting toilet system, which utilizes (2) cubic yard compost bins, alternated every 15 months. I recommend reading the Humanure Handbook if you're interested. add to a cubic yard bin for 12-15 months, repeat with second bin... sawdust and 4 bucket system. :)

[@c.kellyosborn281]

If you don't want to go to the expense of the leaf shredder just throw the leaves on your yard and run over it with a mulching lawnmower then put your bagging attachment on the mower to vacuum them up. Dump on compost and walk away. Things have a tendency to rot whether you want them to or not.

[@crazyaboutcompost]

Absolutely- in my situation it makes more sense to have a leaf shredder since I have no yard to mow, but if you do have one, and have a mower, that will do the trick just as well.

[@priayief]

I have a large yard and access to a lot of leaves. I've tried shredding leaves with my mulching mower (and bagger attachment), my lawn tractor (with mulching bag attachment) and one of those vacuum leaf bagger/shredder things. None of these methods really did much to shred leaves. What did work well was using my gas-powered weed-eater/whacker on a bunch of leaves dumped into a heavy-duty plastic tub (about 1/2 the height of a garbage can). This takes a little time and effort but it shreds leaves effectively and as fine as you want them - its like using a kitchen grinder but on a larger scale. You see, I'm rather obsessive about shredded leaves! Gotta admit, many times I've been tempted to just run over them with my lawn mower and bagger attachment which would probably work as well but the leaves will take a little longer to compost. Cheers.

[@sneakhyperion9297]

Do you think chestnut husk will break down over winter if i add them to my pile. I started my pile 2 weeks ago.

[@tylerw2531]

good question- that would depend on a number of things... if you have a cubic yard or larger sized pile and you're able to break them up into smaller pieces before adding, they'll degrade eventually.

[@funlityoung]

Thanks for this post I just subbed 🍋🍆🍉🌶🍎🍅

[@crazyaboutcompost]

thanks!

[@martinroberts3589]

a tip for those who do not have a shredder, put what ever you want shredding on the lawn and mow it, works fine for me.

[@paulroth6783]

One way to shred leaves: Put a pile that's not too thick to kill your lawn mower on the lawn. One trick is to put the leaves in a long line. Instead of one big pile. Now take your lawn mower and run over it with the bag ON. Viola, all leaves ground up and in your bag. Now just dump on compost pile.

[@omna1]

could I ask what's the brand of the compost pile's shown in the video? I want to buy one like that but don't know what that type of bin is called

[@crazyaboutcompost]

It's called a Geobin compost bin...they do the trick!

[@omna1]

thanks

[@jeanb.5405]

Do you put holes in the BOTTOM of the Can ? Or only along the side and top ?

[@tylerw2531]

I've got plenty on the sides. If you're using a trash can composter on a concrete floor in the backyard, it might be wise to avoid holes on the bottom? If it's being set right on dirt/grass, adding a few holes on the bottom can help. Keep in mind that the holes will compromise the strength of the trash can (especially if plastic)... they're really heavy when full!

[@michaelthiel7604]

I have a secret additive that makes my compost go crazy. I add about 48 ounces of beer to my pile on the first turn. It heats up really nice. I then turn it once the heat drops off and add 12 ounces. If you don't drink beer I'm sure you know someone that has some old beer in the fridge or just go buy the cheapest you can find

[@crazyaboutcompost]

RIght on- beer definitely stimulates the compost pile. 48 ounces of what kind of beer do you use? I'm thinking maybe just a 40 of Hurricane would be cheapest? :)

[@michaelthiel7604]

@@crazyaboutcompost I use whatever is leftover from the previous summer. It's usually just a can or bottle of just whatever is there. I don't see it as going to waist and my tomatoes love the fresh compost tea during the summer.

[@barbaraperry2796]

Hi, I just found you! Is the free 7 day training still available! Many thanks from Barbie in South Florida 🌞

[@crazyaboutcompost]

yes- available at crazyaboutcompost dot com thanks!!

[@barbaraperry2796]

Thank you! I am learning slot from your vids! Much appreciated.

[@PharmSilver]

I have an old pile that never composted. How can I charge it back up? Anything special to add to it ?

[@crazyaboutcompost]

Start a new pile next to it with 18" of damp shredded leaves, then roll the old pile onto it? Burrow a hole in the center, add a week's worth of food scraps, manure if you have it, followed by a thin layer of grass and dead plants, and then cover with another 6" of shredded leaves. Keep it damp and at least a cubic yard in size...you should get some results within a few days. :)

[@PrettyAliceNight]

I don’t have a leaf shredder or lawn mower for my leaves so I just crumble them win my hands the best I can.

