For a family of 4 you could go for the 3 tier khamba composter but in time you would run out of space . If I was you and had space I would go for the one 3 tier and 1 leave it pot which holds alot . I would shift the half done compost into the big pot there by emptying the smaller pots to add more . If I had to buy just 1 I would go for the big leave it pot you see in the video and harvest once a year . Plus points : 📌The khumba composter pots are solid and last a long time 📌 Aesthetically pleasing Drawbacks : 📌Leave it pot can be harvested once a year when full . 📌3 tier pots involve rotation of pots in older models , in the new model , compost falls through to lower level once done . 📌Lids break in time with usage . 📌 Expensive One can go for big drums with holes drilled around to cut cost . Local potters may have similar pots at lower costs . One can go for water drinking matkas to try out before investing in khumba composter ( I show these in my tea leaf composting videos ).
I'm always amazed what you do in a small space. Not only is it incredible how resourceful you are, but that you have the heart, motivation and drive to push through the obstacles you encounter. The compost is beautiful! And that rain storm...send us some of that! Great job, MBG!
Thanks Kim , I always look forward to your comments and encouragement . You are so right , that motivation and drive is essential to keep composting in such a small space . The month of July really tests my patience , all my pots are full and ready for harvest but I cannot as I have no space to store the ready compost indoors and the gardening season starts only in September . This challenge gave birth to another idea which will be the topic of my next composting video - what I do when I run out of space in all of my composting pots !!! Yes I absolutely love how the compost turns out after a year , so easy , no sifting . Yes I wish we could send you some of that rain :) . God bless and much love !!
From growing your food, beekeeping, to composting, you are the only person I watch that has truly taken gardening from the outside and brought it to the inside😀. You truly are inspiring and I know that just from the questions you recieve. There will always be those that are just coming into gardening and your generosity has provided the stepping stones they need. Blessings to you and your family👍
You are so generous with your compliments , it is always a pleasure to read them and bask in the glory lol !!! Yes literally I have got the outdoors inside . Living in today's world , having a garden , composting , worm bins and bee hives are such a stress buster and a pleasurable activity , my videos aim at inspiring people in apartments to do any of these and lure them into the wonderful world of gardening. Blessings and good wishes to you and your family as well :) . By the way you are the 3rd P C I know - first is our ex finance minister Mr P Chidambaram , 2nd is one of my favourite actors Priyanka Chopra ( Pee Cee) who is in a show Quantico in the US now and then you LOL .
Hats off to you for composting in a relatively small space. I really wish everyone started composting at home, it would be so useful. I LOLd when you said "like a laddu" hahaa. Great videos, keep them coming!
Thanks a whole bunch :):) . LOL compost laddoo , very different from the ones Sreedevi makes in English Vinglish but very rewarding !! On a serious note the garbage and landfill issue is such a huge problem in our country , I feel really proud I did not contribute to that mess since the last 5 years with the kitchen wastes from my family . Your encouragement is a good incentive to create good content , it is just so tough to find that time on a regular basis .
Mumbai Balcony Gardener | Avid Life Observer, im in the states, northern N.Y. its kinda cold here most of the time.. we rarely get long periods of dry hot weather. What do you suggest for me? Also, where can i get those beautiful compost pots
A quick question to both of you my friends, how you are managing to remove odor while composting? Heard Baking soda will remove odor, but will it affect the growth rates of worms and bacteria? Please share me your experiences. I am doing composting in buckets in my balcony.
@@koundinya75 generally during composting in pots which has air wents because of this we cannot have any bad oder.plz avoid plastic buckets and follow the instruction in this video it's a good practical video on this subject.
You are a role model. Wish this video is played on television during prime time to inspire many more. Hats off to you. Composting and gardening are highly relaxing.
Thanks so much , it does take a lot of will power and determination to compost in our small homes , you are right , composting and gardening are big destressers .
Lol the challenges over the years have made me wiser , I try my best with what I have but there is still one thing that gets to me , lack of full sun . However I am still grateful for the space I have available to nurture that gardening bug . Thanks for the appreciation :)
I have been composting for about 4years here in NY I have a very tiny back yard so I started with a dual compost tumbler last year I got expandable bin put it in one end of my garden bed which is about 2 feet wide filled it with leaves and put my scraps durning the winter months by May it was ready I had all the compost I needed for my planting my neighbors was amaze at how much I was able to plant in such a small space and my garden and pots are full of worms I have never seen them so big so thank for showing folks it an be done
Mumbai is so much like NY in so many ways - small apartments and cramped spaces and lots of people , so you understand my space constraints very well . Amazing job on what you are doing at your end . I am hoping more folks take to it in my city and country , it does need passion to sustain this activity.
Greetings from Texas, USA. I wanted to come back and let you know that a few years ago I watched this video and was inspired because you showed the way to compost in a small area, inside, in big pots without turning. I was so excited that I purchased several big terra cotta clay pots (a couple at a time) and made 2 composting towers that I keep just on my front porch. I do not turn them either just add scraps and a scoop of leaves after my scraps. It's working great! I ended up needing to make 2 towers to handle the volume of waste from my home but it's working out well. So the towers consist of 2 very large pots as the bases of my towers and each large pot has 2 smaller pots stacked on top of it. As I fill the upper pot, I then switch it with the empty one below it. When that one is full, then I empty it into the large base pot on the bottom. The large base pot is the finishing pot, sort of like yours that sits all year until September. Then I move over to the second tower and start filling when the first one is full. I recently bought a 3rd large pot to keep nearby to hold my leaves (which I get from a friend who rakes them up and lets me have them). I use the clay pot saucers as lids. Thank you again! Take good care!
Thank you so much for reverting with your success , really happy that you are happy with the method and lazy composting is working very well for you . Best wishes 😊 !!
What an inspiration you are x If you can achieve this much landfill reduction from a home without a garden then everyone has no excuses. Well done and keep up the fantastic work.
You are such a sensational model showing us what can be done with small space with your years of real experience - hats off - at the same time making us guilty every time we think we don't have space haha there is really no excuse. I hope you continue showing the world what you have done 💜
Of course you are the only person inspired... doing compost....I have purchased khamba 3 tier...after one week I was decided to through it away...that time I have not started compost..but the reason is managing insects, maggots...but U told me nicely step by step...now I m very happy to doing compost...I have not faced maggots,insects anything....thank you so much...
vanapalli anu can you Pls advise how to get rid of housefly larvas in compost pile. I add three times of dry leaves over my kitchen scrape, still facing this issue
Kudos to you for composting with such tight space constraints! This is very very inspiring to all of those who are planning to take up composting but are hesitant because of space and foul smell reasons..
I'm glad I came across your videos....it has definitely motivated and inspired me...in turn, I've been able to convince 4 people to start vermi composting and regular compost...So the chain is contagious....
This is a very practical video I was searching for, went through so many videos finally found this. Kudos to you and your efforts. You really inspired me to start composting at home. Thank you.
VERY, VERY inspiring. I have stopped having a compost pile. Instead, I dig my kitchen scraps right into the garden soil, where no plants are growing and away from the roots of the plants. Your growing season has just begun and I look forward to your progress. Thank you for sharing, my friend. Namaste.
Hello Lark , thank you for being a regular viewer of my gardening endeavors !! When I run out of space in the pots I do the same as you , it is soooo very challenging to manage the kitchen scraps at these times , I will be doing another video for that shortly . A warm Namaste to you as well :):)
I'm interested in this method. I seem to remember a neighbor years ago composting using this method. He didn't make a bin or do a lot of digging. All I remember him doing is turning the pile every so often. How do you keep the animals from scratching in it?
Explained very nicely and to the point with actual pictures of your compost. I have started recently, your videos have cleared a lot of my doubts.. Thank you
Truly inspiring dear. i was always feeling guilty that i could not turn the pile at all due to limitations of age. and so i just keep dumping the kitchen waste topping it with dry neem leaves that i get aplenty. now i feel encouraged that patient wait will get me good manure. thanks a lot for sharing such valuable information.
Hiiii !! Lately I have been crazy about composting and I realised that I had seen a very interesting video on lazy composting a year ago . After so much efforts luckily I found it today and to my surprise I came across with such beautiful and informative videos made by you..Just now subscribed. You are my hero. 😍
I love how you've efficiently used your space to make your black gold. There are very few detailed composting videos in an indian context, you've inspired me and my mom to start composting at home. I'm eagerly waiting for your fish waste composting method.
