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Vicki Olson Thanks so much, Vicki - great idea, and I really do appreciate you watching and showing your support for our channel in this way - it helps so much! I am so glad you are learning AND enjoying the videos!
Thats really a great idea! I'll be trying that out, most of the time i skip the add if i can. I find them really annoying and the sound is usually really loud. But i didn't put thought to the fact that its the ads what help keep these fine video's coming. And off course the good people who make them!!
You have a new follower! I have learned more from you in 20 minutes than I have EVER learned about composting! Thank you so much for sharing and teaching!
I am not sure if I ever mentioned it to you before. The very first compost pile I made, I noticed it was getting very hot. I measured the temp with a thermometer and it was 145 degrees. So I put 3 raw eggs still in the shell in double zip lock bags and then wrapped in heavy foil. I put this all deep in the pile at night and the next morning my wife and I had hard cooked eggs for breakfast. I have not done that since. It was just a fun thing to try. I try to find companies that create sawdust to add to my compost. It helps it break down faster. To anyone out there that wants to try this, it needs to be sawdust from non-treated wood.
CinemaSasquatch That is a great story! This would be fun to try - maybe on my next pile if I can build it little larger. good idea about the sawdust too! Thx for watching and for sharing this bit of fun and info!
CaliKim29 Garden & Home DIY Our pile was large. It was 3' in diameter by almost 4' tall which gave us lots of mass to maintain the heat. I used 2 x 4 galvanized wire mesh fence which came in a four foot wide roll. It looks just like what I saw in one of your videos, that you had used to make tomato cages. For what I did with the eggs, I don't think it would have worked in a small pile.
Kim, I would have never known it was so hot if you hadn't said so. You don't even appear to be breaking a sweat. I would pass out working that hard in 95 degree heat. The compost is looking good!
OneYardRevolution ha, ha! We usually try to film when its cooler, but we were determined to get this video in the can! And we were both sweating, not to mention the camera overheating too. Thanks for watching!
Great video and it has reenergized me to start composting once again. BTW: A little tip with leaves. Instead of raking, I mow them with the bagger on and combine with my grass clippings. Probably less exercise, but a heck of a lot faster than raking..
I think it is smelly because you have too high of a green ratio. It's stinky because it is anaerobic. You need my dry brown material and it won't smell. Straw or dry leaves work great.
I know this is an old video, but it is new to me. Thank you! My goal for this year is to learn how to make good compost and compost tea. I have learned valuable info from your videos.you make it simple.
Ok I've been thinking about and collecting kitchen waste and weeds and leaves and grass clippings for only three days now and have accumulated more than I thought. My confidence level was not as high as I would have liked it to be to do this, but you girl...your videos just brought me around and I am so excited to start my compost bin. It looks like good fun hard work but I like the work out as an extra benefit. I am not leaving your site. :-)
+Dana Qatato Dana, this comment is TOTALLY awesome. You have to keep me posted, ok? And yes...the work out is good. : ) Thank you, thank you, thank you! Have you visited the website yet, calikimgardenandhome.com and received the free growth guide? Look forward to hearing your progress, girl!
Great info , maybe this will be one of the things we do correctly as complete rookie gardeners......thanks PS we always have leaky garden hoses too , so I always have a 5 gallon bucket handy to throw the hose into between uses and usually end up with several gallons of water I can use instead of it getting wasted ; )
I've been composting like this in a small space for quite awhile. What this shows, and I hope people pick up on, is that you don't need a big compost pile like many of the videos on youtube show. This can be done in a pretty small space.
Jim S Way to go, Jim - thanks for the feedback. Many people do not have tons of space and can't collect the materials needed for a huge pile. It might not get as hot as a large pile, but it does the job I need it to do. So many ways to garden, right?
Can I do this with a Rubbermaid tote with drilled holes? Will this attract rodents? I am beyond fearful and I'm having visions of turning the pile and a mouse/mole popping out. I'm in the suburbs of Southern NJ, but my property backs up to wetlands and woods. All kinds of wildlife in there. We have a lot of leaves, grass and produce scraps, so I figured I'd give it a try. Should it be away from the house? I'm afraid if it's too far, I will neglect it, but I can place on the fringe of our uncleared section of property?
Very helpful. Do I have to cover the compost pile? Had about 3 or 4 days of rain making it look too wet. Was away on vacation so it was not turned for over a week. Is that going to be a problem?I shovel a layer of dirt on top of layers and have no idea if this is good to do. How can I get a beautiful woman to shovel and turn the compost every couple days? Seriously, I'm thinking of going to Home Depot to ask for saw dust. But, some of their wood might be treated with chemicals. I went to a Wawa store and got a couple bags of coffee grounds. Free. Somebody suggested pouring some urine on compost because it is high in Nitrogen. Buried some corn husks and silks. Husks look like they might resist composting. Crushed a bunch of egg shells but heard that it could mess up the pH. How can I test the pH and what is optimal level. Do flowers and tomatoes like the same kind of soil?
Hey great videos! Quick question: if you put your compost bin behind the garden on the grass, will the grass compost along with it or will I get weeds & grass growing in my compost? Should it have a bottom?
Could i add composting worms to the pile? isn't it too hot for them to survive? if so, when would the compost pile be ready so i could add the worms (Red Wigglers).