[@tylerw2321]

Right on- more often than not, that's what I end up doing too.

[@bobbrawley2612]

I crush with my hands as well but I dry the leaves in direct sun . Fir brown leaves it takes about an hour and for green leaves . Say a half a day or 4 hours. And they crush rapid and small. About fingernail size down to dust

[@PrettyAliceNight]

Bob Brawley that’s great.

[@bobbrawley2612]

@@PrettyAliceNight in November . When the leaves fall from the trees it harder to get direct sun days. This is 60 miles south west of Washington DC zone 7. But by April I had enough direct sun to dry out previous collected leaves . And pulverized with my hands and rubbing on a window screen making leaf powder. I collected about 15 lbs of leaf powder . Great accomplishment. But realized it might not be the answer and eventually added back into my normally crushed leaves. I added the powder to a been of natural caught earth worms about a hundred of them but was't pleased with the rate of the powder being consumed Yesterday day ( early Oct )I had a collection of green leaves practically covered with a tarp some direct sunlight and 4 hours of 80 degree Fahrenheit temp dried the leaves out enough to be partically crushed. So in the winter months maybe a hair dryer and a small bundle of leaves could be so easily crushed

[@alaskansourdoughwormsgarde4392]

To really kill seeds and weeds the temp should be 140-160. Then turn every 4-5 days. I'm 63 and it's tough on the body for me but totally worth it. Got beautiful compost in one month. I have to make mine in the summer as I live in Alaska. Happy composting. I also vermicompost in a spare bedroom with 5 bins. Use the castings to start my seedlings. They were the most beautiful seedlings I've ever grown. If you don't do it you might give it a try.

[@crazyaboutcompost]

With weed seeds, the hotter the better- absolutely. I personally don't like to turn my compost...I add for a year, then let it sit for a year- but your process will speed it up if that's what is desired. As for vermicomposting, I've been doing that for a pretty long time now... vermicastings are excellent for my herbs and veggies, and my backyard compost is what I use for horticultural purposes. Thanks for watching!

[@alaskansourdoughwormsgarde4392]

Good for you and the Vermicomposting. I only learned about it about a 1.5 yr ago but love it and it works great I am having a ball doing it. Crazy old lady.

[@crazyaboutcompost]

Right on, that rules! Good to hear.

[@omijha4605]

Catherine Fredericks

[@omijha4605]

Cathe.rine Fredericks up vo

[@rockstomper8390]

I know you said you added table scraps, but otherthan that is this a leaf only compost?

[@tylerw2531]

It's mostly leaves, grass, dead plants and sawdust for brown materials. All the food scraps are added to the center. Thanks for watching!

[@MrBlowmyselfup]

I have a pile about 4 ft wide and 5 ft tall made entirely of shreaded leaves. I added 2 pounds of blood meal and about 45 lbs of coffee grounds from starbucks. I have turned the pile once to get everything nice and mixed together. When I turned it everything seemed light and fluffy, nothing was matted together. After 2 days the internal temp is only getting to 80 degrees F. Does my ratio sound correct for a proper hot compost?

[@crazyaboutcompost]

You definitely have the quantities of materials to have a great pile... leaves are shredded, plenty of coffee grounds (good job getting it from Starbucks!). Is the pile damp? I would get it nice and wet. Add your weekly kitchen scraps too?

[@MrBlowmyselfup]

Yes when I squeeze a large handful several drops will come out. I got a compost thermometer and tested in a few places. It seems it is actually around 100-110 in the center. I added 20 pounds of spent grain (good source of nitrogen) from brewing beer yesterday and mixed it into the middle but the temperature hasn't changed after 24 hours. We don't have enough kitchen scraps to affect the size of this pile unfortunately. What's the key for getting to the "hot" zone?!

[@crazyaboutcompost]

Add all your food scraps, for sure. Manures are a great source, too. However, 100-110 is totally chugging along and healthy. Is the pile nice and damp? I'd let it sit after adding a week's worth of food scraps, more shredded leaves and then soak it.

[@tompowell6723]

Where did you get the hoops that enclose your leaf compost?

[@tylerw2531]

The Geobin comes with a couple rods that you can drive into the ground to hold it in place. They're not required, but they do help maintain the structure as it gets more and more full.

[@saltlifess6226]

Where did you get the black mess that holds the leaves please?

[@tylerw2531]

It's a Geobin compost bin. Not pretty, but they work! Chicken wire works too- the key is that it's a cubic yard in size (or larger).