Thank you , so happy I was able to inspire you and your mom , it is a very rewarding experience creating the black gold from scraps . Composting instilled in me a lot of patience too , when I started I wanted the compost to happen in a week , I just could'nt wait for it to be ready and now I am calm and let it happen at it's own pace :) . Yes the fish composting video is in my list of to do videos , I will try my best to put out atleast a video a month .
I know I am so late to this..... but man your soooo inspireing... you are still doing that although you don't have that much of space.....you are great
Superb. Very inspiring. I am a starter and was not sure if I will be successful. I am confident now after watching this video that I will be successful. Thanks for making this video.
awesome and so very inspiring, have been doing compost for years but I have lot of space, you what you are doing is truly appreciated!!!!! more power to you!!!
Thanks so much for the wonderful words of encouragement , it gets tough at times managing in the small space , comments like yours help in those moments !!
I found your video on lazy composting from Cali Kim Home garden you tube videos. I live your balconies gardening DC’d the beautiful vegetables you are growing. You seem to be very knowledgeable about gardening. I enjoyed your video and information. Thank you very much for sharing. Good luck!.
Love ur videos...very clear and motivating, with Do's and don'ts also added in the right way....since a vast number of us live in apartments, it is sure to inspire many...awaiting ur spinach video..ty
Thank you so much !! As soon as the weather permits I will sow spinach seeds , probably mid November . Spinach grows and survives even under snow , so Mumbai weather is not spinach friendly at all , I will grow it and share the video once I harvest .
Thank u very much. I have been wondering about my composting process. I am not able to turn the contents of the compost bin on a daily basis. Now I am actually relieved after watching your video.
I loved the interview you did with CaliKim. It was very encouraging! I am a indoor gardener. There are many challenges but you really make it work. Thank God for your husband's support too! I was telling Kim that's the best "lazy" composting that I've ever seen,. Especially one that yields such amazing results! Thank you for sharing my friend. XOXO
Thanks so much , glad you enjoyed the video Kim and I collaborated on . Yes so many challenges which makes every result all the more rewarding . Could not have done any of this with out my husband's support :) , hope you are having a wonderful gardening season !!
I'm in states we have big back yard and lots of tree in my backyard and front of our home and we fire every year big bunch of leaves in fall weather which is started here now, but I just started to making compost this July .we have lots of warms in my back yard so we r making warmi compost now .I like ur video u work very hard really I'm very expressed, u a lady and u work so hard . Ok now bye and thanks
You are lucky to have so much space for a garden , there is so much you can do , I am sure you must be watching gardening videos from US gardeners . Yes once you collect leaves to compost in the fall , it will attract worms too and your job is made so much more easy . Thank you for appreciating what we try to do in smaller spaces .
You're inspiring. I've been trying really hard to compost. But facing issues of sogginess, turning the compost, space issues, etc. After watching your video, it feels like these are no issues at all
Thanks for the kind words , I struggled alot with space and finally found a way to compost the way it is easy . As long as you maintain the sandwich pattern , there should not be any issue . Good luck 👍😁
Wonderful to see your still growing lots of fresh food here in your small space. You sure have come a long way. I was ill for about two years. So I had to stop producing videos,,I still did a few. Anyway I am back now and will keep on watching your vids. Being a small space gardener I like to see how your garden is performing. It's very unique what you do there. Happy gardening Marty Ware from Australia
Thanks so much Marty , yes it has been an incredible journey these past 5 years, learnt so much and I feel creating these videos is my way of giving back so that people in small spaces like mine can experience the joys of growing food , composting and even having an indoor worm bin. Good to know you are better now , our best wishes to you and Karin :)
And one more thing. Of all the compost videos I have seen your method seems to be practical and feasible. I don't have garden soil. But in our flat lots of dry leaves from garden. Your method doesn't use soil. Some old unbroken compost dry leaves kitchen waste cardboard alternatively added along with some accelerator and water does the job slowly. No need to turn it daily. That's the best part of it👌
Definitely soil should not be added to a compost pot on a regular basis , one can add a handful for the very first time to introduce microbes into the pot and that's it . Yes I am trying to make all my gardening practices simple and easy so that I can continue to do them for a longer time and avoid / delay burnout .
Thank you.so much.I was getting worried as I didn't have enough of brown material ,when you mentioned hay,I immediately realised it was available so easily and I didn't realise it! But now I am all geared up to begin composting all over again.Hay can be found from our fruit vendor .Thanks a million.I too stay in Mumbai
Wonderful Chhaya !!. If you cannot find anything , use torn up brown cardboard . I have composted with just this for an entire year as I had no space to store leaves etc .
Thanks so much , you have no idea how much I envy that yard you have lol . I have to learn to make do with the space efficiently , every season I think I have done my best and surely enough the next season surprises me with more ideas and scope for improvement !!
Thank you so much, you are so inspiring. I have started composting now. I also have a small garden. And your vericomposting is such a great idea for me too. I am going to try and do the same thing as you. I live in Indonesia so the climate here is somewhat unpredictable. I have a north facing garden so I only get sun during mid day and afternoon. Not ideal for growing things I have had to move my plants around to suit their needs. Ones I have them in a spot its hard for me to move them. But I am trying new things everyday and I with your motivation I am determined to make this garden look amazing. Thank you so much and please dont stop posting video’s. You are the best.
Wonderful work. Ur actions inspired me. I was contemplating whether to buy a plastic compost or terracotta or make a diy. My heart says terracotta after watching yours. I did watch many videos but yours inspired me the best. Thank you
I love your balcony window gardens . They are beautiful. You have done a great job. I do vermicomposting too and I love it. I turned my utility room into a worm farm . It is still a work in progress , but isn't that true of life? Keep up the great work and happy gardening.
A worm farm , wow !! They are such lovely creatures , you know the feeling :) Glad you are enjoying the garden endeavours in my tiny spaced garden , thank you so much and good luck with yours .
thank you for making a wonderful video. I wish that if I had found your video earlier I would haves fix some mistakes I made during my first compost batch that I started in feb. After watching some youtube videos which used soil and didn't press on adding browns. So I followed that video & used very less browns as I had only 2 water matkas and 12" two plant pots which were filling crazy fast for 2 people .I sprinkled soil on each green layer . These 2 matka and 2 pots held my kitchen waste from feb to may . Then Lockdown led my compost sitting dry for 2 month without me . now when I checked it in august the matter did decompose ,there are no worms which probably left/died when compost sat dry . There is no foul smell and it all smells like soil. but I am aware that my compost is imbalanced in nature due to lack of brown. It's just decomposed greens with soil in a 80:20 ratio. Do you have any suggestions on what I can do ?
Hi Shraddha don't worry just use this compost for greens or whatever other plants you have and start afresh . Soil is used just once as activator in case one does not have any other starter available . I have no idea how this concept of using soil instead of browns came into practice . It changes the texture and the composition of compost completely . I did a video in hindi on composting recently for beginners where I have simplified the concept even further . Do watch that video too . Glad you found this video helpful 🙏💚
@@mumbaibalconygardenerhobbies Thank you so much for replying yes I will surely watch that video too :) I really appreciate the effort you have made in replying to the comments of people. Congratulations on the wonderful example you have set of composting for so many years now in limited space .It's really encouraging :) Also half of the videos do emphasise on browns but other half speak about browns without much emphasis .Hence beginners get mislead till they read more and eventually learn the importance of carbon sources . But I guess learning is a process so it's ok:)
You are absolutely right , learning from our mistakes are the best lessons learnt , we never forget them . One doesn't need to measure out , but roughly for good compost and a trouble free journey it is 2 parts browns to one part greens . Now it would be fine if occasionally you don't have 2 parts , just keep going and compensate for the browns when you have it . I hope I can keep up with answering questions , especially the genuine ones as it is getting difficult , takes up alot of time . I started the channel to document my journey but now there is an added component - to help and inspire new gardeners 🌱🙏💚.
I'm in Falls Church, Virginia, USA. Summer weather here is so short, I don't know if compost process takes too long, but I'm trying to do the same. I'm impressed with your work, thank you for sharing!