My kids got me a compost container, do I have to turn it every 3 days? I'm thinking it said all I have to do is add my clippings etc. I did add straw to the bottom, dirt then my food etc. I like the idea of grass clippings
Glad I found this. Mine is just on the ground in the garden and I do not maintain it correctly. Grass and leaves are my main browns. I really wish I could get you to come and do mine. Haha.
Hi, I am looking to start composting but all I will have is grass as my garden is limited. Do I not need to add greens and browns? Also what do you do to keep pests away such as mice and rats?
From everything I have read and watched if your compost pile smells bad you are using to much green and need to add more brown. I have a huge pile I have been working on all summer and it never has a bad smell.
Grass clippings almost always will start to smell. Once the pile no longer gets hot will usually mean it is nearly finished and if you leave the pile alone the worms will come back into the pile and finish it.
One thing I do in my compost pile is I stand a 4 ft. long piece of perforated pvc drain pipe vertical in the center of my bin. Then I pile my layers around it. the pvc let's air circulate into the center of the pile and I can also add water in the pipe and it will leach into the pile. It seems to speed the process up for me.
i hate gardening but after stumbling onto this vid im going to start composting and stuff , well ill do whatever calikim is doing cos she only has to look at the compost and it will heat up just like me
I turn mine with a tiller, which mixes and aerates it. The tiller pulls it apart and then I use a shovel to put it together again. I use a compost thermometer to test temperature. I get great compost, but not in the same time she gets.
Awesome video. Quite informative and definitely motiving. I believe I shall try my hand, once again, at composting. I see what I did wrong the first time around. I did not turn it over and as a result, the pile simply dried up.
Just started following you, actually went TO Instagram from here, Lol. Really enjoy your videos, lot of great tips and keeps me motivated to work in my yard and garden. Thanks!
Kim. Why do you always call the camera guy.... "The camera guy"... And not........ " my husband". Seems slightly degrading to me...just saying..... Sorry not all comments are positive! That's the business your in with you tube! However, I'm a huge fan! Keep up the absolute great work!
TheSunnyMunnyLife that's just his handle, what he's know by on YT and not meant to be degrading at all. Thx for watching and being a fan! Appreciate the support!
Awesome, Robert, let me know how it goes. And make sure to check out the rest of my composting playlist, I have some more recent videos: ua-cam.com/play/PLH4z_9MDD00KOft0U-sWf4RUapJg65z80.html. Thanks for watching!
I have made several batches and the trick is not to get it to wet. It gets stinky if you have to much water. If it is just right it smells like a horse barn :)
Really enjoyed your instructional video... and it's also great to see a beauty doing composting. I currently live on a acre lot in Helotes, TX., and every year, we have tons of oak leaves to gather-up. I've had a passive compost pile in the past, but within the last 4-months, I've created a new compost pile that gets a lot of sun, and have been doctoring it on and off. Today (6-16-15), I went to turn it over, and I couldn't believe the heat that was coming from the bottom (and I almost burnt my hand putting in that area). I'm following some of your tips (watering it in layers and covering it with a tarp). However, I'm also trying something different... At the very bottom, I laid on the bottom... a 4" perforated pipe the length of the pile, with the hopes of giving some air to the bottom... I'll let you know how this worked out... And perhaps, I can send you some photos of my compost pile.
Alex Avila Hi Alex - so glad you enjoyed the video - composting is so amazing! One of life's little miracles! I'd be interested to see how your idea works, makes sense to me! Post a photo over on my G+ Community, First Garden! Here is a link: plus.google.com/b/100903954516785778204/communities/101328601929720742658. I'd love to take a look! Thx for watching!
Kim, nice update, keep it up. Here in Nor Cal we have no lawns because of the drought, So I gave away my mower(s), I never knew on how much time I spent behind the mower until I no longer had 3 lawns to mow. And the $$ savings on the water bill are awesome. :) Sorry to see the gopher cam got nicked..
Joe Bucci Hello Joe - I have heard it is really bad there with lots of water restrictions. At least you are saving $$ and time! The Go Pro made a recovery, just knocked it down with the pitchfork. Thx for watching and commenting !
I've been composting for years. I let it work naturally as you do but I only flip it monthly. All Kitchen Scraps go in there. I also include cooked egg shells. Cooking them kills any chance of Salmonella. If the shells are raw then I microwave them before they go into my kitchen bucket. We compost a lot of coffee grounds and my worms are extremely lively. I don't like my piles to heat up as much as yours because I like to go fishing and Hot piles deter worms. It takes a lot longer to finish but it's just as good.
Ken Blanchard Hi Ken - sound like you got it down just how you like it! that's the great thing about gardening - so many ways to do the same job depending on your preferences and needs! Way to go!
Hello! I said about a week ago that mine didnt work, you told me to tell you what I did for mine! Here is what I remember form trying to make it. I was adding probably about every other - every 3 days. Watering every once and a while it was raining season so it wasn't often I watered. I had a box like the plastic bins with the seal tops (the kind you use in college or backing :) ) I added everything you said to add. Turned once a week. at times it did get dry. But I dont remember it every getting warm when I put my hand over it. It did stick once or twice but I got it back to a normal/non-stinky smell. I believe thats about it. Id like to try again. What do you suggest?
+Kim Smith Hello Kim, sorry yours didn't heat up! Sounds like you built it just right! It does need to be pretty tall to get hot, I don't think the plastic bins have enough mass to generate much heat. Is it possible where you live to build it in a pile on the ground? I do check mine every day to make sure it is not getting too hot to self combust. There have been times when it is so hot, I have to open up the pile to cool it down. Hope this helps!
