How to Get Great Compost? Just Build A Johnson-Su Bioreactor!!

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  • čas přidán 30. 06. 2024
  • See a complete build of two Johnson-Su Bioreactors. Johnson-Su bioreactors produce high-quality compost with less work, less water, and fewer odors than traditional windrow composting. Learn more about bioreactors with Dr. David Johnson: • In Search of Soil #3 -...
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Komentáře • 428

  • @halcobb1627
    @halcobb1627 Před 4 lety +48

    Kudos, I never see the kind of thoughtful coverage of 'design requirements' that you give at the beginning of the video. Right up front, you covered where to put it, what does it look like, dispensing finished product, recurring maintenance etc. Most people just jump straight into 'watch me fabricate this thing' without any encouragement to think about what you're doing. Excellent video.

  • @sacajun934
    @sacajun934 Před 4 lety +14

    The sticking point for most will be the reinforcing mesh. There are not vendors set up to sell this of small scale use. And it is difficult to transport and work with (angle grinder).
    BUT here comes the Interweb to the rescue. I have been using SILT FENCE for my compost bins for years before I saw the Johnson-Su video. Look it up at Home Depot. ~$90 US gets you 100 LF. a roll will fit in the trunk of a car and you can cut it with hand snips. It is 3ft tall and has the fabric already woven on. I wire two pieces together with the top piece overlapping the bottom on the inside. I converted my bin to a Johnson-Su this spring. Waiting for the results before a become an acolyte for them.

    • @bigwooly8014
      @bigwooly8014 Před 3 lety +3

      Lowes and home depot sell the concrete mesh in sheets kinda like bull panel. It's cheap and can be transported on top of a car with a piece of cardboard or old blanket and some rope.

    • @Wildwwill
      @Wildwwill Před rokem

      @SA Cajun Have you completed any compost? If so, how were the results?

  • @offgridcurtisstone
    @offgridcurtisstone Před 3 lety +39

    This is the most comprehensive video on building a bio reactor that's out there. Thanks Diego.

  • @benthere8051
    @benthere8051 Před 3 lety +3

    Thank you very much for Dr. Johnson's work to us. You need to review his work to see just how pertinent that work is. It is incredibly important on a very personal level.

  • @hbrws813
    @hbrws813 Před 3 lety +2

    This is going to be my winter time project. Thanks for all the info!!! Very encouraging!

  • @geraldwood5436
    @geraldwood5436 Před 3 lety +14

    If you have a stump you want to get rid of, situate the reactor on top of it.

    • @Katydidit
      @Katydidit Před 2 lety +2

      I am going to try that!!

  • @skymax1507
    @skymax1507 Před 4 lety +55

    Your videos help me learn English! I understand about 75% of the words you say. thank!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

    • @alshalakaed857
      @alshalakaed857 Před 3 lety +7

      That's great now you are smarter than 80% of America !

  • @courtneybronnerwilliams5771

    I really hope the follow-up/results video is coming soon! 🤞🏼 I’m on the edge of my seat to see how it worked!

  • @frankreading8038
    @frankreading8038 Před 4 lety +21

    Hey Diego,
    Built 1 last year and filled it with chopped leaves on bottom and Ramial wood chips for the remaining 3/4. Emptied it 9 months later...
    Results were good and progressive...Leaves composted beautifully. Rich dark compost at the bottom 1/4. Wood chips were definitely more composted than at time of filling, but still “chips”. Lots of worms through the reactor, moist material. I’d say to compost the wood chips to the point of use in a market garden, the total static compost time might need to be 18-24 months. I’m in Virginia so during the cold months of the year things slow down. For my purposes the 2 reactors I have I’ll be filling with shredded leaves

  • @miguifly3095
    @miguifly3095 Před 3 lety +2

    Excellent video man. Clear, specific and to the point!

  • @simongooder664
    @simongooder664 Před 3 lety +13

    The leftover concrete reinforcing mesh can be used to make a high-tunnel greenhouse!

  • @tepeassydac
    @tepeassydac Před 4 lety +3

    Very good instructional video. If you aren't a professional instructor...you should be! You explained location requirements clearly, and the functions of the components were easily understood. I'll never have accumulation enough for a bio-reactor of this size, but I can easily scale it down. Thanks!

  • @giojared
    @giojared Před 4 lety +8

    Great video! Sounds like a future project for myself. Grow on!

  • @lionscircle4700
    @lionscircle4700 Před 4 lety +7

    An extra thumbs up for your article in Acres this month. Hope to see more written material from you on it in the future. Looking forward to updates on the bioreactor as well.

    • @johnsavchak8202
      @johnsavchak8202 Před 3 lety

      How is that magazine? Been thinking about subscribing...