I thought I was using every bit of space, but no one does it better than you! Wow! Those clay pots are amazing! As is your compost. When do you stop adding waste, in order to have it finished on top like that? You know I have a mesh one, outside, bottomless, and I am adding a lot of kitchen waste, some green and occasionally brown. I don't have leaves, other than bamboo leaves, which never seem to break down! Your finished compost looks amazing. I have not been remembering to add water, but not sure I need to...? Great, inspiring video for apartment dwellers and I hope you inspire more people in Mumbai to do this, especially if they are going to stop picking up kitchen waste. Great job! Thumbs up!!
LOL Kaye I always have a good laugh when you call your garden small , small is what I have - practically no space for anything . Yes I love the clay pots too for their ethnic look and functionality , they are perfect for indoor composting . For the big pot , I start adding in September and stop in July , harvesting again in September . The entire pot is ready with the compost texture you saw. I don't get this texture when I harvest from the smaller pots in 4 months time . You probably should add water , especially in your hot months . Glad you enjoyed what I do with my small space , thanks a bunch Kaye !!
Omg lady you are amazing. I have become a big fan🤗🤗🤗its amazing to see how you manage your space. I live in a huge independent house and still feel there is lack of space. Please accept my admiration🙌🙌🙌🙌
Very nice mam 👍👍 You are an inspiration for all humans !! Atleast we can give back something to mother nature .... This kind of practice ca turn Earth to a much more beautiful place 🥰🥰
Inspirational, I too am the one who is not so comfortable about mixing of the composting pile. but do it so as to avoid smell and maggots which come up due to moisture. but your layering with browns tip is good. I wanted to ask one thing though, I had asked for dry leaves from a park and it was loaded with different worms, how to avoid those?? or its okay to have them in composting pile?? All in all ur work at home and online is something to bow to !! it takes lot of dedication to keep doing this year after year and also to make videos to share it with others. sharing your work is an honour
Glad you enjoyed the video Shruti ! Yes there are so many people who do not enjoy the mixing and it is totally fine , hence the video , hoping many more start composting . Once the layering is done , there is no smell even when the compost is breaking down , the smell comes when the greens are left uncovered or there is an excess of greens. The sandwich technique gives the compost the perfect ratio thereby eliminating the foul smell . There is a faint "scent" of something breaking down which I probably enjoy lol ! Yes when one gets leaves collected from the park , there will be bugs and worms etc but that is totally fine except for the slugs and snails. What I do is I wait for a week before I use those leaves , any slugs or snails present come out of the sac looking for food or moisture and I get rid of them . Thanks for appreciating my composting endeavors .
Hii MBG! Highly inspirational video!! I'd planned to make a worm bin 2 years ago when I'm serious about gardening, as time passed,I had shift that idea to later,lol.Anyway,this video will inspire a lot of home gardeners!!Congrats again for surpassing 5k subscribers,I'm feeling proud of being one of them :) Best Wishes,Shalbin.
Finally made my first compost after watching this video today! Please share more about how you compost meat/fish without getting maggot attacks! Thank you!
HI , yes a huge pot , no holes or tray at the bottom . One can't compost with just scraps , one needs to layer and alternate the browns and greens , have explained it in detail in the video :)
Hi MBG, what an inspirational and motivating video♥ the results of your compost are just truly amazing ,i could smell the ready compost from my screen , and hats off to you for always making the most of everything, including your tiny little space for composting ☺
Thanks a whole bunch dear Suzanne , I am so glad you enjoyed the video and I have to thank you for pushing me to make time and work on my videos 💚 . Yes I do keep trying to find ways to increase my space , I think after this time's increase in space for the peppers I don't see scope for more , I hope I prove myself wrong again next year :):)
luckychicavI just came via Calikim's channel. I love your composting pots! How encouraging is this, for those of us that think we have no space. Thank you, very much appreciated! ;)
once again a superb video..and superb explanations.. i really look up to you for doing what you do as i know it needs a lot of resolve to do composting ,this way.
Thanks a bunch dear , yes it does need a LOT of resolve and constant motivation to compost at home , I will be addressing the challenges and how I motivate myself in another video :) .
Thanks ! No soil is not added to kitchen waste at all , it will change the texture of your compost completely , it will be heavy and dense and also lead to compaction. One may sprinkle soil just once in the beginning to introduce microbes to start the composting process , however there are better starters like cow manure or sour butter milk if one does not have compost to add as a starter.
Wow,,, Superb.. I have also started doing so..and want improve how i can not make any garbage or trash.. Just a few questions... What can be done with coconut shell ? I am also not throwing any plastic material that I buy or comes with the product that we buy ... If we can collect it.. where we can give it so that it gets recycle and not going to the land fields of grabage.
Thank you for letting me know that !! Wonderful , vermicomposting is such a great activity , I am sure you will enjoy it . Both types of composting are so different and fun too.
Just wonderful how you show it can be done in the tightest of spaces that many people often ask us about ---especially many from Mumbai! More power to you and hope things are safe for you and your loved ones at this time
Thanks so much for the encouragement , I could do this because of the composters , using a plastic bin or drum was not an option for me for apartment composting 🙏♻️💚. Yes all well , thank you and wish the same at your end .
So good to know you are inspired !! The trust bin composter uses the anearobic method of composting , both methods are totally different . The anaearobic method is in 2 stages , first the pickle is prepared by layering scraps with the powder the company provides and then this pickle is to be mixed with compost to get the final product . I have never used this method as I have no space now . Khamba composting happens in the presence of air and water and microbes which you see here in my video. One deterrent for the trust bin for me is that one needs to keep buying the product from them( though many have a diy product too) and then it needs to be mixed with compost , that means you need to be using both methods or else you would also have to buy the compost to mix in with pickle . Advantage of trust bin could be there is no mixing and no bugs . I do not mix anyways . The daily dump folks will push you to buy the remix powder to layer , it comes with first time kit , I never purchased it again , I use dry leaves and cardboard. I don't see the purpose of "buying " anything except for the pot to do an activity which involves creating free compost from our recycled wastes . Hope I was able to help you .
You will need to be more careful and vigilant with plastic drum , ensure that there are enough browns to soak up greens . Also there should be enough holes for ventilation all around . Terracotta has the advantage that it absorbs all extra liquids so we'll which won't happen with plastic drum . Other than that , no problem , so many use the big blue drums .
I'm really inspired awesome job done in such a small place I just want to do this bt ws thinking how can I do in my small appt after watching this vdo now I'll do my composting work @home
Hi, can I know about springtails(tiny white creatures)if I need to worry about them...in my compost..I am adding kitchen waste as green and cocopeat as brown same quantity..but as it is rainy season..? Can I expect them or can I know the reason?
Hi Kalpana ideally it's 2 parts brown to 1 part kitchen waste , like a sandwich that has 2 slices bread . Your compost may be more moist than needed because of this especially in the rains . Add torn up brown cardboard to absorb moisture . They should reduce in numbers post rains but having them around is not an issue .
Inspiring... I have done composting in the past and due to odour, left it. Some people advise to collect the water that drains out and use for plants. Can we do without draining water? I really don't want to collect and store the drain water. Suggestions please.
Thanks 👍. Smell means one thing - too much kitchen waste , very little dry waste or browns . You need 2 or 3 parts of browns to 1 part of greens . If this balance of browns and greens is maintained there is no water run off , especially with a terracotta pot that is an excellent absorber . If using plastic set up use 3 parts browns to 1 part greens for the perfect compost composition. I don't ever want any leachate from my compost or worm bin since my set up is indoors . I have never had this issue , none of my pots have holes at the bottom . My worm bins do have holes but not once in 9 years have I had any liquid running out . Hope you got the gist .
Thanks , I let them be , I try to keep the wet and dry balance , either ways I fix it and in time the maggots are dead , no point separating them as they are part of the composting process . What I really enjoyed this season were the black soldier fly larvae I found in great numbers in my pots , they are composting machines!!
Ideally milk and milk products are not added to the compost pot , so not really sure on this . I know many people who put even cooked food in the compost and it turns out fine , you could experiment and share your experience!!
Thank you ! For left over food most people use a bokashi based or anerobic composting system where one can add everything unlike the traditional aerobic method where we do not add cooked and oily foods . However I know many people who add everything to same compost heap or pile , to keep it simple and not have to manage 2 different systems and they say it works just fine too . The only risk would be rodents trying to find that cooked food .
There is no drainage hole at the bottom because it is a terracotta pot which absorbs any excess moisture if any , there is no liquid anywhere . Too much liquid means you are adding less browns and alot of kitchen waste . For a plastic drum or bucket which is not porous by nature , you would need drainage holes at bottom. A very thick layer of browns at the bottom is a good idea no matter what type of container is being used .