I've been using a worm bin to compost my kitchen scraps for 3 years now. I adopted 4 chickens this spring and started a compost heap for their manure and pine bedding. I've also added yard waste from pruning bushes. If I want to add grass does it have to be untreated grass? We used a "weed and feed" fertilizer over a year ago. I've done really well with my organic vegetable garden and would hate to taint it by using compost that had fertilized grass in it. Thoughts?
Carrie Council Way to go on the worm bin - still working on that one! I'm thinking about chickens as well - I bet their manure is amazing for the garden! As far as grass clippings go - if you used weed n feed over a year ago and not since, it should be fine. My thoughts are that this weed n feed is long gone from your grass. I just use epsom salts on my grass, greens it right up, then its fine to use for compost. Doesn't get rid of the weeds in the lawn, though., but to me it is worth it to be able to use the grass clippings! Thx so much for watching!
I am just starting to learn about composting. Before I knew anything I put veggie and fruit scraps in a container and saw them later with maggots in them. Total gross out. Then I read mention of putting in paper so I added some shredded paper to it and put container with maggots in a gallon size plastic bag. I set them out away from the house and yesterday I found something had opened them up and spread over an area of the lawn. I am hoping those maggots go down into the ground and die. Now I have found your videos and I am really enjoying them. I had started plants in containers on my porch, but they really need to be planted in a garden. Some started getting ugly I guess with powdery mildew so I have read on that. So much to learn. All this because I want to have good healthy pick and eat veggies. I am interested in what will happen with the composting when we get minus 20-25 days in the winter. Thanks again.
Martha C Hi Martha - gardening is a learning adventure - I'm always learning something new. Literally every day that I am in the garden! I haven't composted in freezing temps like you will be doing - I think folks just pile it up, it breaks down over the winter time and is ready to add to your spring garden. But it is so much fun to eat what you grow - I get that! Just finished off a huge plate of roasted veggies for lunch, all from the garden! It has spoiled us on going out (unless they have farm fresh food) or buying produce from the grocery store. It all just tastes so bland! So glad you are enjoying the videos - I really hope they are helping you to grow more of your own food! I just did a video on powdery mildew control - did you catch it? If not, here's a link: ua-cam.com/video/4LOHItzP28w/v-deo.html. Keep me posted on your garden and thx for watching!
Hi Kim, my question is in regards to the water you add while layering new compost. Would there be an advantage or disadvantage to using compost tea, as opposed to regular water during this process? What are your thoughts? Jarrod
13bigcrimson Hello, Jerrod! IMO, it isn't necessary to add compost tea to a compost pile. Compost tea is used to fertilize plants, and your compost pile doesn't need the nutrients. Water will do the job just fine! Thx for watching!
You may not want to attempt a method I use but I will tell you what I do, I usually get a pile of material maybe 4 to 10 times the size of yours made of grass, weeds, oranges and small branches, water it down once a week for maybe two months, the main purpose of the water to me is to sprout and kill all the grass and weed seeds that got into the mix, then after about two months of wetting I always need an ample amount of wood chips spread over the pile to shred the wet cuttings with my lawn mower and you hopefully end up with a finely shredded material, its tricky using a mower to shred because you gotta becarefull not to overload the mower with moist material unless it has ample dry wood chips to assist.
I just cut down a bunch of holly bushes and they've been drying out in my lawn. Can I cut them up and use those? Would the wood take a while to break down?
+Bexy Ribeiro You should probably shred them with a wood chipper to compost them faster, but unshredded they will compost completely in about a year if they stay wet and are mixed with other smaller stuff. Don't compost evergreen branches or needles due to the acidity, but I believe holly mixed with grass clippings and/or other greens should be ok.
I stay in Cape Town South Africa. weather here very similar to Southern California. Can see your love for gardening and sharing your knowlegde.. It's admirable.
This is just great... Here in Kenya where we won't have a lot of grass clippings, I'll try it with any of our hydroponic barley that's become moldy and can't be used for livestock feed. Super video series! Thanks!
I have a large composter and found it a bit of a B.S. ! But I like this simple approach to composting and reusing all my scraps for a fast and effective compost! I'm new but will be watching more! Thanks Again!!
+Ditta de Boer I like to use shredded leaves too as I showed in this video: ua-cam.com/video/y2lyI4JDPwQ/v-deo.html. You can also use shredded cardboard or paper bags. Large quantities of coffee grounds also help heat up your pile - sometimes coffee shops will give them away for free. Thanks for watching!
Hey, Greeting i really in the search of making compost video i never fine so nice and easy process that you show.one thing i am worry about that could i use rotten fruits they can release smell around
+Faheem Khan Hello Fahemm, glad you find my video easy to follow - I like to keep things simple! Don't worry bout the fruits being rotten, that is part of the decomposition process. If your bin smells, it is probably too wet, just add some more grass clippings, leaves, or even shredded cardboard to absorb the moisture. Here is a recent video I made on how to make an easy hot compost pile: ua-cam.com/video/y2lyI4JDPwQ/v-deo.html, and a super easy DIY compost bin: ua-cam.com/video/KR6R-Ue4qcQ/v-deo.html. Keep me posted on your composting adventure and thanks so much for watching!