    • @lionscircle4700
      @lionscircle4700 Před 3 lety +1

      @@johnsavchak8202 I'll renew the subscription to Acres, but find Mother Earth News and Permaculture to be too beginner oriented. Picked up Hobby Farms recently just to see if it catered in anything beyond intermediate and haven't been heavily impressed yet.

    • @carolynk7560
      @carolynk7560 Před 3 lety

      Eric Collins )l

  • @SpringwaterParkcc
    @SpringwaterParkcc Před 3 lety +3

    Diego,
    Thank you so much, my friend. Have built a S-U in mid Oct, 100 km north of Toronto Canada. Gonna try two runs of 120 foot of roofing ice cables (120 run just up and down inside the 6 vent shafts), and R22 Roxul to keep my red wigglers active during our 5a zone. Handwatering every second day, 8 litres.

    • @Rubibi-saltwaterjim
      @Rubibi-saltwaterjim Před 2 lety +1

      Haha I’m from Australia and our coldest temp is 20degC, I felt like I was translating your post.

  • @NorthernThaiGardenGuy
    @NorthernThaiGardenGuy Před 3 lety +12

    Very cool. I think your modified one does look better though (that one video of just a larger center hole in the middle and no landscape fabric). I have always done fungal compost piles. I live in Thailand and have one going now from a fallen Jack fruit tree and just cover it with a garden tarp. Works wonders. KNF and Natural farming in general is all about the microbes and if you manage it from the Fungal level, everything else falls into place. Great stuff.

    • @feltingme
      @feltingme Před 2 lety +2

      That is what I am wondering. Since wood chips are course, they probably have enough air between them without pipes. So we can just them high, cover, water occasionally and they will decompose without any building. But I don't know, maybe tht specific way has higher fungal population thean regular decomposed woodchips?

    • @Horse237
      @Horse237 Před 2 lety +4

      Using Korean Natural Farming will produce diverse soil biology. This will improve your Bioreactor.
      As per Arden Andersen MD who also has a PhD in biophysics, build an electromagnet and run your water through it to magnetize it. The water becomes paramagnetic which increases crop biomass.
      These nearly free inputs greatly increase yields while reducing the growing period. Plants have no endocrine system so there is no reason why zucchini can't reach maturity in 30 days in your garden even if all the gardeners you know take 60 days in theirs.
      Also check on Boron. It protects plant cell walls against disease and pests. It also makes roots grow. The best practice in seed soaking is to soak your seeds in clean water for 24 hours with Manganese, Cobalt, Zinc, Copper and Boron. Also check out the Jena project and Quorum Sensing.
      gsmgardening.wordpress.com/.

  • @sbarr10
    @sbarr10 Před 4 lety +2

    This is amazing.
    I can say from experience here in very dry northern Utah, that it can take three or more years for a huge pile of wood chips to break down enough (without any work or interference on our part) to even start incorporating them into our regular compost piles.

    • @flattail
      @flattail Před 3 lety +1

      Starting with moist materials is important (David Johnson throws them in water first), and then the daily irrigation to maintain that moisture. I think if you do that it will progress quickly, though I am inclined to mix manure in with my woodchips rather than going with straight chips.

  • @Sunshine_Daydream222
    @Sunshine_Daydream222 Před 4 lety +6

    Super easy and functional! Just what I was looking for to up my compost game! Thanks so much for making this video!!!

  • @Urkuwayku
    @Urkuwayku Před 4 lety +27

    I've built about 100 of these at our farm in Ecuador. Beyond the construction, it would be useful to understand the why behind it. Would recommnd looking up David Johnsons's relevant publications. In this case, it's about promoting a stable, high lignan/fungal compost, rather than a high N/bacterial based system. We have isolated a population of white fungi from the local highland forest, capable of degrading fibrous and resistant eucalyptus bark -- a readily availabe source of C in the area. White fungi uniquely produce a series of enzymes capable of breaking down lignan. We seek about 400 parts carbon to one part N in the bioreactor to produce a very stable compost with a high F:B ratio. We primarily use the resulting material to innoculate the growth medium in our green houses.

    • @jesseolivarez1493
      @jesseolivarez1493 Před 4 lety

      Stephen, where in Ecuador are you?

    • @Urkuwayku
      @Urkuwayku Před 4 lety +1

      @@jesseolivarez1493 Yep. Been here for 25 years.

    • @jesseolivarez1493
      @jesseolivarez1493 Před 4 lety +1

      Stephen Sherwood Thanks. We want to build one of these bioreactors soon. We moved to Vilcabamba 8 months ago. What part of Ecuador are you in?

    • @Urkuwayku
      @Urkuwayku Před 4 lety +1

      @@jesseolivarez1493 You live in a lovely place! We are basedI in the Los Chillos Valley outside of Quito, so unfortunately quite far away... You can see images of our farm at @urkuwayku. As you may know, Ecuador has a very lively alternative food movement, including in the south. You can follow some of the activity at: www.quericoes.org

    • @sacredcowbbq1326
      @sacredcowbbq1326 Před 3 lety

      Stephen, appreciate your comment. However, can you say that in plain, 5th grade English for me?