Absolutely !! No more turning or stirring , separating worms from worm bins ( we did that with such joy for the first 4 months and then I knew I had to find a more efficient method lol ) . Anyways it is so tough to not be able to make a mess while working with the garden as it is all indoors , I am trying to cut out anything that I can , I made compost tea just once and stopped !!!
Hi , not true, composting can be done anywhere , does not have to be shade . People who have open spaces or land or a backyard garden make piles in the open to compost . Yes they do cover it up with black material to protect from rains and also to heat up quicker . My compost pots have lids too .
Dear Mumbai Balcony Gardner, I had another query. I saw in some random video about composting, wherein after harvesting the compost and sieving the compost, whatever was left (the non composted bits) were used as brown waste (layering over the green waste) for the next compost. I have tried this once before, but I felt that it made the compost extremely wet. What are your thoughts on this?
The unfinished bits are usually the not so easy to compost bits - like twigs , coconut shell , egg shell , seeds etc , coconut husk chunks . These are browns no doubt . I would just dump them after the first thick layer of leaves at the start of the new round of composting and not use then for layering . Yes your observation is correct again , since there isn't much absorption capacity in these items , using them to layer doesn't make sense and would lead to some sogginess .
Very useful video.Congrats.When i use a plastic containner invariably the contents get soggy, even when i add dry leaves, cardboard etc.What more is to be done to solve this problem?
Thanks ! I can think of a few things that may help you . One is to have alot of holes for ventilation , have you seen California Gardening's composting video ? He uses a large black tub , however he has made big circular cut outs through out his bin . The other thing is to regulate how much water you are adding to the bin , it will be less than what I add for sure . Also try to sandwich brown green brown every time so that the greens are not in excess and there is always a layer of brown to catch the moisture . If there is waste like watermelon and musk melon peels you can skip the watering for a couple of weeks . When it is not raining , instead of a lid you can use a mesh type cover or muslin cloth so that there is ample ventilation even from the top . You will probably need few drainage holes at the bottom for the leachate to run out into the ground .
@@mumbaibalconygardenerhobbies Hi, Thank you for the swift reply and correcting the word 'invade.' We will mind that. Our observation with the presence of Black Soldier Fly Larvae are: Pros: Very quickly consume/reduce the pile - our 20ltr container can easily accommodate a month's worth of kitchen refuse; good amount of leachate for use in gardening; harmless; and safe. Cons: Very less manure is produced (currently, we are drying it in the Sun); quality is nowhere close to what you showed in this video (@7:27 fine, grainy manure - desirable) - ours is flaky - like chiseled wood chips; also, hand-shredded dry leaves probably were not consumed. We have started a second 20ltr bin - age 24 days and the larvae of BSFs have been observed to be in the bin for 15 days now. We will be very thankful if you can guide us to fix the 'Cons.' (P.S.: We watched the suggested bugs video.) Thank you and stay safe.
I don't know a great deal about flowers , there are too many varieties but I think they all need direct sun to bloom , just light is not enough for most edible plants to grow , it may be enough for ornamental indoor plants . With my 3 to 5 hours sun I have success with very few flowers , the sun is just not enough for the plants to bloom - marigolds do well in my garden.
We don't really have rodent issues here except last year when we had major ground excavations close by for metro work . With pests and birds I have been really lucky ! They are around but dont really bother my garden .
u said well really i have so much land but i started gardening sence last 4 years in garden i have 4 tree of neem 1 sisam 1 jamun 2 mango 5 guava 1 much big tree of gullar etc. but i not active like u bcoz u made so much compost in small place nd im thing i 'll also try to make more compost like u now u r ainpiration to n from my birth place too take care by
Hi Jyothi , I do not use any soil in my potting mix for a few reasons . 1. It is just too heavy ( the soil is 3 times heavier than my soil less potting mix ) and I do not want to add any additional weight to my grills , so I use a soil less potting mix of compost , VC , coconut coir and vermiculite , you can see me mix these in my tomato growing video of last year . 2. It tends to get compacted and needs loosening , it would be impossible for me to do this in my setup and I would not want this additional activity. My potting mix is light , fluffy and well aerated through out the season . I use organic nutrients in my potting mix to keep my plants healthy , details of what I use are also in tomato and chilly growing video.
For a family of 4 you could go for the 3 tier khamba composter but in time you would run out of space .
If I was you and had space I would go for the one 3 tier and 1 leave it pot which holds alot .
I would shift the half done compost into the big pot there by emptying the smaller pots to add more .
If I had to buy just 1 I would go for the big leave it pot you see in the video and harvest once a year .
Plus points :
📌The khumba composter pots are solid and last a long time
📌 Aesthetically pleasing
Drawbacks :
📌Leave it pot can be harvested once a year when full .
📌3 tier pots involve rotation of pots in older models , in the new model , compost falls through to lower level once done .
📌Lids break in time with usage .
📌 Expensive
One can go for big drums with holes drilled around to cut cost .
Local potters may have similar pots at lower costs .
One can go for water drinking matkas to try out before investing in khumba composter ( I show these in my tea leaf composting videos ).
Very inspiring. Thank you for sharing a part of your life with us.
how do you deal with smell? does it smell at all?
No smell if you have enough browns to greens ratio , ideally 3:1 or 2 :1 .
I'm always amazed what you do in a small space. Not only is it incredible how resourceful you are, but that you have the heart, motivation and drive to push through the obstacles you encounter. The compost is beautiful! And that rain storm...send us some of that! Great job, MBG!
Thanks Kim , I always look forward to your comments and encouragement . You are so right , that motivation and drive is essential to keep composting in such a small space . The month of July really tests my patience , all my pots are full and ready for harvest but I cannot as I have no space to store the ready compost indoors and the gardening season starts only in September . This challenge gave birth to another idea which will be the topic of my next composting video - what I do when I run out of space in all of my composting pots !!! Yes I absolutely love how the compost turns out after a year , so easy , no sifting . Yes I wish we could send you some of that rain :) . God bless and much love !!
From growing your food, beekeeping, to composting, you are the only person I watch that has truly taken gardening from the outside and brought it to the inside😀.
You truly are inspiring and I know that just from the questions you recieve. There will always be those that are just coming into gardening and your generosity has provided the stepping stones they need. Blessings to you and your family👍
You are so generous with your compliments , it is always a pleasure to read them and bask in the glory lol !!! Yes literally I have got the outdoors inside . Living in today's world , having a garden , composting , worm bins and bee hives are such a stress buster and a pleasurable activity , my videos aim at inspiring people in apartments to do any of these and lure them into the wonderful world of gardening. Blessings and good wishes to you and your family as well :) . By the way you are the 3rd P C I know - first is our ex finance minister Mr P Chidambaram , 2nd is one of my favourite actors Priyanka Chopra ( Pee Cee) who is in a show Quantico in the US now and then you LOL .
P. C. Well said.. I such a small place, creating a complete eco system is really amazing.. Hats off 📴...
Hats off to you for composting in a relatively small space. I really wish everyone started composting at home, it would be so useful. I LOLd when you said "like a laddu" hahaa. Great videos, keep them coming!
Thanks a whole bunch :):) . LOL compost laddoo , very different from the ones Sreedevi makes in English Vinglish but very rewarding !! On a serious note the garbage and landfill issue is such a huge problem in our country , I feel really proud I did not contribute to that mess since the last 5 years with the kitchen wastes from my family . Your encouragement is a good incentive to create good content , it is just so tough to find that time on a regular basis .
Mumbai Balcony Gardener | Avid Life Observer, im in the states, northern N.Y. its kinda cold here most of the time.. we rarely get long periods of dry hot weather. What do you suggest for me? Also, where can i get those beautiful compost pots
A quick question to both of you my friends, how you are managing to remove odor while composting? Heard Baking soda will remove odor, but will it affect the growth rates of worms and bacteria?
Please share me your experiences. I am doing composting in buckets in my balcony.
@@koundinya75 generally during composting in pots which has air wents because of this we cannot have any bad oder.plz avoid plastic buckets and follow the instruction in this video it's a good practical video on this subject.
@@prabhakarshenoy4351 thanks for your response Prabhakar. Now I have become an expert with various approaches. Anyways thanks again for your response.
You are a role model. Wish this video is played on television during prime time to inspire many more. Hats off to you. Composting and gardening are highly relaxing.