Thank you for this video on how to create compost from grass clippings because I have all these ingredients except for the food waste but I will have enough in the next couple of days now that I have a bucket in the kitchen for food waste. I thought composting would be too hard but these two videos explain it in a way that makes it so simple. I will be starting my compost tomorrow - I really enjoy your videos as they provide wonderful advice. Sonny from New Zealand - started gardening 4 weeks ago and completely addicted now.
I have some food scraps that I had in my compost area and they got rained on. It now smells like it's rotting. Can this be saved and still use as compost?
mira a yes, it can. Just add some more leaves, or grass clippings, or shredded cardboard or newspaperto help dry them out and get the compost process going again. Good luck!
have been meaning to for AGES- I've basically known how but most say you must chop things up small - now I know I can pretty much use things as I have them and cut with a spade a bit. I'm in the Caribbean so I suspect heat will not be an issue for me. Sharing with work colleagues also as we just did a Greening workshop
Dumb question, but what do you do with the compost when it's ready? If you compost year round and already have plants growing, did you just keep adding compost to those plants?
I just came across this video and hoped I could get a question answered, my wife and I tried composting some years ago and would love to again to make our garden thrive but the first time it drew skunks into our fenced in back yard (couldn't pin point their entry location) which then sprayed our two dogs. Is there a way to remedy this and somehow deter the skunks? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
Awesome, Linda! Keep me updated on how it all turns out. What are you growing or planning to grow in your garden this season? Thanks for stopping by to say hello!
I don't have a lot of space for a real compost pile, but for the last several years I've had a lot of success with plastic garbage cans. I first drill a bunch of holes (5/8" or 3/4") along the sides and 5 or 6 in the bottom. I then dump the makin's in, and turn the can upside down somewhere in my garden. As I accumulate food scraps, coffee grounds, etc., I put them in a grocery bag and freeze them. When I fill up a bag , I take it out and put it on the can to thaw. When that's done, I pull up the can and flip it over. I dig into the bottom of the pile and dump a foot or so of it into the can. I take what was on top of the pile, plus whatever I'm adding to it and make a pile small enough for the trash can to fit over it. I then flip the can back over and I'm done until I full up another grocery bag. It sounds more complicated than it is. I actually spend less time doing it than it took to write the last paragraph. Over the years, I've changed the soil in my garden from the North Carolina red clay I started with to something you might see in Illinois or Iowa.
hi glad you're enjoying your gardening, just wanted to mention that's a garden fork, not a pitch fork. a pitch fork has round tynes and a longer handle, and usually found in a stable, I'm an old barn hand and every time I heard pitch fork I'm thinking where, lol thanks for the vid good information.
I feel like I don't have enough brown - I don't really get leaves in my yard here in Alabama - suggestions? Also - I have sprayed my lawn with weed killer - how long until I can use the clippings?
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Thanks for watching!
Thank you for this video.
I thought it was a lot more difficult to compost .I will get started on my pile today
Here is a tip for you viewers...if during the short ad you scroll down and hit the 'like' button, by the time you get back up to the video, the ad is almost over and you have helped in two ways, by letting the ad play all the way through, and hitting the 'like' button. Its the least we can do to help pay for all of the hard work done in making these informative videos that we all enjoy and learn from.
Vicki Olson Thanks so much, Vicki - great idea, and I really do appreciate you watching and showing your support for our channel in this way - it helps so much! I am so glad you are learning AND enjoying the videos!
Vicki Olson i
Thats really a great idea! I'll be trying that out, most of the time i skip the add if i can. I find them really annoying and the sound is usually really loud. But i didn't put thought to the fact that its the ads what help keep these fine video's coming. And off course the good people who make them!!
You have a new follower! I have learned more from you in 20 minutes than I have EVER learned about composting! Thank you so much for sharing and teaching!
I am not sure if I ever mentioned it to you before. The very first compost pile I made, I noticed it was getting very hot. I measured the temp with a thermometer and it was 145 degrees. So I put 3 raw eggs still in the shell in double zip lock bags and then wrapped in heavy foil. I put this all deep in the pile at night and the next morning my wife and I had hard cooked eggs for breakfast. I have not done that since. It was just a fun thing to try.
I try to find companies that create sawdust to add to my compost. It helps it break down faster. To anyone out there that wants to try this, it needs to be sawdust from non-treated wood.
CinemaSasquatch That is a great story! This would be fun to try - maybe on my next pile if I can build it little larger. good idea about the sawdust too! Thx for watching and for sharing this bit of fun and info!
CaliKim29 Garden & Home DIY Our pile was large. It was 3' in diameter by almost 4' tall which gave us lots of mass to maintain the heat. I used 2 x 4 galvanized wire mesh fence which came in a four foot wide roll. It looks just like what I saw in one of your videos, that you had used to make tomato cages. For what I did with the eggs, I don't think it would have worked in a small pile.
CinemaSasquatch Maybe someday I"ll collect enough to have a pile that large! This would be a fun experiment to try.
There have been many hay barns burn down because the grass was bailed to green,then put in the barn. So yes it can catch on fire.
Kim, I would have never known it was so hot if you hadn't said so. You don't even appear to be breaking a sweat. I would pass out working that hard in 95 degree heat. The compost is looking good!
OneYardRevolution ha, ha! We usually try to film when its cooler, but we were determined to get this video in the can! And we were both sweating, not to mention the camera overheating too. Thanks for watching!
