Adding soil is not a strict requirement, so don't feel like you need to buy something like potting mix just to add it to compost! Composting proceeds just fine without it, but it can add texture to the finished product. It is a good way to incorporate used or neglected soil like shown in the video. Water your bin only when needed. Wet/green food waste adds a lot of moisture to the process, and you don't want it sopping wet. water if it's looking dried out, just like a houseplant!
This is a great guide! I’ve been taking my food scraps to a drop off that goes to a community garden, but I want to try it out on my own! This made it seem much less daunting! 😊
I love composting too. I am part of a good Facebook group called Keep Calm and Make Compost. There’s plenty of beginners on there who ask questions and experts who answer them. The group is the main reason I’ve been so successful with my compost!
Me and my partner have a worm farm that does exactly this for us. Love it - we get rid of our waste in a productive way, and also get great quality food for our plants
This is great because I'm transferring my garden to a box garden for fall instead of the containers I used before (plastic bins) and I was really trying to figure out what I could with them so I wouldn't have to throw them away. They already have holes in the bottom and everything! I tried to start a compost bin in a 5 gallon bucket before but didn't keep up with it and now it's full of ants 😅. Going to try to do a lot better this time lol. Going to use more browns too. I only used sticks last time.
Thank you for this guide; it was just what I needed as motivation to actually get started with my own composting. I have a question though: how long does the composting take if you do not use worms? And do you need a tray under the bin in case it leaks? :)
Hi Kathryn! I'm not sure if you'll see this, but one question I have about the DIY method is whether regular plastic bins will be critter-proof? I've been wanting to start composting for ages (and have been piling up food scraps in my freezer for longer than I care to admit), but I keep hesitating purchase a bin every time I see reviews that say rodents were able to get into it. Totally freaks me out!
I know she mentioned keeping a container (i.e. reuse a small plastic bin) and freeze their food scraps and then transfer that when it’s full. But I think you can still just put stuff in it daily! It’s typically just easier to transfer an amount like once a week instead of daily.
you can add materials to this kind of bin whenever you'd like! just keep balance in mind, so if you add some pepper and tomato scraps for instance, make sure to add something like a ripped up egg carton or some shredded leaves too
Do the compost bins need to be in the sunshine at all? I have a screened in back porch that stays a nice temp, but gets no sunlight due to the roof. And when can I “harvest” the compost? Will I just move aside the fresher discarded food composting on top and get the soil from the bottom, and then re-level the compost bin and keep on trucking? Sorry if these are dumb and obvious questions - a total compost newbie here 🙈☺️
Nice info, but I wouldn't put and leave food scraps on the top. They can smell and attract bugs. I would bury them. Save food scraps in the freezer. About once a week, mix up the compost and bury any large, unbroken down pieces with the past week's frozen scraps. This also brings oxygen to the heap to aid in decomposition.
I have a question-I live in the country and we have a small fire that and we use paper products as fire starter. I cooould just throw food scraps in the field around and behind my house. Is there a big difference between letting something decay naturally or composting?? Thanks!
Depends on the method you're using for compost. But if you're doing a bin method, make sure there's more browns than greens! This should help with smell.
You can definitely compost pet hair! Organic matter can be a variety of things but most greens are fine to add! Like leaves, limp kale, wilted spinach, etc.
I have a huge yard...so I dig up a hole+ leaves+ dirt....walahhhh. Literally I dig up a hole twice a week. When I make it back to hole#1, everything has been dissolved and I have rich soil. Leaves: only if available.
As a method to waste reduction this is spot on. But as a quality compost to grow plants this method is not a viable option. Well it may grow weeds nicely.
How is the smell with this type of compost? With winter coming I am thinking about doing this in my basement. But my husband is really worried about smell. I try to assure him that if there is enough browns it won't smell. But I have never actually tried it, so im not actually positive lol
Can the stupid add's paper (the one with tons of colored ink) be used as well? Also, what about cardboard that has like pizza grease on it? Thank you !
glossy paper isn't compostable, sadly, and lots of non-glossy colored ink is still petroleum based. Depends on the printing company really! Greasy pizza boxes would depend on the type of composting you are doing, whether it would attract any pests, etc.
If I rimember correctly, she says it doesn't because the smell (from garbage cans) is because the organic material can't decompose properly. In a compost bin it can so the smell should be minimal
It will smell earthy, not stinky! And, you'll only really smell it when you're tossing it around with the lid open. if it does 'stink' you probably have too much moisture and need to add more paper and water it lless.
If i add my regular garden soil to the compost... I do notice that i will have worms... And they'll multiply during the process.... But i dont want them.... What should i do in order to avoid worms?
Great explanation of making a compost bin, I’ve been wondering about that. Just curious, what happened to the worms? I’ve read they don’t like certain produce.
I don’t know if you posted a video like this on Tiktok but I started a bin late May. I never got worms but today I decided to get them on heatwave because my composting isn’t going anywhere. I wish I knew about the temperature part because it’s 1am and my worms are sitting in 90 degree heat 😔