[@idontwantahandle510]

Thanks for making this video. Have you tried layering grass clippings and leaves. I just started one that is 4 ft by 3 ft tall. 2 inches of leaves and then two inches of grass clippings. I'm not turning this pile until spring. I'm curious to see what 6 months will do to it.

[@tylerw2321]

yes- grass works well, I just don't have access to much of it in my neighborhood, so leaves are my predominant ingredient. have you been adding food to your pile? that'll break down nicely if you keep it damp!

[@idontwantahandle510]

No on the food. That goes to the chickens. I have a lot of room and a little over an acre of grass that I only bag up when I want it for the compost piles. I normally turn them but this pile I carefully layered and watered just to see how well it would compost over the winter.

[@tylerw2321]

Are you adding the chicken manure? that would be another killer nitrogen source that will fire up the pile.

[@brucefuller381]

I agree that shredding your leaves creates more surface area. I would argue however, that the problem is that dry leaves in contact with dry leaves, yields an impenetrable, biologically inactive mass. Leaves, when mixed with other compostable materials (spent grain, coffee grounds, last years compost, even soil) will give you a hot pile, because it is paper thin already, with incredible inherent surface area. It just takes a little work, a little mixing.

[@tylertalkstrash]

Agreed- the key with the addition of shredded leaves is ensuring they are nice and damp as well. They won’t do much if they’re dry. Diversity of ingredients is important, but for the browns, which will be the majority of a pile, leaves are excellent. Thanks for watching!

[@davidschmidt270]

I'm really getting into making compost as well....just being self sufficient in all...you know not having to buy this stuff at home Depot and Lowe's.... pretty cool...BUT.. .the thing I hate is I live in Phoenix AZ.....sooo... it's a little different I think... maybe give some pointers for us desert gardeners??? 🤔🤔

[@crazyaboutcompost]

hi david, without living in a desert, I'm not sure how much appropriate advice I have... make your pile a cubic yard in size or larger, shred up your brown materials the best you can, and keep the pile damp consistently. I empty one full can of rainwater on my pile per week... maybe start with twice a week watering and go from there? It doesn't need to be completely soaked, but if it's bone dry it won't work the way it wants to. I've seen trash cans melt in Phoenix- definitely a little different!

[@davidschmidt270]

@@crazyaboutcompost thank you Sir 👏

[@padude131]

Older video but, is that all leaves in that pile? No food scraps at all?

[@tylerw2321]

This pile has leaves, food scraps, and manure. I've found that shredding leaves makes a huge difference in how the pile breaks down, and is never a bad thing to add to your compost pile.

[@padude131]

Just subbed your channel too.

[@tylerw2321]

Thanks! Much appreciated!

[@WH6FQE]

I am fighting with my compost piles to keep them under 170 degrees. I try to keep them between 140 and 160, but I have 2 piles that have stayed right at 170 for the past week, every time I bring the temperature down within a few hours it is right back up again.

[@bobbrawley2612]

Are you worried that 170° F. Will kill your composting bacteria? . I say let it kill them off as the bacteria dies the population will grow again. In theory of course . Self regulation bacterial population balance

[@WH6FQE]

@@bobbrawley2612 They die off at temperatures above 180 degrees then the pile starts stinking and neighbors complain, then I have to get rid of it. Thats the problem with my piles getting too hot.

[@johnny0253]

my pile don't get hot at all!!!! I got tomatoe plants in it/leaves/coffee grinds/fruitveg scraps/egg shells/paper/,,,,,,,do I need to add manure to it to get it started heating up?

[@crazyaboutcompost]

nope- manure is not required for compost. it will instantly help, but you can do just fine without it. How much of your pile consists of leaves? Should be twice as much as everything else. Also, is your pile damp?

[@johnny0253]

I would say I have one large home depot paper bag full of leaves I stole off someones front lawn they were throwing out,,,also threw that bag in pile....and there was about 80 tomatoe plants I pulled from garden at end of season,,,,,one large pumpkin,, lots of egg shells and coffee grinds and veg/fruit scraps and newspapers and paper mail and lots of paper egg cartons.....and yes my pile is nice and damp,,,,and I turn the pile everyday!!!

[@crazyaboutcompost]

Nice! I tend to snake leaf bags this time of year, too. Otherwise they'd hit the landfill and I can shred them up and use them through the winter. I'm curious to see what your pile looks like... Can you send me a picture? Message me at my website and attach one?