Thanks so much , it does take a lot of will power and determination to compost in our small homes , you are right , composting and gardening are big destressers .
You certainly have a talent for all things pertaining to gardening. I am really enjoying your channel. Thanks.
Lol the challenges over the years have made me wiser , I try my best with what I have but there is still one thing that gets to me , lack of full sun . However I am still grateful for the space I have available to nurture that gardening bug . Thanks for the appreciation :)
I have been composting for about 4years here in NY I have a very tiny back yard so I started with a dual compost tumbler last year I got expandable bin put it in one end of my garden bed which is about 2 feet wide filled it with leaves and put my scraps durning the winter months by May it was ready I had all the compost I needed for my planting my neighbors was amaze at how much I was able to plant in such a small space and my garden and pots are full of worms I have never seen them so big so thank for showing folks it an be done
Mumbai is so much like NY in so many ways - small apartments and cramped spaces and lots of people , so you understand my space constraints very well . Amazing job on what you are doing at your end . I am hoping more folks take to it in my city and country , it does need passion to sustain this activity.
If space management topic had a video example, this one is the most appropriate one. Your passion for composting is top notch.
Thanks a whole bunch for the wonderful feedback !!
Greetings from Texas, USA. I wanted to come back and let you know that a few years ago I watched this video and was inspired because you showed the way to compost in a small area, inside, in big pots without turning. I was so excited that I purchased several big terra cotta clay pots (a couple at a time) and made 2 composting towers that I keep just on my front porch. I do not turn them either just add scraps and a scoop of leaves after my scraps. It's working great! I ended up needing to make 2 towers to handle the volume of waste from my home but it's working out well. So the towers consist of 2 very large pots as the bases of my towers and each large pot has 2 smaller pots stacked on top of it. As I fill the upper pot, I then switch it with the empty one below it. When that one is full, then I empty it into the large base pot on the bottom. The large base pot is the finishing pot, sort of like yours that sits all year until September. Then I move over to the second tower and start filling when the first one is full. I recently bought a 3rd large pot to keep nearby to hold my leaves (which I get from a friend who rakes them up and lets me have them). I use the clay pot saucers as lids. Thank you again! Take good care!
Thank you so much for reverting with your success , really happy that you are happy with the method and lazy composting is working very well for you .
Best wishes 😊 !!
Thank you for sharing, I'm more confident now to continue composting without turning it.
Stay safe!☺️
Welcome and thank you 😊
What an inspiration you are x If you can achieve this much landfill reduction from a home without a garden then everyone has no excuses. Well done and keep up the fantastic work.
Thanks a bunch for the generous words and encouragement , we are indeed proud we did not burden our landfills since 2012 !!
You are such a sensational model showing us what can be done with small space with your years of real experience - hats off - at the same time making us guilty every time we think we don't have space haha there is really no excuse. I hope you continue showing the world what you have done 💜
Wow, thank you! Comments such as yours make me smile and make all the hard work worth it . Inspiring people is a tough job :)
You utilize the limited space you have available -marvelous compost setup.
Thanks so much Patrick , our best wishes !!
Of course you are the only person inspired... doing compost....I have purchased khamba 3 tier...after one week I was decided to through it away...that time I have not started compost..but the reason is managing insects, maggots...but U told me nicely step by step...now I m very happy to doing compost...I have not faced maggots,insects anything....thank you so much...
This is wonderful news , I am so glad you did not stop , lovely , thanks for letting me know :)
vanapalli anu can you Pls advise how to get rid of housefly larvas in compost pile. I add three times of dry leaves over my kitchen scrape, still facing this issue
Kudos to you for composting with such tight space constraints! This is very very inspiring to all of those who are planning to take up composting but are hesitant because of space and foul smell reasons..
I'm glad I came across your videos....it has definitely motivated and inspired me...in turn, I've been able to convince 4 people to start vermi composting and regular compost...So the chain is contagious....
Excellent 👌
This is a very practical video I was searching for, went through so many videos finally found this. Kudos to you and your efforts. You really inspired me to start composting at home. Thank you.
I am glad you found this video useful and it inspired you , thanks so much for letting me know 🙏.
VERY, VERY inspiring. I have stopped having a compost pile. Instead, I dig my kitchen scraps right into the garden soil, where no plants are growing and away from the roots of the plants. Your growing season has just begun and I look forward to your progress. Thank you for sharing, my friend. Namaste.
Hello Lark , thank you for being a regular viewer of my gardening endeavors !! When I run out of space in the pots I do the same as you , it is soooo very challenging to manage the kitchen scraps at these times , I will be doing another video for that shortly . A warm Namaste to you as well :):)
I'm interested in this method. I seem to remember a neighbor years ago composting using this method. He didn't make a bin or do a lot of digging. All I remember him doing is turning the pile every so often. How do you keep the animals from scratching in it?
Explained very nicely and to the point with actual pictures of your compost. I have started recently, your videos have cleared a lot of my doubts.. Thank you
Hi , glad you enjoyed the video , thanks for the feedback !!
Mam you are an inspiration in every sense. I hope more people see this video and get motivation to use composting and help earth breath!
Thanks so much and I sure hope so too !!
Truly inspiring dear. i was always feeling guilty that i could not turn the pile at all due to limitations of age. and so i just keep dumping the kitchen waste topping it with dry neem leaves that i get aplenty. now i feel encouraged that patient wait will get me good manure. thanks a lot for sharing such valuable information.
Wonderful that you are encouraged and no longer guilty , enjoy your composting :) and you are most welcome.
I'm very excited to start composting thanks to you! I appreciate your efforts to share with us your success in composting. Thank you!!!
That is wonderful news !! I'm so happy I was able to inspire you , best wishes :)
Hiiii !!
Lately I have been crazy about composting and I realised that I had seen a very interesting video on lazy composting a year ago . After so much efforts luckily I found it today and to my surprise I came across with such beautiful and informative videos made by you..Just now subscribed. You are my hero.
😍
I love how you've efficiently used your space to make your black gold. There are very few detailed composting videos in an indian context, you've inspired me and my mom to start composting at home. I'm eagerly waiting for your fish waste composting method.
Thank you , so happy I was able to inspire you and your mom , it is a very rewarding experience creating the black gold from scraps . Composting instilled in me a lot of patience too , when I started I wanted the compost to happen in a week , I just could'nt wait for it to be ready and now I am calm and let it happen at it's own pace :) . Yes the fish composting video is in my list of to do videos , I will try my best to put out atleast a video a month .
Truly inspiring. With restricted area u r able manage n harvest more than expected compost. Loved it.
Thanks so much Rashmi , glad you enjoyed the video !!
I know I am so late to this..... but man your soooo inspireing... you are still doing that although you don't have that much of space.....you are great
Superb. Very inspiring. I am a starter and was not sure if I will be successful. I am confident now after watching this video that I will be successful. Thanks for making this video.
Thanks so much , so happy that you are instilled with confidence about your composting , my best wishes and you are very welcome :)
Thank you mam.
I M IMPRESSED WITH U R PASSION ON COMPOST MAKING
Thanks so much !!
After some of my boxes were filling up I was throwing away, now you have inspired me to not throw anything. To many more composting bins!! Cheers!
💚🙏
awesome and so very inspiring, have been doing compost for years but I have lot of space, you what you are doing is truly appreciated!!!!! more power to you!!!
Thanks so much for the wonderful words of encouragement , it gets tough at times managing in the small space , comments like yours help in those moments !!
I found your video on lazy composting from Cali Kim Home garden you tube videos. I live your balconies gardening DC’d the beautiful vegetables you are growing. You seem to be very knowledgeable about gardening. I enjoyed your video and information. Thank you very much for sharing. Good luck!.
Thanks a lot Christine for watching and appreciating my small space gardening endeavors !!
Love ur videos...very clear and motivating, with Do's and don'ts also added in the right way....since a vast number of us live in apartments, it is sure to inspire many...awaiting ur spinach video..ty
Thank you so much !! As soon as the weather permits I will sow spinach seeds , probably mid November . Spinach grows and survives even under snow , so Mumbai weather is not spinach friendly at all , I will grow it and share the video once I harvest .
Thank u very much. I have been wondering about my composting process. I am not able to turn the contents of the compost bin on a daily basis. Now I am actually relieved after watching your video.
