Speed Up Your Compost Pile - 5 Easy Ways

Faster Compost, Better Results! Want to learn how to get better Compost, faster and easier? Compost piles can often slow down, become inefficient, and not perform like we want them to. Has your pile stopped producing that Black Gold we covet so much? Are you running out of room because your organic waste isn’t decomposing fast enough?
In this video, I give you my top 5 strategies to speed up your Compost pile so that you can achieve faster results, with a better Compost end product for both overall soil health and your garden's sustainability. Each strategy is easier than the next and in 5 minutes you can be on your way to fast, efficient, amazing Compost pile!
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If you're just starting out gardening in 2020, this inexpensive set of tools from Amazon can get you and your garden up and running this year as well as prepare your gardens for fall! I know there is a fevered and renewed interest in gardening and many of you are seasoned vets. But remember that there's a whole population out there that hasn't gardened before. Let's help them out and encourage as much as possible! Affiliate links below:
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#compost #composting #permaculture #homesteading

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

If growing a fall garden full of delicious organic veggies for you and your family is something you're passionate about, consider joining our Facebook Group called "Growing, Better". We talk about everything from Composting, such as in this video, to organic pest control, and even making your own fertilizer from weeds! Everyone is welcome and its one of the fastest-growing communities online. Share, learn, GROW!: facebook.com/groups/GrowingBetter Fabric Grow Bags are an excellent alternative to standard pots, and in some cases even better for large single plant crops like Broccoli, Cauliflower, Kale, and even Garlic! Lightweight, inexpensive, and they come in almost any size! Put that Compost to good use! Check out the affiliate links below and give them a try! Amazon Canada: amzn.to/3imbLOA Amazon USA: amzn.to/2ZvWguO Amazon UK: amzn.to/2CTZQqZ If you're just starting out gardening in 2020, this inexpensive set of tools from Amazon can get you and your garden up and running this year as well as prepare your gardens for fall! I know there is a fevered and renewed interest in gardening and many of you are seasoned vets. But remember that there's a whole population out there that hasn't gardened before. Let's help them out and encourage as much as possible! Affiliate links below: Amazon USA: amzn.to/2xXLfbG Amazon Canada: amzn.to/3aoN1AN Amazon U.K.: amzn.to/2XrQA5A

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@Truth Seeker No, you definitely don't have to, especially if your compost is open bottom to the earth. I add already-made compost to get a new batch jump-started, but its not a necessity. :-)

[@LilEnrique]

Do you have a discord ???

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@LilEnrique No, not yet! I just got a reddit and I'm fidgeting with TikTok....I think podcasts are my next major effort though! Cheers man.

[@LilEnrique]

Woah didn't expect that much

[@LilEnrique]

Can you accept me i just requested

[@tylergarb]

I use a trash can with lots of holes drilled all over it + mesh covering those holes, acquired some wood chips + stored fallen leaves for brown input and more aeration. One of those smaller heavy duty tarps works well to dump it out and give the whole thing a good turning. just an idea for anyone searching for set up ideas. worked for me as it was low-cost.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Prefect!! Garden ingenuity!

[@sight1666]

My grandpa usually make compost pile right in soil have shade of tree in garden, so he always have some bugs created holes and let air goes freely in there, sometime he lets some plants even weeds nearby there grow on the pile, he said the roots of plants will make it has more air in there. It's an effective way of compost without need to turn or cut small pieces.

[@donaldlemoine3032]

Every few fays I put all the kitchen scraps that were gathered and put it in a big blender. Makes composting a lot faster for me.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Great idea Donald!

[@kogabear1]

In the spring to wake up my compost piles I add some moldy oatmeal, some alfalfa pellets that I've soaked in water to break the pellet down and some powered sugar. The combo heats up nicely and there is compost in no time.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

That sounds great Doug. I must try that!

[@GreenLove1]

If all the conditions (air, water, greens, browns) seem right but my compost pile is not heating up, I poke some vertical holes through it and pour in coffee grounds or alfalfa pellets. That boost of nitrogen rich organic material can jump start it again!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

NICE!! Nitrogen booster.....love it!