Great video and it has reenergized me to start composting once again. BTW: A little tip with leaves. Instead of raking, I mow them with the bagger on and combine with my grass clippings. Probably less exercise, but a heck of a lot faster than raking..
I think it is smelly because you have too high of a green ratio. It's stinky because it is anaerobic. You need my dry brown material and it won't smell. Straw or dry leaves work great.
Add some calcium
you a beautiful gardener
after making the compost box what do i put in it first to start off.nevermind then.
Old newspapers cardboard eggboxes,and eggshells ground to a powder in a blender will add to the richness of the compost..
Thank you for sharing this video. I wonder, do you use 100% compost for planting? ☺️
Wow...
Im im love
.. a pretty woman who.loves gardening.... Lord find me a woman like that!!!
Awesome videos . . . thank you!
I know this is an old video, but it is new to me. Thank you! My goal for this year is to learn how to make good compost and compost tea. I have learned valuable info from your videos.you make it simple.
That's amazing how much it broke down in just 3 days! My compost pile takes forever to break down. But, then again, I don't water it very often.
Ok I've been thinking about and collecting kitchen waste and weeds and leaves and grass clippings for only three days now and have accumulated more than I thought. My confidence level was not as high as I would have liked it to be to do this, but you girl...your videos just brought me around and I am so excited to start my compost bin. It looks like good fun hard work but I like the work out as an extra benefit. I am not leaving your site. :-)
+Dana Qatato Dana, this comment is TOTALLY awesome. You have to keep me posted, ok? And yes...the work out is good. : ) Thank you, thank you, thank you! Have you visited the website yet, calikimgardenandhome.com and received the free growth guide? Look forward to hearing your progress, girl!
Dana Qatato I
CaliKim29 Garden & Home DIY Seen that one as well. Watched all of them already :)
Great info , maybe this will be one of the things we do correctly as complete rookie gardeners......thanks PS we always have leaky garden hoses too , so I always have a 5 gallon bucket handy to throw the hose into between uses and usually end up with several gallons of water I can use instead of it getting wasted ; )
I promised myself I would work harder on composing this year..... n your videos have really motivated me.
I've been composting like this in a small space for quite awhile. What this shows, and I hope people pick up on, is that you don't need a big compost pile like many of the videos on youtube show. This can be done in a pretty small space.
Jim S Way to go, Jim - thanks for the feedback. Many people do not have tons of space and can't collect the materials needed for a huge pile. It might not get as hot as a large pile, but it does the job I need it to do. So many ways to garden, right?
Thank you for taking the time to make these videos. They are super helpful especially on days when it is raining here and I can't go outside.
never seen a California girl or even heard of one using a pitch fork? nice
Can I do this with a Rubbermaid tote with drilled holes? Will this attract rodents? I am beyond fearful and I'm having visions of turning the pile and a mouse/mole popping out. I'm in the suburbs of Southern NJ, but my property backs up to wetlands and woods. All kinds of wildlife in there. We have a lot of leaves, grass and produce scraps, so I figured I'd give it a try. Should it be away from the house? I'm afraid if it's too far, I will neglect it, but I can place on the fringe of our uncleared section of property?
Very helpful. Do I have to cover the compost pile? Had about 3 or 4 days of rain making it look too wet. Was away on vacation so it was not turned for over a week. Is that going to be a problem?I shovel a layer of dirt on top of layers and have no idea if this is good to do. How can I get a beautiful woman to shovel and turn the compost every couple days? Seriously, I'm thinking of going to Home Depot to ask for saw dust. But, some of their wood might be treated with chemicals. I went to a Wawa store and got a couple bags of coffee grounds. Free. Somebody suggested pouring some urine on compost because it is high in Nitrogen. Buried some corn husks and silks. Husks look like they might resist composting. Crushed a bunch of egg shells but heard that it could mess up the pH. How can I test the pH and what is optimal level. Do flowers and tomatoes like the same kind of soil?
Hey great videos! Quick question: if you put your compost bin behind the garden on the grass, will the grass compost along with it or will I get weeds & grass growing in my compost? Should it have a bottom?
we need a better camera angle Cali we can't really see how you're supposed to shake off the compost off of the pichfork
Could i add composting worms to the pile? isn't it too hot for them to survive? if so, when would the compost pile be ready so i could add the worms (Red Wigglers).
Have you tried composting with Red wigglers? You have to try it! It will reduce the amount of garbage you throw out in the landfills!
Very informative! I’m going to start my own compost set up. BTW, you have gorgeous legs!
We've always bought compost from the store and have had terrible issues with weeds. Will this compost reduce the weed problem?
My kids got me a compost container, do I have to turn it every 3 days? I'm thinking it said all I have to do is add my clippings etc. I did add straw to the bottom, dirt then my food etc. I like the idea of grass clippings
Awesome update Kim thank you for sharing have a blessed day
Linda Penney You are welcome, Linda! Thx so much for stopping by!
Glad I found this. Mine is just on the ground in the garden and I do not maintain it correctly. Grass and leaves are my main browns. I really wish I could get you to come and do mine. Haha.
You sure know how to make composting hot Kim, thanks!
Hi, I am looking to start composting but all I will have is grass as my garden is limited. Do I not need to add greens and browns? Also what do you do to keep pests away such as mice and rats?
I'm surprised you're ok with plant based compost smelling bad, its not supposed to?!