  • @TS-vr9of
    @TS-vr9of Před 3 lety +1

    looking forward to the irrigation set up video. Thanks for sharing.

  • @paulwest6742
    @paulwest6742 Před 3 lety +6

    Many thanks for this video Diego, finished my first reactor this week and will start the 2nd reactor today. A tree cutter gave me three loads of chips so my end goal is 4 reactors.

  • @VENZUL0
    @VENZUL0 Před 4 lety +4

    Anxious to see the inevitable follow-up when you go to retrieve your compost. I suppose the easiest way to go about it would be to disassemble the wire frame but then you've got compost everywhere. Great work!

    • @DiegoFooter
      @DiegoFooter  Před 4 lety +2

      I think that will be the plan. We'll see.

    • @jerrymaxey782
      @jerrymaxey782 Před 4 lety +5

      Just leave it you just built a raised bed plant into the sides and top there by increasing your grow space several times over vertical farming man

    • @jerrymaxey782
      @jerrymaxey782 Před 4 lety +2

      Save your back use your head

  • @richstone2627
    @richstone2627 Před 4 lety +4

    Outstanding. I'll have to accumulate more material to fill one but when I do I'll be building at least one maybe more. Thank you for the sharing.

  • @antoniobennett5330
    @antoniobennett5330 Před 4 lety +1

    Good work man

  • @moochythecat3435
    @moochythecat3435 Před 9 měsíci

    Great video!

  • @prahe86
    @prahe86 Před rokem

    Great video, thank you.

  • @dare369
    @dare369 Před 4 lety +2

    Nice video! Just in time as I scale up my compost system.

    • @kathytaylor9798
      @kathytaylor9798 Před 3 lety

      How do you empty this? The sheer size of it tells me to go rent a crane.

    • @Doitallgp
      @Doitallgp Před 3 lety

      @@kathytaylor9798 you dismantle them

  • @JohnMarsing
    @JohnMarsing Před 4 lety +5

    Chico state University has a registry of people using the Johnson Su Bioreactor FYI

    • @chadeller5588
      @chadeller5588 Před 4 lety +1

      Thanks! They've got a lot of good info that was easy to find by searching your entire sentence :-)

  • @VigilanteJournalist
    @VigilanteJournalist Před 3 lety +4

    I so want to make one of these. Johnson introduces worms too.

  • @philandhannahslittlefarm1464

    At 21:36 I thought you were going to whisper lol really dont want that hole collapsing! Thanks for a great video! I've had a bioreactor on my project list for a while and I plan on making one with my chicken coop bedding...

  • @clergh
    @clergh Před 3 lety +1

    Good to see you’re still doing permaculture stuff, Diego!

  • @1MonthNoRegrets
    @1MonthNoRegrets Před 4 lety +2

    Awesome work Diego! Great to see the Bioreactor getting built.

    • @jerrymaxey782
      @jerrymaxey782 Před 4 lety

      Johnson tzu reactor they invented it they should get the credit he should get the credit for bringing it to y'all

    • @jerrymaxey782
      @jerrymaxey782 Před 4 lety

      Why wouldn't it work. Are you sure? Did you test it out? Or do you just love turning handles

    • @jerrymaxey782
      @jerrymaxey782 Před 4 lety

      See this is why we like Diego he is a little more sientific he will actually put it to the test then make a statement

    • @jerrymaxey782
      @jerrymaxey782 Před 4 lety

      Some one from dacota needs to test this

    • @jerrymaxey782
      @jerrymaxey782 Před 4 lety

      @assassinlexx okay so you like mechanizing things that has nothing to do with south Dakota

  • @sam65gto
    @sam65gto Před 4 lety

    The whole point is it's passive so no turning and watching the originators (Johnson and Sou) they explained how you leave it for 12 months to mature. Sounds good and am building one today

  • @andrewyates1819
    @andrewyates1819 Před 3 lety +1

    you can get that build time down to a couple of hours.. and the materials can be collected from scraps.. great vid tho...your good at this bro. respect.

  • @skymax1507
    @skymax1507 Před 4 lety

    Nice work 👌👍👍

  • @yochanontheseeker1942
    @yochanontheseeker1942 Před 2 lety +2

    Any chance you checked the temp the bioreactor was putting off? I’m trying to build something to have inside a greenhouse to boost the temp 10 or so degrees

  • @tomv7017
    @tomv7017 Před 4 lety +1

    beautiful man

  • @Hapotecario
    @Hapotecario Před 3 lety +3

    Thank you diego! This is great work and you are very good at explaining things. I have some questions. If this compost serves mainly to restore soil funghi and innoculating seeds and plants. What other kinds of compost generating method do you use or recommend as an alternative to this one in therms of more nitrogen rich compost, or other important properties plants need. And, if this reactor serves to create a medium for funghi breeding or attracting would it be a good idea to find a forrest, or some place that is all year damp and full of life, maybe somewhere where mushrooms sprout and extract a piece of that soil to add to the bioreactor?