[@mikelucas3746]

I have made a few simple cylinders from a fencing roll and place it in the compost stall on end and fill in all around. Now air is naturally penetrating.

[@vermiman]

When I brew worm tea I often spray some of it on my compost piles to help boost the microbial populations.

[@lisakruger5289]

Adding a little compost from a prior batch is what really sped my compost up. And some alfalfa pellets helped as well. Thanks for the tips!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

That's a great idea Lisa! Innocculation!

[@helpmepls5698]

Pretty interesting to see somebody getting super enthusiastic about watching stuff decomposing! Great video mate, I guess I learned something today!

[@TREVASLARK]

Yeah - his enthusiam is contagious ! !👋

[@Rodster458]

Always so informative, thanks man!! Keep up the great work, appreciate it!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers, thanks so much for watching! :-)

[@garygreen5670]

I'm addicted to composting videos. My buckets are all on the balcony (near the kitchen) and I was battling maggots all through the summer. I now know to aerate, chop up, and add more browns (I chop up the thick cardboard boxes our water comes in). Apparently, peeing on your compost also acts as an accelerator - though I haven't done that, yet.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Awesome Gary, me too! Yeah, flies attack wet compost like no tomorrow...hard to avoid. More browns will dry it up and definitely ward off crazy explosions of flies, but they'll never be gone completely in open-air composts. Its ok, because they also do their part to help break it down! And yes, urine is definitely a booster (nitrogen), but I have too many nosey neighbors for that! LOL!

[@garygreen5670]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms Haha. Me too (I live in China; they watch everything).

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@garygreen5670 LOL! One day I'll just give them a show! Ha ha!

[@jimfulkerson2679]

Just piss in a water can ? They Wii not known the different and pore that on the compost

[@binyaminroscher4516]

If you have a plastic compost bin, you can use an auger attached to a drill to stir up the compost without putting a fork or shovel through your plastic walls.

[@rhondamoffit6490]

THANK YOU FOR SHARING!!!!!

[@BrentwoodBarberShop]

Hey thanks so much for explaining the mechanics of the process of composting. That really helps people understand the why and the how. Another great video.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks for watching buddy! Its a really sort of the engine of the great gardening cycle....I'd hate for it to not be working properly if there's an easy fix! Happy Sunday man!

[@hansdeferrante3808]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms Mo

[@hansdeferrante3808]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms Mo

[@pkbrown58]

Nice job. I like your enthusiasm about this topic. Thanks!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks Mr. B, appreciate that!

[@karynschneider3474]

I've been binge-watching your videos for a few weeks now. I feel so lucky to have found you! Thank you for taking the time to put out such great and practical material! I'm wondering if you'd consider doing a video showing us how to build and use a compost bin like yours? I have one of those barrel composters that I spin every week or so---it's so flippin' heavy! I like the idea of yours---and although I could probably figure out how to make it, I am uncertain how to use it---it looks deep. When you take the boards off to access your material, doesn't the in-process material in the other bins fall out? How are you able to aerate thoroughly when it's deep? Sorry if I sound ignorant---I am! Ha! Signed, Newbie

[@jtcowboy5518]

Thanks for another helpful video!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey, thanks JT. Appreciate the support! Enjoy the Sunday!

[@reneenewfrock5743]

I whirl everything up in the blender before I add it to the compost pile. It's beautiful, black gold.

[@user-db3yv5xg1p]

Great video. Thanks.

[@spawn1086]

Great advice, Thank you!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey Joe, thanks man, Cheers!

[@kerrymain2235]

Fantastic video. Thankyou. Your compost looks fantastic. Dark rich looking. Mine still has many weeds roots. Doesn't seem much micro activity. Occasional worm. I added grass clippings in additional usual food waste today. And resisted watering it. Let's see. Mine is 1m x 1m and 60cm deep.

[@rougejudex3866]

he he thanks very very good for compost I from maurutuis Indian ocean

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers Rouge, thanks for watching! :-)

[@banglabagan6722]

Thank you very much for sharing nice video Thanks again

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers Bangla, thanks for watching!