You are most welcome !! Yes it is a big relief to know that it is ok not to turn or mix , compost will happen anyways :)
I loved the interview you did with CaliKim. It was very encouraging! I am a indoor gardener. There are many challenges but you really make it work. Thank God for your husband's support too! I was telling Kim that's the best "lazy" composting that I've ever seen,. Especially one that yields such amazing results! Thank you for sharing my friend. XOXO
Thanks so much , glad you enjoyed the video Kim and I collaborated on . Yes so many challenges which makes every result all the more rewarding . Could not have done any of this with out my husband's support :) , hope you are having a wonderful gardening season !!
I'm in states we have big back yard and lots of tree in my backyard and front of our home and we fire every year big bunch of leaves in fall weather which is started here now, but I just started to making compost this July .we have lots of warms in my back yard so we r making warmi compost now .I like ur video u work very hard really I'm very expressed, u a lady and u work so hard . Ok now bye and thanks
You are lucky to have so much space for a garden , there is so much you can do , I am sure you must be watching gardening videos from US gardeners . Yes once you collect leaves to compost in the fall , it will attract worms too and your job is made so much more easy . Thank you for appreciating what we try to do in smaller spaces .
You're inspiring. I've been trying really hard to compost. But facing issues of sogginess, turning the compost, space issues, etc. After watching your video, it feels like these are no issues at all
Thanks for the kind words , I struggled alot with space and finally found a way to compost the way it is easy . As long as you maintain the sandwich pattern , there should not be any issue . Good luck 👍😁
The clay pot is breathable so moisture can leave the pot.
Wonderful to see your still growing lots of fresh food here in your small space. You sure have come a long way. I was ill for about two years. So I had to stop producing videos,,I still did a few. Anyway I am back now and will keep on watching your vids. Being a small space gardener I like to see how your garden is performing. It's very unique what you do there.
Happy gardening
Marty Ware from Australia
Thanks so much Marty , yes it has been an incredible journey these past 5 years, learnt so much and I feel creating these videos is my way of giving back so that people in small spaces like mine can experience the joys of growing food , composting and even having an indoor worm bin. Good to know you are better now , our best wishes to you and Karin :)
Oooh! Those lovely terracotta pots!
You are effortlessly amazing at composting 👌😊🌻
And one more thing. Of all the compost videos I have seen your method seems to be practical and feasible. I don't have garden soil. But in our flat lots of dry leaves from garden. Your method doesn't use soil. Some old unbroken compost dry leaves kitchen waste cardboard alternatively added along with some accelerator and water does the job slowly. No need to turn it daily. That's the best part of it👌
Definitely soil should not be added to a compost pot on a regular basis , one can add a handful for the very first time to introduce microbes into the pot and that's it . Yes I am trying to make all my gardening practices simple and easy so that I can continue to do them for a longer time and avoid / delay burnout .
@@mumbaibalconygardenerhobbies yes. This good job should continue with many followers to make our earth clean and green
Thank you.so much.I was getting worried as I didn't have enough of brown material ,when you mentioned hay,I immediately realised it was available so easily and I didn't realise it! But now I am all geared up to begin composting all over again.Hay can be found from our fruit vendor .Thanks a million.I too stay in Mumbai
Wonderful Chhaya !!. If you cannot find anything , use torn up brown cardboard . I have composted with just this for an entire year as I had no space to store leaves etc .
Thank you.@@mumbaibalconygardenerhobbies
I love how you are using all available space ❤️
Thanks so much , you have no idea how much I envy that yard you have lol . I have to learn to make do with the space efficiently , every season I think I have done my best and surely enough the next season surprises me with more ideas and scope for improvement !!
Thank you so much, you are so inspiring. I have started composting now. I also have a small garden. And your vericomposting is such a great idea for me too. I am going to try and do the same thing as you. I live in Indonesia so the climate here is somewhat unpredictable. I have a north facing garden so I only get sun during mid day and afternoon. Not ideal for growing things I have had to move my plants around to suit their needs. Ones I have them in a spot its hard for me to move them. But I am trying new things everyday and I with your motivation I am determined to make this garden look amazing. Thank you so much and please dont stop posting video’s. You are the best.
I am planning to start composting and Yes, your video helped. Thank you!
Welcome !!
Madam had mastered the art of composting
Still learning , everyday something new , but thank you !!
Wonderful work. Ur actions inspired me. I was contemplating whether to buy a plastic compost or terracotta or make a diy.
My heart says terracotta after watching yours. I did watch many videos but yours inspired me the best. Thank you
Thanks so much for letting me know !!
How much do these terracotta things cost ?
I am a new home composting enthusiast . Your video is very inspiring .
I love your balcony window gardens . They are beautiful. You have done a great job. I do vermicomposting too and I love it. I turned my utility room into a worm farm . It is still a work in progress , but isn't that true of life? Keep up the great work and happy gardening.
A worm farm , wow !! They are such lovely creatures , you know the feeling :)
Glad you are enjoying the garden endeavours in my tiny spaced garden , thank you so much and good luck with yours .
This is an outstanding, inspiring video, I am totally in awe. Your work is admirable. Thousands thumbs up.
Now that is so very kind of you :):) . I try to make things work with what ever resources are available .
thank you for making a wonderful video.
I wish that if I had found your video earlier I would haves fix some mistakes I made during my first compost batch that I started in feb. After watching some youtube videos which used soil and didn't press on adding browns. So I followed that video & used very less browns as I had only 2 water matkas and 12" two plant pots which were filling crazy fast for 2 people .I sprinkled soil on each green layer .
These 2 matka and 2 pots held my kitchen waste from feb to may .
Then Lockdown led my compost sitting dry for 2 month without me . now when I checked it in august the matter did decompose ,there are no worms which probably left/died when compost sat dry . There is no foul smell and it all smells like soil. but I am aware that my compost is imbalanced in nature due to lack of brown. It's just decomposed greens with soil in a 80:20 ratio.
Do you have any suggestions on what I can do ?
Hi Shraddha don't worry just use this compost for greens or whatever other plants you have and start afresh .
Soil is used just once as activator in case one does not have any other starter available . I have no idea how this concept of using soil instead of browns came into practice . It changes the texture and the composition of compost completely .
I did a video in hindi on composting recently for beginners where I have simplified the concept even further . Do watch that video too .
Glad you found this video helpful 🙏💚
@@mumbaibalconygardenerhobbies Thank you so much for replying yes I will surely watch that video too :)
I really appreciate the effort you have made in replying to the comments of people. Congratulations on the wonderful example you have set of composting for so many years now in limited space .It's really encouraging :)
Also half of the videos do emphasise on browns but other half speak about browns without much emphasis .Hence beginners get mislead till they read more and eventually learn the importance of carbon sources . But I guess learning is a process so it's ok:)
You are absolutely right , learning from our mistakes are the best lessons learnt , we never forget them .
One doesn't need to measure out , but roughly for good compost and a trouble free journey it is 2 parts browns to one part greens . Now it would be fine if occasionally you don't have 2 parts , just keep going and compensate for the browns when you have it .
I hope I can keep up with answering questions , especially the genuine ones as it is getting difficult , takes up alot of time . I started the channel to document my journey but now there is an added component - to help and inspire new gardeners 🌱🙏💚.
I'm in Falls Church, Virginia, USA. Summer weather here is so short, I don't know if compost process takes too long, but I'm trying to do the same. I'm impressed with your work, thank you for sharing!
Very nice video, liked the detailed inputs, its rare to see videos of composting in small Mumbai flats!
Glad you enjoyed the video :)
I thought I was using every bit of space, but no one does it better than you! Wow! Those clay pots are amazing! As is your compost. When do you stop adding waste, in order to have it finished on top like that? You know I have a mesh one, outside, bottomless, and I am adding a lot of kitchen waste, some green and occasionally brown. I don't have leaves, other than bamboo leaves, which never seem to break down! Your finished compost looks amazing. I have not been remembering to add water, but not sure I need to...? Great, inspiring video for apartment dwellers and I hope you inspire more people in Mumbai to do this, especially if they are going to stop picking up kitchen waste. Great job! Thumbs up!!
LOL Kaye I always have a good laugh when you call your garden small , small is what I have - practically no space for anything . Yes I love the clay pots too for their ethnic look and functionality , they are perfect for indoor composting . For the big pot , I start adding in September and stop in July , harvesting again in September . The entire pot is ready with the compost texture you saw. I don't get this texture when I harvest from the smaller pots in 4 months time . You probably should add water , especially in your hot months . Glad you enjoyed what I do with my small space , thanks a bunch Kaye !!
