[00:00] (soft music)
[00:39] - Hello, and a very warm welcome back to the garden. but for me, I try and keep things as simple as possible. that are also effective, then you'll enjoy this video
[00:55] that explains the lazy, no-nonsense way of composting that we've been using for around 15 years. Well put simply, it is the breakdown of organic material
[01:08] into this beautiful rich humus that contains organic matter, The great thing about lazy composting that you need to follow in order for it to be effective.
[01:22] that the sides are at least a meter (3.3ft) long. is when you have smaller ones like this, especially the dalek ones, that tall narrow ones,
[01:36] which means it's not as likely to warm up. from bigger compost bins help promote the decomposition
[01:48] that help break down that organic matter. to add into a compost bin. These are high in nitrogen, and tend to have
[02:04] The next, your brown materials. a lower moisture content.
[02:23] of green and brown ingredients to add to your compost bin And just quickly, I just wanna draw your attention you can use them absolutely.
[02:39] not thick layers in your compost bin because these can make a sludgy, smelly mess. apply them in fairly thin layers of around an inch
[02:53] or two and a half, three centimeters, and it should be fine. Now usually when you're just starting off making compost, that are recommended to follow.
[03:06] And I usually go for the two parts brown to one part green. But with lazy composting, we don't worry about that at all. We just simply whatever is available,
[03:18] on the compost bin. as I'm cleaning up the garden, and we just put it on as and when.
[03:32] If you have some veg scraps, the odd bag of used coffee grounds from your local cafe, There was really no need to worry about ratios,
[03:46] as long as you follow one key rule. That one rule for lazy gardening is simply that you have to add diversity into your compost bin.
[03:59] It doesn't work if you just add two or three ingredients and materials on that list as possible. you're gonna get a lot of green materials, but that's fine,
[04:15] use whatever you have in your house, newspaper, You just want to add loads in smaller quantities And the reason why is because by using diversity,
[04:31] you gonna have that natural or gonna be a lot more as well as the nutrients are going to be available or three different ingredients,
[04:46] you might be lacking some micronutrients. of diversity when adding to your compost bin, in terms of greens and browns anyway,
[05:01] For over 15 years, we've just been applying that principle in a kind of little and often manner, It is that simple to do lazy compost.
[05:17] there's one more thing that I like to do. And that is to jump on it, or even just step on it,
[05:32] And the reason why is you can suddenly fit in it will help heat up a little bit more.
[05:45] the last thing that I like to do, is to put a covering over it. from a building project,
[05:58] but we usually use things like cardboard and newspaper. It helps to shed some of the rainfall it can sometimes get a little oversaturated in there.
[06:13] And If you've just built a bin during dry whether do add some watering cans full of water over that just to put a little covering over the top.
[06:30] Well, the compromise of being lazy is that it often takes which can take a month or two months. Now it sounds like a long time,
[06:45] And when you have a little look, it should look almost like soil, really nice and rich, Now, you may have some kind of sticks left over,
[06:59] Now, for me, the ideal way of testing if it really is ready, And if it smells like a vibrant, fresh,
[07:13] that it's ready to use. So I'm gonna now use this compost to help put some of the raised beds to sleep over winter.
[07:30] A very common concern that people have about composting and whether it encourages rats so you get rat issues.
[07:42] serious rat issues with your compost bins and things like dairy and bread. on the ingredient list.
[07:54] for the rats to eat, they're not going to be interested. but the thing is rats are going to be And surely you'd rather them be at the compost bin
[08:08] just try and put your compost bin as far away as possible. and things like bread and dairy, you're gonna be fine.
[08:24] Now something you should try and aim for if you have the space is for around three compost bins.
[08:36] The reason why is one compost bin is going to be ready, and the other compost bin is already full there's always a bin to fill up,
[08:50] And if you wanna find out the best way to use your homemade compost at this time of year, of preparing raised beds for winter.
[09:05] and ethical clothing, So thank you for watching, (soft music)