[@amefulaprogress7848]

yes

[@7Risen7Phoenix7]

I've been working in the produce department of an east-coast grocery store for nine months and have supplied countless boxes of produce scraps and boxes I've cut up for my dad's compost. A coworker even recently said that my dad must have tons of enormous vegetables with everything I've given him.

[@OCDishChick]

Great tips!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey thanks! Glad you liked. Have a great Sunday!

[@friend07050]

I dehydrate my kitchen goods and then blend them to put together

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Very very cool. So you make a powder? Do you use it as a fertilizer?

[@friend07050]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms yes I do mix it with the regular potting soil

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@friend07050 Perfect theresa! I bet that would be a great powder to add to the medium to grow microgreens as well! Amazing!

[@huckfinn9225]

Good video. Compost On.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks! :-)

[@JamalHossain]

I filled 2 litre bottle of my urine and pour it into my compost pile. I do find it breaking down the compost quicker.

[@mazzatrue5400]

Hi. I really appreciate and enjoy your videos. I'm going to join your Facebook page right now.🙂

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Right on Mazz, great to have you!! :-)

[@shorty8256]

I don't think I am good at composting, tried this past summer, it was a soupy disaster after we got torrential rains, I may need to place it in another area and start again....I really enjoy your videos...gives me hope and ideas thank you for taking the time to teach...I appreciate it! All the best from crazy NY!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Yeah, the weather can make it tough, no question! If you know that kind of weather is coming, you can also cover the pile with a tarp.

[@tomevans4402]

Small garden here, looking for a small scale composting system. So far I’ve cut the plants up and spread them on top of my garden.

[@hotsweetlady20011]

HEY BUDDY HOPE UU HAD GREAT THANKSGIVIVG I DID

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks Debbie....I did..a month ago! I'm in Canada. :-)

[@junipergreene2467]

Thank you for another amazing video! The planter next to the house around 1 min - how do you handle the water runoff from concrete? Thank you for so many great tips! Your little helpers are so cute. And always your positive energy and encouragement! Abundant blessings!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey thanks so much!!! As for runoff.....my motto is, if the water is pouring out the bottom in a planter of that size....then you are watering too much. :-) Having said that, its just sitting beside an open air sidewalk that gets fully rained and snowed on. Excess water gets poured on the area every season, so no worries there. :-) Cheers!

[@junipergreene2467]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms Wise words! Love your mottos :) Thank you very much!

[@lynleedoar1235]

I have been running cardboard through our crosscut paper shredder, and it makes very small pieces that compost quickly. I have a small barrel compost bin that makes aeration easier.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Right on Lynlee, very smart! :-)

[@magdacosti]

never had a real garden, but now live in Maui, nice place to start. I have had some success and failures, but willing to listen for growing faster strawberries and bell peppers as they are not doing well. But my long life spinach is booming as my chard as well. I welcome comments

[@ambercrombie789]

Has anyone tried asking their local supermarket for "rotten veg"? How did it work out?

[@randallmarsh446]

Stump remover works wonders for me..

[@suzihomeandgardeninnewyorkcity]

Love your videos! I'm loving to compost ! I have just tried a new way of blending the food! Have you tried yet? Does it works?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey Suzi! You mean in a blender? I haven't tried that yet....don't have a blender big enough, ha ha!

[@lunatick1969]

I went ahead and set the bell on. I hope wakes me up. See you in the morning.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Ha ha how late do you get to sleep in??. Luckkky!!

[@lunatick1969]

Good thing we don't have daylight savings here in Arizona. I get to sleep in for an hour. 💤

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@lunatick1969 Perfect, ha ha!

[@Savage3OO6]

Always add mushrooms to your compost. I walk around my yard and pluck every mushroom I can (other than the occasional morel, which ends up on my plate) and toss it in the bin. The entire job of a mushroom is to eat dead organic material, so dump it and all of its spores where its got a buffet.