Mumbai Balcony Gardener | Avid Life Observer thank you for sharing your experience with us, when to your Clay pots in Mumbai, thanks again
Mumbai Balcony Gardener | Avid Life Observer when to buy your Clay pots in Mumbai
Omg lady you are amazing. I have become a big fan🤗🤗🤗its amazing to see how you manage your space. I live in a huge independent house and still feel there is lack of space. Please accept my admiration🙌🙌🙌🙌
Very happy to accept your admiration 😀😀🙏🙏❤️
@@mumbaibalconygardenerhobbies 😍😍😍
Very nice mam 👍👍
You are an inspiration for all humans !!
Atleast we can give back something to mother nature ....
This kind of practice ca turn Earth to a much more beautiful place 🥰🥰
Your work is amazing. Happy Gardening.
Thank you and happy gardening to you as well !
Great stuff! Hooray for Mother Earth! Awesome pots!
Thank you :)
Well done. Your space is so limited and you do make the most of it. Great job. Best wishes Bob.
Thanks so much Bob , you are so blessed with the space you have to garden . Our best wishes as well !
Inspirational, I too am the one who is not so comfortable about mixing of the composting pile. but do it so as to avoid smell and maggots which come up due to moisture. but your layering with browns tip is good. I wanted to ask one thing though, I had asked for dry leaves from a park and it was loaded with different worms, how to avoid those?? or its okay to have them in composting pile??
All in all ur work at home and online is something to bow to !! it takes lot of dedication to keep doing this year after year and also to make videos to share it with others. sharing your work is an honour
Glad you enjoyed the video Shruti ! Yes there are so many people who do not enjoy the mixing and it is totally fine , hence the video , hoping many more start composting . Once the layering is done , there is no smell even when the compost is breaking down , the smell comes when the greens are left uncovered or there is an excess of greens. The sandwich technique gives the compost the perfect ratio thereby eliminating the foul smell . There is a faint "scent" of something breaking down which I probably enjoy lol ! Yes when one gets leaves collected from the park , there will be bugs and worms etc but that is totally fine except for the slugs and snails. What I do is I wait for a week before I use those leaves , any slugs or snails present come out of the sac looking for food or moisture and I get rid of them . Thanks for appreciating my composting endeavors .
Composting ka yah bahut aasan Tarika hamen behadd pasand aaya. Hum isey aajmane ki koshish karenge.
Khush rahe hamesha!
🌹🌺🌷🙏💐👏🌸
Salam from Lahore, Pakistan.
Hii MBG! Highly inspirational video!! I'd planned to make a worm bin 2 years ago when I'm serious about gardening, as time passed,I had shift that idea to later,lol.Anyway,this video will inspire a lot of home gardeners!!Congrats again for surpassing 5k subscribers,I'm feeling proud of being one of them :) Best Wishes,Shalbin.
Thanks Shalbin !! You can just do regular composting in your yard , the worms will come automatically , then no need for separate worm bin !!
Finally made my first compost after watching this video today! Please share more about how you compost meat/fish without getting maggot attacks! Thank you!
You are welcome , I will be making that video soon .
Mumbai Balcony Gardener | Avid Life Observer
Wonderful! Thank you so much!
That's a huge pot to compost , it has holes in the bottom so does it have a tray underneath as well ?
do you add paper as well or only food scraps ?
HI , yes a huge pot , no holes or tray at the bottom . One can't compost with just scraps , one needs to layer and alternate the browns and greens , have explained it in detail in the video :)
Hi MBG, what an inspirational and motivating video♥ the results of your compost are just truly amazing ,i could smell the ready compost from my screen , and hats off to you for always making the most of everything, including your tiny little space for composting ☺
Thanks a whole bunch dear Suzanne , I am so glad you enjoyed the video and I have to thank you for pushing me to make time and work on my videos 💚 . Yes I do keep trying to find ways to increase my space , I think after this time's increase in space for the peppers I don't see scope for more , I hope I prove myself wrong again next year :):)
luckychicavI just came via Calikim's channel. I love your composting pots! How encouraging is this, for those of us that think we have no space. Thank you, very much appreciated! ;)
Thanks so much , yes even a patio has more access and space than what I have , so definitely alot can be done with folks with small spaces :)
once again a superb video..and superb explanations.. i really look up to you for doing what you do as i know it needs a lot of resolve to do composting ,this way.
Thanks a bunch dear , yes it does need a LOT of resolve and constant motivation to compost at home , I will be addressing the challenges and how I motivate myself in another video :) .
Very nicely explained. don't we need to add soil with kitchen waste ?
Thanks ! No soil is not added to kitchen waste at all , it will change the texture of your compost completely , it will be heavy and dense and also lead to compaction. One may sprinkle soil just once in the beginning to introduce microbes to start the composting process , however there are better starters like cow manure or sour butter milk if one does not have compost to add as a starter.
Very informative video. Where did you get the big terracotta pot from in mumbai?
Thanks 😊 .
Dailydump.org .. check their website for Mumbai franchisee to place the order.
Very nice! Great to see the composting in this space!
Thank you !
Wow,,, Superb.. I have also started doing so..and want improve how i can not make any garbage or trash.. Just a few questions... What can be done with coconut shell ?
I am also not throwing any plastic material that I buy or comes with the product that we buy ... If we can collect it.. where we can give it so that it gets recycle and not going to the land fields of grabage.
I am very much inspired by seeing you composting. Very informative, i am going to start a vermi bin after seeing your videos .thankyou
Thank you for letting me know that !! Wonderful , vermicomposting is such a great activity , I am sure you will enjoy it . Both types of composting are so different and fun too.
Just wonderful how you show it can be done in the tightest of spaces that many people often ask us about ---especially many from Mumbai! More power to you and hope things are safe for you and your loved ones at this time
Thanks so much for the encouragement , I could do this because of the composters , using a plastic bin or drum was not an option for me for apartment composting 🙏♻️💚.
Yes all well , thank you and wish the same at your end .
Hi. Inspired enough to take the plunge. Need your thoughts on TrustBin composter vs kambha please.
So good to know you are inspired !! The trust bin composter uses the anearobic method of composting , both methods are totally different . The anaearobic method is in 2 stages , first the pickle is prepared by layering scraps with the powder the company provides and then this pickle is to be mixed with compost to get the final product . I have never used this method as I have no space now . Khamba composting happens in the presence of air and water and microbes which you see here in my video. One deterrent for the trust bin for me is that one needs to keep buying the product from them( though many have a diy product too) and then it needs to be mixed with compost , that means you need to be using both methods or else you would also have to buy the compost to mix in with pickle . Advantage of trust bin could be there is no mixing and no bugs . I do not mix anyways . The daily dump folks will push you to buy the remix powder to layer , it comes with first time kit , I never purchased it again , I use dry leaves and cardboard. I don't see the purpose of "buying " anything except for the pot to do an activity which involves creating free compost from our recycled wastes . Hope I was able to help you .
Mumbai Balcony Gardener | Avid Life Observer Thanks! Just the kind of clarity I was looking for.
Is it okay to use plastic drums in place of the huge terracotta/earthen pots?
You will need to be more careful and vigilant with plastic drum , ensure that there are enough browns to soak up greens . Also there should be enough holes for ventilation all around .
Terracotta has the advantage that it absorbs all extra liquids so we'll which won't happen with plastic drum . Other than that , no problem , so many use the big blue drums .
I'm really inspired awesome job done in such a small place I just want to do this bt ws thinking how can I do in my small appt after watching this vdo now I'll do my composting work @home
Thank you and I am so glad I was able to inspire you to start composting indoors !!
Hi, can I know about springtails(tiny white creatures)if I need to worry about them...in my compost..I am adding kitchen waste as green and cocopeat as brown same quantity..but as it is rainy season..? Can I expect them or can I know the reason?
Hi Kalpana ideally it's 2 parts brown to 1 part kitchen waste , like a sandwich that has 2 slices bread .
Your compost may be more moist than needed because of this especially in the rains . Add torn up brown cardboard to absorb moisture .
They should reduce in numbers post rains but having them around is not an issue .
Inspiring... I have done composting in the past and due to odour, left it. Some people advise to collect the water that drains out and use for plants. Can we do without draining water? I really don't want to collect and store the drain water. Suggestions please.