    • @flattail
      @flattail Před 3 lety +1

      David Johnson's presentation on static compost shows that with this compost the fungi and bacteria are able to provide the plants with everything they need-the compost does not itself need to be rich in nitrogen or other nutrients. I think starting with some inoculant from a forest would be a good idea, but it was surprising how many species showed up in the compost over time.

  • @GroProOrg
    @GroProOrg Před 2 lety

    Solid state fermentation or solid substrate fermentation. Awesome 👌

  • @elenikokodrouli4487
    @elenikokodrouli4487 Před 3 lety +1

    Hi Diego. I love what you are doing. Do you thingthat I could use olive tree leaves for this. If yes would it be better to have a mixture of different types if tree leaves to have diversity. Thanks and looking forward to your videos!

  • @JohnThomas-nn6qt
    @JohnThomas-nn6qt Před 3 lety +3

    Now it seems that the "NEXT BEST THING" would be to use ALFALFA HAY as the main source of materials in a bioreactor so that you can reap the benefits of both methods to make the very best compost/ compost tea/ seed innoculant. Guess I just need to build one and see.......looking forward to spring of 2022...lol

    • @lisanelson6661
      @lisanelson6661 Před 3 lety

      Careful, the nitrogen content of alfalfa is high enough that you can get spontaneous combustion when it is wetted down. I've seen haystacks catch fire because the alfalfa wasn't fully dry when baled. :-o

  • @markprescott2011
    @markprescott2011 Před 4 lety +1

    Looking forward to seeing the results. You think this will be ready for spring? You used wood chips. Would this work as well with grass clippings? Would grass clippings decompose faster?

    • @flattail
      @flattail Před 3 lety +1

      If you had grass clippings I would suggest mixing in a coarser material. The grass clippings might compact too much and go anaerobic. Other than that they would be very good, I think. The other thing to watch out for is that so many people spray things on their lawn that you would want to avoid, but unsprayed grass would be fine.

  • @dallasmccann
    @dallasmccann Před 2 lety +2

    Hi Diego. Have you seen or considered using GEO-BIN as an alternative to building the cage? There's a height and build time advantage to the GEO-BIN, unless there's an better advantage to the height of the bio-reactor. GEO-BINS sell on Amazon for $40 on Amazon. Thanks.

  • @ronaldingleby8158
    @ronaldingleby8158 Před 2 lety

    Great detailed video. Glad I have gardens growing and ahead of the curve...as the presidente said food shortages are coming. The sheeple are going to panic buy veggie seeds, plant and find mediocre yields that takes years to figure out what works.

  • @gomo7833
    @gomo7833 Před 4 lety +2

    Would you suggest making a cover for in in case of heavy rains?

  • @kloss213
    @kloss213 Před 4 lety +1

    Wonder if one could do wide and low BR with the center one larger center tube? Tall is not OG friendly.

  • @lordbacon4972
    @lordbacon4972 Před 3 lety +5

    Thank you so much for making this video! David Johnson recommended adding earthworms, did you add them too? Also, can this bioreactor survive over winter (snow/ice, below 0 degrees temperature conditions)? Will the fungi, microbes, bio-mass survive outside during the cold winter months? How can we supply water/moisture to it during winter? Thanks!

    • @Horse237
      @Horse237 Před 2 lety +1

      Johnson recommends Red Wigglers not earthworms. The Bioreactor is designed to have exposure to air so no need for earthworms as they are deep divers. Soil biology hibernates below 12 degrees C. Worms sluggish below 18 C.

    • @jaynebirkholz1596
      @jaynebirkholz1596 Před 2 lety

      @@Horse237 red wrigglers are surface dwellers, preferring to be in the top 4-5 inches of soil.

  • @lauramcgrael4842
    @lauramcgrael4842 Před 3 lety +3

    Should put caps on top of pipes so u can chuck in your material

    • @DiegoFooter
      @DiegoFooter  Před 3 lety

      It’s a good idea and I have noticed that when filling. It would help.

  • @rosaloving9106
    @rosaloving9106 Před 4 lety +3

    At end of year how will you access compost? Undo wire and fabric?

    • @blueking212
      @blueking212 Před rokem

      He says in the beginning. You have to undo everything. Then you pull it all out.