[@johnny0253]

no clue how to send pics on here,,,,,what is your email address???,,,,oh btw just turned my pile and added a 5 gallon bucket of leaves ,,,watered the pile,,,,and added some peat moss I found cheap in home depot

[@johnny0253]

hi,,,i added a video of my pile on my chanel...let me know if you see it ,,,thanks

[@priteshshah21]

i am trying since last six months and it is just soggy and didnt see any heat... help

[@crazyaboutcompost]

The pile is soggy? What's it made of? How much grass/leaves/hay/straw/dead plants vs food scraps and/or manure?

[@D.A.Hanks14]

where do you get a compost thermometer?

[@tylerw2531]

Check out the Reotemp compost thermometer...

[@D.A.Hanks14]

@@tylerw2531 Yeah, so where do I get one? Home Depot or do I need to go online?

[@tylerw2531]

@@D.A.Hanks14 Honestly I'm not sure if they sell it at Home Depot... it's possible. It's the REOtemp "backyard compost thermometer". you can get it from them direct or a few other places on the web for a few bucks cheaper.

[@D.A.Hanks14]

@@tylerw2531 Awesome, thanks!

[@andrewyek]

hii, you said a year ago that you are gonna send your leaf mold compost out for a test just for fun... i can't find the result of your test... or the subsequent video regard to this video... if you have done it.. pls show me the link.. i would love to see the result. thanks. andrew germany

[@crazyaboutcompost]

Hi Andrew, I'm going to be testing my pile in spring and will definitely post my results. I decided to go with a longer cook and cure time since I've been working with a compost toilet system for the last few years now.

[@rubyewiggins4926]

What is the perforated plastic you have around your compost pile and where did you get it?

[@tylerw2531]

That is a Geobin compost bin. I bought it from Geobin direct, although i think it's cheaper nowadays to buy through the typical online outlets.

[@trustingblindly1413]

Do you just leave it ? Or go back and mixing it every other day ?

[@tylerw2531]

I tend to just leave it. The only continuous actions are that I add a week's worth of food scraps every Sunday, and I add one watering can of rain water per week for most of the year. I'm not big on turning piles... it may accelerate the process if done right, but I'm not in a hurry and with enough volume, it does just fine. Thanks for watching!

[@Trackhoe075]

So if you just basically add material how long before you have compost to be able to sift through? Roughly ?

[@tylerw2531]

If you're going with a cubic yard sized pile that's loaded up, I'd say 3-6 months. The longer it sits, the better the results. If you'd like to actively turn it from time to time to try speeding up the process, that's something you can experiment with, too.

[@Trackhoe075]

P.S. my Worx shredder comes tomorrow too..yippee lol

[@tylerw2531]

Nice! The shredder line isn't the strongest, but several of my viewers have said that .095 trimmer line is a good replacement. The Worx does a good job for the price and the small footprint when not in use.

[@yes350yes]

Most people dont have a shredder and its not necessary I dont shred. Yet my pile gets to 160 degrees and why is that . Make sure your pile at least 3' x 3' or bigger and the ingrediant I add is rabbit pellets and plenty of water. Once the pile gets to the 160 its time to turn and its important to turn that pile at that point.

[@yes350yes]

When I say pellets I dont mean manure its rabbit pellet food.

[@yes350yes]

I like to use a compost thermometer so I know how hot it is and as soon as it gets to 160 I turn the pile since the heat will start falling off from there

[@tylerw2531]

160 is impressive! what is the rest of your pile comprised of? Shredding is by no means required, but it's a tool I'm willing to make space for, and I store my winter's worth of cover materials and compost toilet materials this way (in an additional large trash can).

[@yes350yes]

Thanks Tyler- Besides leaves I have waste material from my flower and veggie gardens. Sometimes I add some chopped straw but these other ingrediants are not needed to get it to 160,, just the rabbit pellets. Im not referring to manure but rabbit food for the nitrogen. I buy a 50 lb bag from my rural king and use as needed. I usually try to turn my pile every 4 days or so or when I have time. Once the temp starts falling down is a good time.

[@priteshshah21]

show how to compost and making a hot compost

[@ssaxe01s]

just a promo for his book.

[@srinivasanpadmanabhan1811]

Do you add worms to your compost pile ?

[@blondegaijin]

I have no biz relationship with TheWormDude, but y don't u go the next step and order 1 pound of red wigglers, and set them loose on your cool, one year pile, there? I'd bet they'd go NUTS over that..! You will really, really enjoy it, and maybe get into the Alabama Jumpers and African Nightcrawlers, too....!

[@crazyaboutcompost]

+blondegaijin I put wigglers in there from time to time... I have a Worm Inn system in my basement with 2 lbs of worms. they go nuts and cling to the outside of the pile where it's a little cooler most of the time, but yes they definitely improve the contents and are a fun addition! They especially do wonders in smaller scale composting systems such as a trash can composter, since the temperatures don't get crazy hot so the worms stay focused.