[@simonchristian160]

that can be dangerous depending on the spores from the mushroom

[@Savage3OO6]

@@simonchristian160 They are all mushrooms from my own property. So if the spores are growing near my garden, I'm pretty sure they've already found a way into the garden. In other words, I'm not spreading anything that isn't already there. I agree that I shouldn't take a vacation and bring home random fungus from a faraway land.

[@OakKnobFarm]

Great tips Jeff! Now I just need a tip on where to find more inputs :)

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Ha ha ha, definitely! Although we are filled to the brim, being a guy that runs as many chickens as you do Dave, I bet your kitchen scraps are a rarity at your place!

[@OakKnobFarm]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms that's right: Most of our food scraps, and even a fair amount of the garden waste goes to the chickens! Which is great because I get a lot of manure.... but it leaves me short on ingredients for the compost pile. Likewise i use grass clippings as a mulch, rather than toss it in the compost :) I'm always short on inputs LOL

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@OakKnobFarm ha ha, but in your case Dave, it's a good thing!

[@OakKnobFarm]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms yup! I just make smaller quantities of higher potency stuff :) Not enough to do it all.. so I buy a bit of cow manure from a neighbor

[@theloosemonkeybackyardgard506]

I put eggshells in the blender and sprinkle on the compost pile, also if my pile is heavy on the brown stuff I sprinkle some organic blood meal to boost the nitrogen content.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Nice! Eggcelent solutions! ;-) I know.....groan..... LOL

[@melvina628]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms Are eggshells and blood meal considered animal products?

[@saltlifegull4091]

AWESOME! Question - I get a ton of eggs. Can I use them whole in the compost pile? My biggest problem is quack grass have filled up my raised beds and cardboard is doing nothing. I'm ready to get roundup!! Advice? Thanks so much.

[@georgeheard5089]

What can i put in a compost heap do i put plants or just old food

[@Nutricup]

If we have a back yard than instead of putting it in closed container you can put it in open environment that allows you to expose it to insect worms that will also help in faster decomposition..

[@sudhac1384]

Thanks for the great tips on composting! What do think of a composting tumbler? I am considering buying one.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey, thanks Sudha! Tumblers are GREAT. If I lived in an apartment or if I wasn't able to have a large segmented compost bin, I'd be running a couple of tumblers for sure!

[@sudhac1384]

Thanks!!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@sudhac1384 Let us know if you get one. Winter is when they go on sale, so could be a good time to snag one on the cheap!

[@sudhac1384]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms OK definitely!!😊

[@Savage3OO6]

I use a tumbler and it's great. In the heart of summer I can turn kitchen scraps, carboard boxes and lawn clippings into completed compost in 3 weeks. When I used a compost bin, it took a year to get partially completed compost.

[@skinnyWHITEgoyim]

If you wanna get a compost pile cooking just add some chicken manure. But be careful because it's really high in nitrogen and a little goes a long way.

[@Savage3OO6]

I agree completely with using chicken manure, but I use it a little differently. I wait for my seedlings to get a little height, then I mulch with a layer of straw, then add chicken manure on top the straw, but make sure to keep it at least 6" away from stems. Then make sure to add a second layer of straw over the chicken manure, because it will burn any plant leaves that touch it. The brown straw and green chicken manure will compost naturally throughout the growing season and feed the plants continuously. Plus the straw is a great mulch to prevent weeds. Your garden will thank you!

[@califordamax]

Could you create a video on how to create mulch?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

That's a great idea Marie... I really need to do that!

[@Donna_G]

Black soldier fly larva are really super composters and they do it pretty fast; but, I think you might have to live in the South for this to be successful. I have used composting worms in the past; but, when my compost bin with the worms in it was put out in the pod back in January, the worms did not survive. I have been stirring the material in the bin and adding water if it becomes too dry. It is a slow process.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

They really do Donna. They just don't survive up here. Too cold. So worms it is!

[@victoriajohnson5304]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks Victoria!

[@rachelstark2391]

Greetings, Somewhere I heard to use baking soda? Scratching my head... Cheers, Rachel

[@carlosmora567]

The (bioshock hub) guy looks like your twin in this video

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Sweet!