  • @yurtman6548
    @yurtman6548 Před 3 lety

    I make these and other composting bins. I found that using the wire stitching method to be to tedious and left the fabric too loose. MY technique is to use *hog rings and the hog ring pliers to cinch the fabric to the wire cage. I also use the hog rings when I make shade cloth bed covers over cattle panels. Also attaching ends of chicken wire fencing. and for patching those mysterious holes that randomly appear in the hen house. I typically use 3/4 inch rings with the spring open handle ( straight or right angle pliers ). Don't use the Dewault ones that have the hog rings on a strip because the nose and design of these wont allow for the correct angle to attach the ring and cinch tightly. The spring loaded handle just makes it easier on the hands and wrist to load the rings. One less step of inserting a ring.

  • @robertfrisby3201
    @robertfrisby3201 Před 3 lety

    I live in Sandy Utah, Salt lake Valley. We have cold winters, snow, frost, temps during the day can be as low as 10 degrees or as high as the 40's and night temps as low as single digits. Do these reactors need any care during the winter? I'm sure for the most part they just freeze and sit there until the temps warm up.

  • @EarlybirdFarmSC
    @EarlybirdFarmSC Před 3 lety

    I think Geotextile fabric would work great for this project.

  • @ezequielyrurtia9122
    @ezequielyrurtia9122 Před 3 lety +1

    I have a quick question, How is the best whay to use the compost after the process. do you have to desamble the hole thing? you have to go inside with a shovel?
    Thank you!

  • @olafelsberry9271
    @olafelsberry9271 Před 3 lety

    I'd love to see a follow up video

  • @danam2584
    @danam2584 Před 4 lety +5

    Good work Diego. I need to make 2-4 of these bad boys. Maybe put them in a high tunnel or something?

    • @jerrymaxey782
      @jerrymaxey782 Před 4 lety

      Make sure it is ventilated or where p.p.e because of the toxic gasses produced however they can be filtered and converted through fineshed compost with a carbon base layer like bio char

    • @jerrymaxey782
      @jerrymaxey782 Před 4 lety +2

      What I I did was a work around. I built a row outside the North face of my green house to insulate from the north wind and to keep as much sun on the Southside as possible then Ran stainless steel conduits through it like a radiator and used the natural flow of the water being heated to make it flow through a main line with multiple radiators through my green house no pump

    • @jerrymaxey782
      @jerrymaxey782 Před 4 lety +2

      Then I used the compost created to expand my green house system

    • @jerrymaxey782
      @jerrymaxey782 Před 4 lety

      Salts will start to develop throughout the process be mindful

    • @jerrymaxey782
      @jerrymaxey782 Před 4 lety

      Also they make pretty good raised beds ready to go

  • @potatoface2759
    @potatoface2759 Před 4 lety +1

    what are the benefots of landscape fabric as opposed to just using a finer mesh cage?

    • @flattail
      @flattail Před 3 lety

      It may hold the moisture in better.

  • @ufohakunamaka6049
    @ufohakunamaka6049 Před 3 lety

    Hi Diego, nice video. Please can I use black plastic or jute bag instead of landscape fabric as it is not not readily available in my locality

  • @Daddywaah
    @Daddywaah Před 4 lety

    Maybe add some blood and bone or similar fertilizer as you fill the reactor to increase the heat generation and speed up the process?

    • @DiegoFooter
      @DiegoFooter  Před 4 lety +1

      You could, but the idea here isn't speed or heat.

  • @tiffisfine1665
    @tiffisfine1665 Před 2 lety +1

    Enjoying your bioreactor videos. Can you put grass clipping in a modified Johnson Su? I've not seen any comment on this . Thanks

    • @DiegoFooter
      @DiegoFooter  Před 2 lety

      Yes, but I would blend it with some more mature carbon.

  • @DavidLaFerney
    @DavidLaFerney Před 4 lety

    I've been using a wire mesh cylinder - without pallet, pipe, or landscape fabric - for years. The mesh contains everything just fine, anything that does leak out just gets shoveled back in the top. As long as the mix is good its pretty much finished compost in a few months. How is the bioreactor better?

    • @DiegoFooter
      @DiegoFooter  Před 4 lety

      I wouldn't say it is better, but it is different. Your method only allows airflow from the top and sides. This allows air from the top, bottom, sides, and within the pile through the air channels.

  • @bren0110
    @bren0110 Před 4 lety

    I'm wondering if anyone has experimented with a different base than a pallet. It seems like a lot of work to drill holes into the pallet and cover them with fabric and all that. If there were a base that has large enough holes in it already, or could you put more and smaller pipes into the setup that could fit between the slats of the pallet? Also, has anyone tried the silt fencing that someone else mentioned? I'm also wondering if jute netting would work or if it would decompose too quickly?

  • @sharonhampton5173
    @sharonhampton5173 Před 3 lety +2

    I have 4 compost bins 4x7x 3 ‘ cost me 0$. After watching your video I’m thinking of putting 4” pipes in them for air flow. Let me know what u think

    • @lisanelson6661
      @lisanelson6661 Před 3 lety

      That's what I'm thinking. If you've already got a structure just add the airpipes.