[@blondegaijin]

I find they really like (free) coffee grounds, though they will ignore them for 12 days or so, until they get a little rotten. Strangely enough they also prefer watermelon HUSK over the sweet red flesh, too. Same thing for cantalope, too..! Your vids got me started with composting, btw, and I love it..!

[@crazyaboutcompost]

+blondegaijin I've noticed that with coffee grounds too. My worms mostly get my juicer and coffee waste, while my backyard efforts get the rest, which is the weekly food scrap container and the compost toilet buckets. I'm stoked that you're enjoying composting- hit me up if you have any questions or pictures to share. Thanks for the kind words; getting people started is why I do this! Means a lot, man.

[@ruthwilliamson862]

OK! So just to double-check, you literally just dumped the shredded leaves (after the new kitchen waste) onto the top of the original pile, and the whole thing heated up? If so.....SWEET! I have a "cold" pile sitting there, and I have access to shredded leaves.

[@crazyaboutcompost]

+Ruth Williamson Yes- the key to an efficient compost pile is ensuring that with every food scrap deposit you make, you follow it with twice the amount of shredded leaves. Getting them damp is a plus. I'm curious about your cold pile... tell me more. Did you start the pile with a good 6-12" of shredded brown materials? How big is the pile? Trash can? Tumbler? Compost bin like mine? Thanks for watching!

[@ruthwilliamson862]

+crazyaboutcompost.com Well, part of why I say my pile is "cold" is because it's 22 degrees outside (and has been for several weeks.) I created the pile early last fall, and started with about 24-36 inches of UNshredded leaves--it's all I had available at the time. Then, I alternated kitchen waste, and also garden waste--which was a bunch of stalky material, along with more leaves. Then, throughout the winter, I've been dumping kitchen waste and animal manure (from our guinea pig) on top of the pile, and covering that each time with more unshredded leaves. So, the material in there is pretty good quality, but the pieces are big, so the surface area isn't great, and the outside temps are just really frigid on top of that. When it starts to warm up, do you think I should try to mix it all up some, or just throw shredded leaves on top. My local area provides shredded leaves, which I can get when things thaw. Oh, and the pile is pretty big--over a cubic yard, definitely....maybe not two, though? It's hard for me to estimate.

[@crazyaboutcompost]

+Ruth Williamson Holy crap, Ruth! It sounds like you have an excellent methodology. When it's that cold, it's going to be hard to get things going...but rest assured as soon as it gets above freezing for a few days, it'll get back up and running like winter never happened.

[@truegrit8280]

u didn't say,, but did u turn the pile ? Or did u just put in a pile of shredded leaves.

[@crazyaboutcompost]

+Richard Bushy I used to think I needed to turn my pile (which is why I originally started composting using a tumbler to make this easier), but I've realized it's actually counterproductive. Through a bit of research (Compost Engineering by Haug, Humanure Handbook by Jenkins) and more importantly personal experience I learned it simply isn't necessary. Covering weekly food scrap deposits with a fresh shredded layer of damp leaves will sustain your pile's activity best. Thanks for checking out the video, I appreciate it.

[@angelos7]

I pour beer on mine

[@tylerw2321]

Awesome! I would too but I end up drinking it first!

[@crpth1]

@@tylerw2321- No worries, just make sure you pee back into the compost pile. And FYI I´m not joking. ;-) Fantastic source of nitrogen, good and free activator. Win win situation. Cheers

[@tylerw2531]

@@crpth1 My 1+ cubic yard compost bins are for my compost toilet system... love it! I rotate four 5 gallon buckets and get my sawdust from the community wood shop dumpster twice a year.

[@crpth1]

@@tylerw2531 - Is that an excuse to "compost" more beer? Just kidding. LOL ;-) Good to hear. My relatively modest pile of sawdust usually goes into the kitchen remains buckets to control the smell. Anyway sooner or later it would end up in the compost pile. Cheers

[@squirrelinoz1267]

it was a nice video but it sounds like you're compost is not getting hard enough it should be at least 1:50 to 165 to kill weeds and pathogens

[@crazyaboutcompost]

hmm... 150F+ isn't necessarily required. my pile peaks in the warmer months in the 140F range, which is hot enough for the process and takes care of pathogens and weed seeds. A consistently managed therophilic pile paired with 12-15 months cure time has worked very well. thanks for watching.

[@user-py9ow5fg7k]

do cc Arabic translate

[@davedaddy101]

So the secret was to shred the leaves?

[@TheShrimpdoctor]

Not exactly a secret is it ?