[@jessicaestrada239]

Amazing tips. Been trying to figure out how to do this in my apartment but I feel like it attracts bugs in doors... any advice??

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey Jessica, for sure you can do this indoors. Bugs aren't really an issue unless they are introduced. Fruit flies can be attracted to it in the warmer months, but just keep a lid on and layer in your browns (cardboard, paper) on top of fresh veggie scraps to keep the green stuff from being exposed. You can also take it further and do a worm composter that would really compost faster and not let bugs get established, but that's a bit of a different setup. Very effective though! :-)

[@jessicaestrada239]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms wow!! This info is so great. Okay I’ll def start working on something to hold the compost. Thank you !!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@jessicaestrada239 Definitely Jessica! When doing it indoors, keep it on the dry side to eliminate smell and chances of bugs.....so just go higher on the browns.

[@melvina628]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms Is it possible to compost inside the refrigerator in glass jars to avoid bugs? I don't need a large amount of compost.

[@upnable]

Bokashi composting if you dont have a yard to do a compost pile

[@badpenny7918]

I have been looking for a machine to help cut down my plants, branches and I ther compost contributions for years! What are you using? I've used my lawn mower and its bag, but that is tedious and I keep thinking there is something better but the DIY stores don't know what in talking about.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Definitely in the same boat as you! Lawnmower for spent crops, leaves, and other dry-ish sources. Wood chipper for branches that the mower can't handle. And then by hand for the wet stuff like kitchen waste and food scraps. There HAS to be a better way!

[@badpenny7918]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms I was soooo hoping you had info for a "better way" to chop it all up. I thought I saw you using a smaller red machine on your video (just past about 3 minutes or so?). I'll continue the search. I was glad to learn that adding already composted material will help with the process, as I just relocated my bin, emptied it out, fed the gardens, and then started over from scratch. This weekend I will add some compost to the new material. Let the fun begin!

[@anniesgardens6994]

How often should you turn compost

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

I basically only do mine once a year

[@wandasanders2003]

My second attempt was a oozing mess that got maggots and i quit and freaked out. Now ive read to add browns. I need compost badly because I have sandy soil thst compacts.. A tiller wont get deep because it gets so hard. Im trying again. I have to remember browns. Cardboard air.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

You got this... Not too wet, lots of air, always a work-in-progress!

[@wandasanders2003]

@TheRipeTomatoFarms my first compost pile was on the ground and it attracted moles that tore up the yard. My second was a 500 gallon bucket- that's the one with maggots. Should I do buckets or piles since I need so much soil- compost..

[@Mr2BonClay]

I want someone to look at me the way you look at that compost

[@kirin7409]

Welp I just repotted some of my plants on some fairly fresh compost covered with enough soil, but I'm sure the mosquitoes will come

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Let's hope not!

[@myrustygarden]

Omg who is up at 7 😂😂😂 ok fine I will need lots of coffee. See you in the morning ✌️

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Ha ha ah ha, right? Although, not everyone is on the west coast! :-)

[@viceroybear6298]

Up at 4 every day,goats ranch work etc

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@viceroybear6298 the chores wait for no one!

[@viceroybear6298]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms you got that right, thanks for the comment back.

[@cathyplantlover2862]

adding worms to it. If you don't have any.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

For sure Cathy! Worms are unmatched!

[@gopalakrishnnagooty5203]

Jaggery and old Curd

[@lezleyd55]

You leave it open right ? don't cover it up?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

I definitely leave mine open air. :-)

[@borealranger9763]

An addendum to Tip #5: Healthy human urine is one of the top underrated compost ingredients, especially if your compost is already a bit dry. It’s high in nitrogen as well as important trace elements and is totally safe and free. Easier if you’re in a rural area where the neighbours won’t see you pissing in a bucket.

[@da-gc]

So compost is garbage ? I'm confused lol

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

One man's garbage is another man's... :-)

[@da-gc]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms true. But I wudnt no how to do this process even looking at the video its like.....is their another way to make compost

[@radwangalgai5338]

you lost some weight recently!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Ha ha not enough Radwan.....but this is the year, lol! ;)