  • @martincarroll5405
    @martincarroll5405 Před 4 lety

    I don't recall hearing you talk about adding worms after the initial hot period is finished. Don't forget the worms!!

    • @JohnMarsing
      @JohnMarsing Před 4 lety +1

      Dr. David Johnson adds them after the thermophilic phase and the compost pile is below 80 degree f.

    • @DiegoFooter
      @DiegoFooter  Před 4 lety +1

      Yes, I will add that them. I am not measuring temperatures, but will probably add them at around the 3 month mark since I am using mostly woodchips and those will need to break down a bit before the worms add benefit.

  • @FreeCanadian76
    @FreeCanadian76 Před 4 lety

    How much water is too much?? Thinking that installing it at the back of the house and use the downspout to keep it watered, could save water and it's automatic. Warmer water too in the summer. Thoughts?

    • @DiegoFooter
      @DiegoFooter  Před 4 lety +1

      Not much. A few drip emitters for 1 minute per day. A downspout would be too much.

  • @divitoman
    @divitoman Před 4 lety

    So you have about 5 inches from the outside of the ring of pipes, to the outside surface, to fit on the pallet. So if you had a bigger pallet you could go for up to a foot? What's the maximum distance to air for good composting again?

  • @jacobite1017
    @jacobite1017 Před rokem

    Rylock stock fence instead of reinforcing mesh- huge savings.

  • @kickuprumpus
    @kickuprumpus Před 4 lety +2

    Great vid! A few questions that I can't seem to find the answer to in all the other vids.
    What amount of worms to add?
    Also will the worms die if you have a cold winter and the bioreactor stays outside? How will a cold winter affect the reactor (snow falls on it). What about watering during winter months. Thanks for any help.

    • @jerrymaxey782
      @jerrymaxey782 Před 4 lety +1

      Don't add worms til the internal temp drops the worms should be good given ( it's a pretty thick winter coat) snow would plug the holes in a blizzard and then thaw and melt but also act as a insulator at the same time. Biological activity is dramatically reduced in cold temps after thermophilic stage but weatherment will continue to work it

    • @jerrymaxey782
      @jerrymaxey782 Před 4 lety +1

      Oh and 500 worms

    • @jerrymaxey782
      @jerrymaxey782 Před 4 lety +1

      500

  • @danielroux1600
    @danielroux1600 Před 2 lety +1

    Thanks for the great video. I am busy building a bioreactor and am wondering if anybody has some results on inoculating the bioreactor with mycorrhizal fungi and trichoderma? I want to use the compost to create an extract or tea to use in my commercial vineyards.

    • @yurdlum9
      @yurdlum9 Před 2 lety +1

      I would reccommend adding mycorrhizal fungi once the compost has cooled. It's worth adding malted barley and mslted corn while it's composting to up the enzymes and also helps aid breakdown and with other fungal growth in my experiences.

    • @nicolamoelter2341
      @nicolamoelter2341 Před rokem

      I don't recommend trichoderma. Those are parasitic fungi and will consume your beneficial fungi.

  • @from2Dto3Dto4D
    @from2Dto3Dto4D Před rokem

    hey there, a voice from Ukraine's village, thanks to your vids I've re-thought the word agri-culture, especially the last part of it. btw, what is the reddish pile of compost to your right hand at 12:55 ?

  • @froggyhurdt244
    @froggyhurdt244 Před 2 lety

    Is there a way to make this but on a smaller scale?

  • @laelbeach83
    @laelbeach83 Před 4 lety

    Is the wrap (landscape fabric) supposed to be breathable? Would a pool liner type material work?

  • @xxsmasherxx
    @xxsmasherxx Před 2 lety

    Beast mode switch 'on' lol

  • @judyvance1556
    @judyvance1556 Před 3 lety +2

    Can I modify the height to 4’, I’m very short.

  • @SomewhatLazy
    @SomewhatLazy Před 3 lety

    Is there a follow-up video to this showing the results?

  • @JayKughan
    @JayKughan Před 4 lety

    What's the difference between this & building a compost tumbler? The tumbler looks like it'll be far easier to build & manage.

    • @DiegoFooter
      @DiegoFooter  Před 4 lety

      You are making a different style of compost. A tumbler makes "hot" compost. This makes "cold" compost. They are different end products. Also you could never fit this much in a tumbler nor would wit work on more mature carbon like wood.

  • @cp-ug2tw
    @cp-ug2tw Před 3 lety

    What kind of water do you use? Is it tap water with chlorine?

  • @mycahlaine
    @mycahlaine Před 2 lety

    Do I need to do a certain combo of nitrogen to carbon for bioreactors?