From everything I have read and watched if your compost pile smells bad you are using to much green and need to add more brown. I have a huge pile I have been working on all summer and it never has a bad smell.
Grass clippings almost always will start to smell. Once the pile no longer gets hot will usually mean it is nearly finished and if you leave the pile alone the worms will come back into the pile and finish it.
One thing I do in my compost pile is I stand a 4 ft. long piece of perforated pvc drain pipe vertical in the center of my bin. Then I pile my layers around it. the pvc let's air circulate into the center of the pile and I can also add water in the pipe and it will leach into the pile. It seems to speed the process up for me.
get a couple chickens - you'll have better eggs than you get from the store, plus chicken poop makes for great compost
i hate gardening but after stumbling onto this vid im going to start composting and stuff , well ill do whatever calikim is doing cos she only has to look at the compost and it will heat up just like me
When making compost do you not have any problem with mice or rodents.
I turn mine with a tiller, which mixes and aerates it. The tiller pulls it apart and then I use a shovel to put it together again. I use a compost thermometer to test temperature. I get great compost, but not in the same time she gets.
Great video but where I live I would be afraid of termites so close to my house that I see in your support boards
If there are weeds in the grass clippings will you have weeds in the garden?
Good video..Thumbs up!
Would love to get started, but I don't have any starter compost. What can i use?
Awesome video.
Quite informative and definitely motiving. I believe I shall try my hand, once again, at composting.
I see what I did wrong the first time around. I did not turn it over and as a result, the pile simply dried up.
Perfect - now you'll know exactly what to to, Pat! Let me know how it turns out the second time around - thanks for watching!
Cool, im gona try this. would it be a bad idea to include eggshells in the scraps?
James Bradshaw Hi James, this is a fabulous idea, when I have extra, I always include eggshells as well! Thx for watching!
Just never add treated woods, paper with inks and waxes, meats, fish or oils.
Hello do you not have problems with mice and rodents
Just started following you, actually went TO Instagram from here, Lol. Really enjoy your videos, lot of great tips and keeps me motivated to work in my yard and garden. Thanks!
Clay Sutherland awesome Clay! Great to have you- keep at it, you'll be glad you did. Camera Guy
So do you keep adding to the pile or do you wait for that pile to get done and then start another batch?
great video/ very informative for a rookie.
New to your channel and love all the videos. TY John
At 1:11 those are really nice shoes to be using in the compost pile. Just saying. :)
You can always count on Joe for shoe commentary. ;-)
Kim.
Why do you always call the camera guy.... "The camera guy"... And not........
" my husband".
Seems slightly degrading to me...just saying.....
Sorry not all comments are positive! That's the business your in with you tube!
However, I'm a huge fan! Keep up the absolute great work!
TheSunnyMunnyLife that's just his handle, what he's know by on YT and not meant to be degrading at all. Thx for watching and being a fan! Appreciate the support!
Thanks for the info Cali. This was a good little series you have on composting. I think I will ditch my tumbler and will try it your way.
Awesome, Robert, let me know how it goes. And make sure to check out the rest of my composting playlist, I have some more recent videos: ua-cam.com/play/PLH4z_9MDD00KOft0U-sWf4RUapJg65z80.html. Thanks for watching!
I have made several batches and the trick is not to get it to wet. It gets stinky if you have to much water. If it is just right it smells like a horse barn :)
***** Thanks for the tip, Wes!
CaliKim, does the compost needs to be set in a shaded area?
Really enjoyed your instructional video... and it's also great to see a beauty doing composting. I currently live on a acre lot in Helotes, TX., and every year, we have tons of oak leaves to gather-up. I've had a passive compost pile in the past, but within the last 4-months, I've created a new compost pile that gets a lot of sun, and have been doctoring it on and off.
Today (6-16-15), I went to turn it over, and I couldn't believe the heat that was coming from the bottom (and I almost burnt my hand putting in that area).
I'm following some of your tips (watering it in layers and covering it with a tarp).
However, I'm also trying something different... At the very bottom, I laid on the bottom... a 4" perforated pipe the length of the pile, with the hopes of giving some air to the bottom... I'll let you know how this worked out... And perhaps, I can send you some photos of my compost pile.
Alex Avila Hi Alex - so glad you enjoyed the video - composting is so amazing! One of life's little miracles! I'd be interested to see how your idea works, makes sense to me! Post a photo over on my G+ Community, First Garden! Here is a link: plus.google.com/b/100903954516785778204/communities/101328601929720742658. I'd love to take a look! Thx for watching!
Kim, nice update, keep it up.
Here in Nor Cal we have no lawns because of the drought, So I gave away my mower(s), I never knew on how much time I spent behind the mower until I no longer had 3 lawns to mow. And the $$ savings on the water bill are awesome. :)
Sorry to see the gopher cam got nicked..
Joe Bucci Hello Joe - I have heard it is really bad there with lots of water restrictions. At least you are saving $$ and time! The Go Pro made a recovery, just knocked it down with the pitchfork. Thx for watching and commenting !
Thanks a lot for the video...
Rini. Anil you are welcome - thx for watching!
I have sticks in mine, do you take them out?
I've been composting for years. I let it work naturally as you do but I only flip it monthly. All Kitchen Scraps go in there. I also include cooked egg shells. Cooking them kills any chance of Salmonella. If the shells are raw then I microwave them before they go into my kitchen bucket. We compost a lot of coffee grounds and my worms are extremely lively. I don't like my piles to heat up as much as yours because I like to go fishing and Hot piles deter worms. It takes a lot longer to finish but it's just as good.