Thanks 👍.
Smell means one thing - too much kitchen waste , very little dry waste or browns . You need 2 or 3 parts of browns to 1 part of greens .
If this balance of browns and greens is maintained there is no water run off , especially with a terracotta pot that is an excellent absorber . If using plastic set up use 3 parts browns to 1 part greens for the perfect compost composition.
I don't ever want any leachate from my compost or worm bin since my set up is indoors . I have never had this issue , none of my pots have holes at the bottom . My worm bins do have holes but not once in 9 years have I had any liquid running out . Hope you got the gist .
Good work..but how do you manage maggots if the dump is too wet?
Thanks , I let them be , I try to keep the wet and dry balance , either ways I fix it and in time the maggots are dead , no point separating them as they are part of the composting process . What I really enjoyed this season were the black soldier fly larvae I found in great numbers in my pots , they are composting machines!!
Hy i am new subscriber and love ur effort.. can u please tell about black soldier fly are thy available in ur city??
Thank you so much for sharing this with us. You inspired me to give it a try
I have two empty MATKA (earthen pots) can you please help me understand how to use them. Thank you so much in advance ❤️
Hi Monika please see my composting video in hindi , it is very basic and easy to understand , meant for beginners .
thank you for your lovely response. I have a bottle of smelly milk powder. How To use it or have to dump it?
Ideally milk and milk products are not added to the compost pot , so not really sure on this . I know many people who put even cooked food in the compost and it turns out fine , you could experiment and share your experience!!
Wonderful work in limited space. Also very good editing!
Thanks so much !!
I agree with you. I use the same way to compost. Not a single bit of kitchen waste goes out of our house.
That is wonderful , congratulations on your composting !!
Your a hero. i do similar. for little. our flats do at bigger level. i do eggs, coffee, banana and apples for my pots
निसर्ग मातेच रक्षण करणाऱ्या निसर्ग कन्येस सलाम.
Thanks so much !!
very inspiring video....i just want to know can we make compost of left over food...
Thank you ! For left over food most people use a bokashi based or anerobic composting system where one can add everything unlike the traditional aerobic method where we do not add cooked and oily foods . However I know many people who add everything to same compost heap or pile , to keep it simple and not have to manage 2 different systems and they say it works just fine too . The only risk would be rodents trying to find that cooked food .
Thanks..
Mam.. very nice video. Pls clear my doubt. Where will go ..the leakage water. At the bottom any pot have u provided with mud?
There is no drainage hole at the bottom because it is a terracotta pot which absorbs any excess moisture if any , there is no liquid anywhere . Too much liquid means you are adding less browns and alot of kitchen waste .
For a plastic drum or bucket which is not porous by nature , you would need drainage holes at bottom. A very thick layer of browns at the bottom is a good idea no matter what type of container is being used .
Edited , please read above
Compost happens, and if you have time this is a good way to do it, or in your case the best way to do it due to space.
Absolutely !! No more turning or stirring , separating worms from worm bins ( we did that with such joy for the first 4 months and then I knew I had to find a more efficient method lol ) . Anyways it is so tough to not be able to make a mess while working with the garden as it is all indoors , I am trying to cut out anything that I can , I made compost tea just once and stopped !!!
Thanx so much
Does composting pots should be in completely shaded area?
I am seeing Sunlight is falling on pots.
Hi , not true, composting can be done anywhere , does not have to be shade . People who have open spaces or land or a backyard garden make piles in the open to compost . Yes they do cover it up with black material to protect from rains and also to heat up quicker .
My compost pots have lids too .
Dear Mumbai Balcony Gardner,
I had another query.
I saw in some random video about composting, wherein after harvesting the compost and sieving the compost, whatever was left (the non composted bits) were used as brown waste (layering over the green waste) for the next compost.
I have tried this once before, but I felt that it made the compost extremely wet. What are your thoughts on this?
The unfinished bits are usually the not so easy to compost bits - like twigs , coconut shell , egg shell , seeds etc , coconut husk chunks . These are browns no doubt . I would just dump them after the first thick layer of leaves at the start of the new round of composting and not use then for layering .
Yes your observation is correct again , since there isn't much absorption capacity in these items , using them to layer doesn't make sense and would lead to some sogginess .
Very useful video.Congrats.When i use a plastic containner invariably the contents get soggy, even when i add dry leaves, cardboard etc.What more is to be done to solve this problem?
Thanks ! I can think of a few things that may help you . One is to have alot of holes for ventilation , have you seen California Gardening's composting video ? He uses a large black tub , however he has made big circular cut outs through out his bin . The other thing is to regulate how much water you are adding to the bin , it will be less than what I add for sure . Also try to sandwich brown green brown every time so that the greens are not in excess and there is always a layer of brown to catch the moisture . If there is waste like watermelon and musk melon peels you can skip the watering for a couple of weeks . When it is not raining , instead of a lid you can use a mesh type cover or muslin cloth so that there is ample ventilation even from the top . You will probably need few drainage holes at the bottom for the leachate to run out into the ground .
Thanks.I will watch the video to know more details.
Hi, Did the black soldier flies happen to invade your compost bins? If yes, or no, how do you think we can keep them away? Please assist.
Invade would not be the right word , they are the most effective and efficient composters . Please see my compost bugs video .
@@mumbaibalconygardenerhobbies Hi, Thank you for the swift reply and correcting the word 'invade.' We will mind that. Our observation with the presence of Black Soldier Fly Larvae are: Pros: Very quickly consume/reduce the pile - our 20ltr container can easily accommodate a month's worth of kitchen refuse; good amount of leachate for use in gardening; harmless; and safe. Cons: Very less manure is produced (currently, we are drying it in the Sun); quality is nowhere close to what you showed in this video (@7:27 fine, grainy manure - desirable) - ours is flaky - like chiseled wood chips; also, hand-shredded dry leaves probably were not consumed. We have started a second 20ltr bin - age 24 days and the larvae of BSFs have been observed to be in the bin for 15 days now. We will be very thankful if you can guide us to fix the 'Cons.' (P.S.: We watched the suggested bugs video.) Thank you and stay safe.
Hi. Could you please suggest me some flowering plants that can grow in shade. My widows get light but not strong direct sunlight. Thanks in advance :)
I don't know a great deal about flowers , there are too many varieties but I think they all need direct sun to bloom , just light is not enough for most edible plants to grow , it may be enough for ornamental indoor plants . With my 3 to 5 hours sun I have success with very few flowers , the sun is just not enough for the plants to bloom - marigolds do well in my garden.
Excellent! But how do you control pests (besides the fruit flies, such as roaches or mice)?
We don't really have rodent issues here except last year when we had major ground excavations close by for metro work . With pests and birds I have been really lucky ! They are around but dont really bother my garden .
u said well really i have so much land but i started gardening sence last 4 years in garden i have 4 tree of neem 1 sisam 1 jamun 2 mango 5 guava 1 much big tree of gullar etc. but i not active like u bcoz u made so much compost in small place nd im thing i 'll also try to make more compost like u now u r ainpiration to n from my birth place too take care by
For composting which bin u will suggest, plastic or terracotta...what are pros n cons of each ?
Will be doing a video on this , my choice is terracotta .
@@mumbaibalconygardenerhobbies waiting for that video eagerly , which will cover all the pros n cons of plastic bin n terracotta bin
@mumbaibalconygardener would you add rancid flour and puffed rice to compost... ???
Yes absolutely .
@@mumbaibalconygardenerhobbies thanks for the reply...❤️
Great work and good adjesment in small space
Thank you!!
Very interesting, lots of good ideas for utilizing small spaces. I love to listen to your videos although I don't always comment.
Thank you for letting me know that you watch my videos ☺️
Do you use only this kitchen compost in the pots or mix with soll
Hi Jyothi , I do not use any soil in my potting mix for a few reasons .
1. It is just too heavy ( the soil is 3 times heavier than my soil less potting mix ) and I do not want to add any additional weight to my grills , so I use a soil less potting mix of compost , VC , coconut coir and vermiculite , you can see me mix these in my tomato growing video of last year .
2. It tends to get compacted and needs loosening , it would be impossible for me to do this in my setup and I would not want this additional activity. My potting mix is light , fluffy and well aerated through out the season .
I use organic nutrients in my potting mix to keep my plants healthy , details of what I use are also in tomato and chilly growing video.