  • @JanWagner77
    @JanWagner77 Před rokem +1

    Is there a reason why there are so less holes in the pipes? Why not adding more holes or even a wired construction.

  • @katiegreene3960
    @katiegreene3960 Před 4 lety +1

    Now add a copper or lex or landscape tubbi.ng in a coil in the reactor and you have y,our self a water heat source. Compost hot tub or other water heat use. Its basically a ultra slow burn of the material and you can get some crazy heat off it. That's why they had barn fires sometimes in the old days if they stored hay in the barn when it was too wet it would actually spontaneously combust.

    • @jaswindersoin4410
      @jaswindersoin4410 Před 4 lety

      I'd like to know more on the water heat source .

    • @katiegreene3960
      @katiegreene3960 Před 4 lety

      @@jaswindersoin4410 do a few you tube searches for compost heating, compost water heater, compost hot tub, there are only a few videos out there. I think this is one of the most underused energy sources out there. Its amazing, tons of benefits and get 4 main things and can be done from super rustic to highly sofisticated. 5 main benefits 1. Disposal of food and other biodegradable waste, anything compostabe. 2. Of course resulting in usable compost. 3. Very cheap to free "fuel source" 4. Great addition to passive homes that depend on sunlight or wind since this adds a source that is independent. 5. Long lasting, can produce stable molucle by molecule low burn heat for up to 24 months. 6. For higher lvl sophisticated system can even have methane capture for additional heat or energy production.
      This system has in my opinion the most future potential, because almost zero being done with it. Has even a few more potential possibilitys to such out every btu out of the biological process that I have developed, but I'm not currently in the position to experiment :(.
      If you have the means please experiment I think the potential is phenomenal.

    • @DiegoFooter
      @DiegoFooter  Před 4 lety

      I think it will work but it is more experiment that practical water heater. The problem is you will likely draw water out at a rate that doesn’t allow new water to heat up. So you get a small amount of hot water then cold water.

    • @katiegreene3960
      @katiegreene3960 Před 4 lety

      @@DiegoFooter yes this is true, you do lose an amount of btu thru usage draw, but it does work 100% the only part that needs experimentation is your system and application for your exact circumstances. Simple solution to the problem you posed it a few ways 1. Multiple compost bins and valves so you can alternate your draw. 2. A pump on a timer and properly timed based on needs and fuel( compost amount) . 3.multiple loops within same pile( really same as #2 just in one relative stack vs multiple.) 4. Use expectations, meaning to be used as supplemental heat, or even preheating water similarly as many solar hot water heaters are used to preheat water then boosted to desired temp. This system will have peaks and valleys but can be optimized for sure, and 95-140f degree output isn't nothing.

  • @pinjarela
    @pinjarela Před 4 lety +9

    Update us acordingly to se the results!

  • @nbo304
    @nbo304 Před 2 lety

    can i use 2x4 wire fencing instead of the concrete mesh?

  • @colleenforrest7936
    @colleenforrest7936 Před 3 lety

    Could you charge a battery with the heat coming off the bioreactor? Maybe pipe the heat into a small greenhouse to over winter it?

    • @DiegoFooter
      @DiegoFooter  Před 3 lety

      I don't think it would generate enough heat to justify the effort. 70-80F isn't that hot.

  • @rolandoriggio5026
    @rolandoriggio5026 Před 3 lety

    This is badass but one question:
    Does it leak or does it shed any form of water or juices?

    • @DiegoFooter
      @DiegoFooter  Před 3 lety +1

      Not unless you add too much water. It it was a wet climate you could tarp the top. You are adding more brown type material so it is less wet to begin with.

  • @markberg7292
    @markberg7292 Před 4 lety

    Will this work in the great white north?

  • @aphleesegurtra2820
    @aphleesegurtra2820 Před 4 lety +2

    I've got a surplus of woodchips, and this is a brilliant idea... I was going to make biochar but if this can create compost in half the time, well... I thikn it just might be worth the invest.

    • @briansmith6824
      @briansmith6824 Před 4 lety +3

      Aphleese Gurtra - the compost you make from the wood chips will last 2 to 4 years in the soil. Biochar you make from the wood chips will last a few thousand years in the soil.

    • @aphleesegurtra2820
      @aphleesegurtra2820 Před 4 lety

      @@briansmith6824 Now I'm pumped to get my worms juice into the char!

    • @briansmith6824
      @briansmith6824 Před 4 lety

      @@aphleesegurtra2820 Worms won't eat char, it is pure carbon with no nutrients. They might eat innoculated biochar if it is fine enough but just incidentally. Biochar is usually mixed 50/50 with compost as a soil ammendment.
      There are plenty of videos here on CZcams about biochar. Try some from Living Web Farm.

    • @aphleesegurtra2820
      @aphleesegurtra2820 Před 4 lety

      @@briansmith6824 Haha, Yea, I didn't mean go imply that they would, lol!!