Ken Blanchard Hi Ken - sound like you got it down just how you like it! that's the great thing about gardening - so many ways to do the same job depending on your preferences and needs! Way to go!
Hello!
I said about a week ago that mine didnt work, you told me to tell you what I did for mine!
Here is what I remember form trying to make it. I was adding probably about every other - every 3 days. Watering every once and a while it was raining season so it wasn't often I watered. I had a box like the plastic bins with the seal tops (the kind you use in college or backing :) ) I added everything you said to add. Turned once a week. at times it did get dry. But I dont remember it every getting warm when I put my hand over it. It did stick once or twice but I got it back to a normal/non-stinky smell. I believe thats about it. Id like to try again. What do you suggest?
+Kim Smith Hello Kim, sorry yours didn't heat up! Sounds like you built it just right! It does need to be pretty tall to get hot, I don't think the plastic bins have enough mass to generate much heat. Is it possible where you live to build it in a pile on the ground? I do check mine every day to make sure it is not getting too hot to self combust. There have been times when it is so hot, I have to open up the pile to cool it down. Hope this helps!
I've been using a worm bin to compost my kitchen scraps for 3 years now. I adopted 4 chickens this spring and started a compost heap for their manure and pine bedding. I've also added yard waste from pruning bushes. If I want to add grass does it have to be untreated grass? We used a "weed and feed" fertilizer over a year ago. I've done really well with my organic vegetable garden and would hate to taint it by using compost that had fertilized grass in it. Thoughts?
Carrie Council Way to go on the worm bin - still working on that one! I'm thinking about chickens as well - I bet their manure is amazing for the garden! As far as grass clippings go - if you used weed n feed over a year ago and not since, it should be fine. My thoughts are that this weed n feed is long gone from your grass. I just use epsom salts on my grass, greens it right up, then its fine to use for compost. Doesn't get rid of the weeds in the lawn, though., but to me it is worth it to be able to use the grass clippings! Thx so much for watching!
knows her stuff and very petty too
I am just starting to learn about composting. Before I knew anything I put veggie and fruit scraps in a container and saw them later with maggots in them. Total gross out. Then I read mention of putting in paper so I added some shredded paper to it and put container with maggots in a gallon size plastic bag. I set them out away from the house and yesterday I found something had opened them up and spread over an area of the lawn. I am hoping those maggots go down into the ground and die. Now I have found your videos and I am really enjoying them. I had started plants in containers on my porch, but they really need to be planted in a garden. Some started getting ugly I guess with powdery mildew so I have read on that. So much to learn. All this because I want to have good healthy pick and eat veggies. I am interested in what will happen with the composting when we get minus 20-25 days in the winter. Thanks again.
Martha C Hi Martha - gardening is a learning adventure - I'm always learning something new. Literally every day that I am in the garden! I haven't composted in freezing temps like you will be doing - I think folks just pile it up, it breaks down over the winter time and is ready to add to your spring garden. But it is so much fun to eat what you grow - I get that! Just finished off a huge plate of roasted veggies for lunch, all from the garden! It has spoiled us on going out (unless they have farm fresh food) or buying produce from the grocery store. It all just tastes so bland! So glad you are enjoying the videos - I really hope they are helping you to grow more of your own food! I just did a video on powdery mildew control - did you catch it? If not, here's a link: ua-cam.com/video/4LOHItzP28w/v-deo.html. Keep me posted on your garden and thx for watching!
Mine is cooking! !! It's in a bin but same materials. Works so well thanks!
Potato Strong awesome! It does cook quickly with the right size and mix of materials! It will compost very quickly with this method. Thx for watching!
I am trying to learn about composting and this looks like a good recipe but not next to my house.
Hi Kim, my question is in regards to the water you add while layering new compost. Would there be an advantage or disadvantage to using compost tea, as opposed to regular water during this process? What are your thoughts? Jarrod
13bigcrimson Hello, Jerrod! IMO, it isn't necessary to add compost tea to a compost pile. Compost tea is used to fertilize plants, and your compost pile doesn't need the nutrients. Water will do the job just fine! Thx for watching!
You may not want to attempt a method I use but I will tell you what I do, I usually get a pile of material maybe 4 to 10 times the size of yours made of grass, weeds, oranges and small branches, water it down once a week for maybe two months, the main purpose of the water to me is to sprout and kill all the grass and weed seeds that got into the mix, then after about two months of wetting I always need an ample amount of wood chips spread over the pile to shred the wet cuttings with my lawn mower and you hopefully end up with a finely shredded material, its tricky using a mower to shred because you gotta becarefull not to overload the mower with moist material unless it has ample dry wood chips to assist.
Fishe Kiss Wish I had the space to do your method! Sounds like it works great and would provide plenty of compost for the garden. I never have enough!
I just cut down a bunch of holly bushes and they've been drying out in my lawn. Can I cut them up and use those? Would the wood take a while to break down?
+Bexy Ribeiro You should probably shred them with a wood chipper to compost them faster, but unshredded they will compost completely in about a year if they stay wet and are mixed with other smaller stuff. Don't compost evergreen branches or needles due to the acidity, but I believe holly mixed with grass clippings and/or other greens should be ok.
