How to make compost
This how-to video by the nonprofit group Kitchen Gardeners International (KitchenGardeners.org ) shows you step-by-step instructions for successful organic composting.
25 Responses to How to make compost
Leave a Reply
This how-to video by the nonprofit group Kitchen Gardeners International (KitchenGardeners.org ) shows you step-by-step instructions for successful organic composting.
Composting babies is bad!
crispyglove
April 14, 2011 at 9:23 pm
@kayleeShoe There isn’t one definitive recipe for compost and different proportions can work. The ones included in the video are those proposed by Rodale (and other authorities) for a hot compost pile. It’s true that there’s a lot of nitrogen in 3 parts green to 1 part brown, but nitrogen is the “match” that sets a hot pile on fire.
kitchengardeners
April 14, 2011 at 10:03 pm
@mklempner Hi. This audio problem wasn’t in the the source file and only started to appear after the video had been viewed 200,000 times so I can’t understand what happened. I’ve got a request in with the YouTube support people and hope they can correct it on their end.
kitchengardeners
April 14, 2011 at 10:46 pm
GET THAT BABY OUT OF THOSE MICROORGANIZIMS! LMAO!
MrDriftnismo
April 14, 2011 at 11:43 pm
@kayleeShoe i agree , the ratio do appear wrong, the ratio we use is 4-3-2, thats 4 parts carbon to three parts green material, to one part high nitrogen. Bio-vital composting with paul taylor for the latest in composting techniques, go to trustinnature channel.
trustinnature
April 15, 2011 at 12:29 am
yep composting is definitely an intelligent choice
wisesakura
April 15, 2011 at 1:27 am
Teach me how to make SuperCompost lol
MyrAge219
April 15, 2011 at 2:09 am
So we don’t add babies to the compost? @2:08 Hahaha J/k, but I laughed when I saw this.
MrMatt027
April 15, 2011 at 2:19 am
@kayleeShoe i agree the ratios are all wrong , check out bio-vital composting for better info
trustinnature
April 15, 2011 at 2:22 am
@ObeyBunny Pet hair is fine to compost.. I have a dog with short, stiff hair and I have done it for about 5 years and it seems to aerate the pile really well. Also i bet all the gunk that is in dog hair just adds nutrients and bacteria to the pile. Most pet hair is water repellent so adds draining to your plants too.
And slugs hate it because it sticks to them. Which it amusing to watch.
Also the birds come take it for nests and crap all over the pile, giving me more free nutrients 🙂
DreamsCatcher101
April 15, 2011 at 2:28 am
@DreamsCatcher101
Asking if one of my neighbors would be willing to give me their rabbet’s pellets is actually a pretty ingenious way of getting manure for the compost. I wish I had considered that considered right from the start. But wouldn’t fur be non-decomposable like the rest of animal it comes from?
ObeyBunny
April 15, 2011 at 2:37 am
@ObeyBunny Just make sure you put all our kitchen waste in the compost pile.
Egg shells, all vegetable peelings, teabags, anything that was once alive apart from meat and fats should keep it full of nutrients. And dig a load of live worms up and put them in too. And fallen leaves.
Pet hair is another good thing to throw in.
Also, ask around to see if a neighbour has a rabbit and ask if you can clean it out and keep the straw and droppings. Of if you have kids get them to do it. 🙂
DreamsCatcher101
April 15, 2011 at 3:06 am
You didn’t mention much about placing it. Should it be shaded as much as possible?
MikaelLAOhman
April 15, 2011 at 3:31 am
very helpful. thanks for charing.
bourouatia
April 15, 2011 at 3:51 am
I’m going to be composting for the first time in a few days and I’m afraid that the plants I’m going to use for composting are nutrient poor. (low in nitrogen, calcium, and iron, and whatnot)
I was wondering if I could take vitamin capsules from my medicine drawer, crush them up, and put them in my developing compost.
Would that be a good idea or bafflingly bad one?
Thank you.
ObeyBunny
April 15, 2011 at 4:41 am
Babies, no. Small children have less fat content and will work better.
maylolik
April 15, 2011 at 5:35 am
lol is it ok that my compost is 140 ????
nutritionalLaser
April 15, 2011 at 6:23 am
@SALFARFAN yeah.. no babies bc babies=fats and protiens… a composting no no..
dragonracer76
April 15, 2011 at 7:05 am
can you compost dandelions?
bummpin
April 15, 2011 at 7:48 am
@SALFARFAN ohh thats how i messed up
vanhalenman60
April 15, 2011 at 8:20 am
dont use pine needles they give off a chemical that kills plants around it
vanhalenman60
April 15, 2011 at 8:37 am
@ObeyBunny well im not sure about fish bones its just the animal meat and fat. Ive used dog doodoo. i havent seen a difference YET. and that is a smart idea to do with fish.
ng31200
April 15, 2011 at 8:58 am
@ng31200
Oh well… I’ll just have to find another way of recycling fish bones and spoiled meat.
In the 2 days since I posted my question, I’ve started thinking about building an Aquaponic farm (which combines hydroponics and fish farming.) If I ever have to deal with spoiled meat, I can use it to attract maggots and beetles which I can feed to my fish.
(I still have no clue what to do with fish bones though…)
ObeyBunny
April 15, 2011 at 9:29 am
@ObeyBunny Meat cannot be composted. Thats because animal fat cannot be composted. It will take years for it to break down like plastic and glass.
ng31200
April 15, 2011 at 9:47 am
Would adding dog doo-doo be a detriment to a compost in it’s earliest stages? Does it introduce harmful bacteria or highly concentrated toxins into the mulch or would the poo be broken down without a problem?
I apologize for asking such a dumb question, but I just started investigating composting 30 minutes ago.
Also, can things like fish bones and spoiled meat be broken down in a compost (and be usable material for plants)?
ObeyBunny
April 15, 2011 at 10:34 am