I stay in Cape Town South Africa. weather here very similar to Southern California. Can see your love for gardening and sharing your knowlegde.. It's admirable.
I'd love to gorw a garden now haha
This is just great... Here in Kenya where we won't have a lot of grass clippings, I'll try it with any of our hydroponic barley that's become moldy and can't be used for livestock feed. Super video series! Thanks!
I like your information. If you get a chance look at composting on L2Survive Back to Eden.... I think you will be surprised about how he compost.
I have a large composter and found it a bit of a B.S. ! But I like this simple approach to composting and reusing all my scraps for a fast and effective compost! I'm new but will be watching more! Thanks Again!!
what if you don't have Grass clippings but need compost gaat?
+Ditta de Boer I like to use shredded leaves too as I showed in this video: ua-cam.com/video/y2lyI4JDPwQ/v-deo.html. You can also use shredded cardboard or paper bags. Large quantities of coffee grounds also help heat up your pile - sometimes coffee shops will give them away for free. Thanks for watching!
Hey, Greeting i really in the search of making compost video i never fine so nice and easy process that you show.one thing i am worry about that could i use rotten fruits they can release smell around
+Faheem Khan Hello Fahemm, glad you find my video easy to follow - I like to keep things simple! Don't worry bout the fruits being rotten, that is part of the decomposition process. If your bin smells, it is probably too wet, just add some more grass clippings, leaves, or even shredded cardboard to absorb the moisture. Here is a recent video I made on how to make an easy hot compost pile: ua-cam.com/video/y2lyI4JDPwQ/v-deo.html, and a super easy DIY compost bin: ua-cam.com/video/KR6R-Ue4qcQ/v-deo.html. Keep me posted on your composting adventure and thanks so much for watching!
great vids...informative and very well done !!....easy on the eyes too....BONUS !! ;0)
How big is your garden ?
Thank you for this video on how to create compost from grass clippings because I have all these ingredients except for the food waste but I will have enough in the next couple of days now that I have a bucket in the kitchen for food waste. I thought composting would be too hard but these two videos explain it in a way that makes it so simple. I will be starting my compost tomorrow - I really enjoy your videos as they provide wonderful advice. Sonny from New Zealand - started gardening 4 weeks ago and completely addicted now.
I have some food scraps that I had in my compost area and they got rained on. It now smells like it's rotting. Can this be saved and still use as compost?
mira a yes, it can. Just add some more leaves, or grass clippings, or shredded cardboard or newspaperto help dry them out and get the compost process going again. Good luck!
have been meaning to for AGES- I've basically known how but most say you must chop things up small - now I know I can pretty much use things as I have them and cut with a spade a bit. I'm in the Caribbean so I suspect heat will not be an issue for me. Sharing with work colleagues also as we just did a Greening workshop
great video thank you
Dumb question, but what do you do with the compost when it's ready? If you compost year round and already have plants growing, did you just keep adding compost to those plants?
Excellent tutorial! Question how do you keep rat's and ants away?
You have great videos.
Hi.....just thought I'd say hello. I'm Simon from the UK. love your videos x
I'm gonna start composting!!! Thanks for the instructional video!!
thanks. already started collecting kitchen waist .. going for compost same way after watching your video...
I am in!
Took a community class in Fall and I ready to go. Reviewed my class notes but your videos helped. Nice to visualize
Thx
I just came across this video and hoped I could get a question answered, my wife and I tried composting some years ago and would love to again to make our garden thrive but the first time it drew skunks into our fenced in back yard (couldn't pin point their entry location) which then sprayed our two dogs. Is there a way to remedy this and somehow deter the skunks? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
I'm convinced that this channel is actually Kristen Wiig's new webseries about how to make dirt. And I'm okay with that.
saw ur composting video ,,have now started my own..many thx n z
Awesome, Linda! Keep me updated on how it all turns out. What are you growing or planning to grow in your garden this season? Thanks for stopping by to say hello!
I don't have a lot of space for a real compost pile, but for the last several years I've had a lot of success with plastic garbage cans. I first drill a bunch of holes (5/8" or 3/4") along the sides and 5 or 6 in the bottom. I then dump the makin's in, and turn the can upside down somewhere in my garden. As I accumulate food scraps, coffee grounds, etc., I put them in a grocery bag and freeze them. When I fill up a bag , I take it out and put it on the can to thaw. When that's done, I pull up the can and flip it over. I dig into the bottom of the pile and dump a foot or so of it into the can. I take what was on top of the pile, plus whatever I'm adding to it and make a pile small enough for the trash can to fit over it. I then flip the can back over and I'm done until I full up another grocery bag.
It sounds more complicated than it is. I actually spend less time doing it than it took to write the last paragraph. Over the years, I've changed the soil in my garden from the North Carolina red clay I started with to something you might see in Illinois or Iowa.
Nice way to make mulch..... thanks im trying too with the help of ur video... keep it more videos following u
hi glad you're enjoying your gardening, just wanted to mention that's a garden fork, not a pitch fork. a pitch fork has round tynes and a longer handle, and usually found in a stable, I'm an old barn hand and every time I heard pitch fork I'm thinking where, lol thanks for the vid good information.
I feel like I don't have enough brown - I don't really get leaves in my yard here in Alabama - suggestions? Also - I have sprayed my lawn with weed killer - how long until I can use the clippings?
I quit composting because I did not think I had enough materials. Thank you for proving otherwise,
that's the way I do mine