    • @jerrymaxey782
      @jerrymaxey782 Před 4 lety

      @@briansmith6824 and you need both

  • @azzuro195
    @azzuro195 Před 4 lety

    I heard "Bioreactor" and pressed "like" without watching.. cool intro by all means. hardly wait to watch all video... but first i have to feed my bioreactor-im hungry :)
    PS Only wooden chips inside ? No greens ?

  • @larimej
    @larimej Před 3 lety +3

    According to your instructions, a 40"×48" pallet is required but a 12.5 circumference makes a 4 foot circle which means it won't fit on a 40"×48" pallet. Why am I the only one noticing this? Am I misunderstanding something? I'm in the middle of the build and need help as quickly as possible to continue. Thanks!

    • @DiegoFooter
      @DiegoFooter  Před 3 lety +1

      Pull the ring of mesh tighter (overlap it more) to get it to fit onto a 40/48. It doesn't have to be a specific diameter. 48/48 pallets are harder to find, but would be perfect.

  • @andrewhague1521
    @andrewhague1521 Před rokem

    Why do you drill holes in the pipe if it's going to be removed after a couple of days?

    • @Wildwwill
      @Wildwwill Před rokem

      I'm guessing to prevent the center from going anaerobic.

  • @K3Flyguy
    @K3Flyguy Před 2 lety

    How can I do this in Wisconsin without a dedicated greenhouse in the winter? I'm sure it would freeze in the winter here. Help?

  • @BaddhaBuddha
    @BaddhaBuddha Před 3 lety +1

    Livestock fencing might be cheaper. Thinner but I'm sure it'd stand the pressure.

  • @xaviercruz4763
    @xaviercruz4763 Před 2 lety

    Can tris be done in a bucket?

  • @gusbisbal9803
    @gusbisbal9803 Před 4 lety +5

    I am glad to see that Freddy Mercury's brother is getting into organic gardening so much.

    • @6liquid6black6
      @6liquid6black6 Před 4 lety

      Have some respect. The man has been a huge influence in the permaculture community

    • @gusbisbal9803
      @gusbisbal9803 Před 4 lety +2

      @@6liquid6black6 please explain how this is disrespectful?

    • @dnldhttnjr
      @dnldhttnjr Před 3 lety

      lmao...too funny

  • @Stasis1234567890
    @Stasis1234567890 Před 4 lety +2

    Could you make a shorter version of this reactor? Or does the height play a factor in the way the bio reactor works? Also I am wondering if you could inoculate the bio reactor with a few techniques from Korean natural farming or some bokashi?

    • @ayileenenga9670
      @ayileenenga9670 Před 4 lety +1

      Yes you can do all what you are suggesting. Since it will lose water over time

    • @DiegoFooter
      @DiegoFooter  Před 4 lety +2

      Bokashi won't help because there aren't really anaerobic conditions in this pile. You could shorten the height. The height isn't really a factor. The key here is the amount of air being introduced to the system and the distribution of that air throughout the pile. Given all of that the pile has to be big enough to matter, but you could probably shorten to 3 feet high.

    • @Stasis1234567890
      @Stasis1234567890 Před 4 lety

      Thanks everyone.

    • @davinblake
      @davinblake Před 4 lety +3

      Hi Colin.
      I have created several modified versions of a bio reactor. I used 2" x 4" wire mesh that is 4' high.
      I then was able to cut the full length of septic pipe in half and use both sides avoiding the med to glue pipes or paying for extra lengths, like Diego did.
      I also built them reactors a little wider with a 14'6" circumference. This requires additional pallets to section off, but the advantage is having extra space to step on assisting with infilling the reactor.
      The 4' height avoids the need for creating a platform to step on during infilling as well.

  • @ourhomesteadjourney1775
    @ourhomesteadjourney1775 Před 4 lety +4

    Could I use 8 pallets stacked vertically and screwed together to create a box instead of using the wire concrete mesh and then duplicate everything else and get the same results?

    • @DiegoFooter
      @DiegoFooter  Před 4 lety

      Probably, but that sounds difficult. The mesh is just the structure so I think you could sub-out as needed.

    • @NordboDK
      @NordboDK Před 4 lety

      That's how I dry my firewood. But with an open front.

    • @mmac4047
      @mmac4047 Před 3 lety +1

      Our Homestead Journey yes

    • @aaronsoule8484
      @aaronsoule8484 Před 3 lety

      I think so as long as humidity and aeration is good, right?
      Gonna slowly rot starting after a few years, though. Hardwood pallets better than softwood. Wind could be an issue, and shapes make a difference, round best for wind. Make sure it won't all get knocked over in a 70mph 💨

    • @Doitallgp
      @Doitallgp Před 3 lety

      Did you ever make one of these with pallets? I’m toying with the idea right now 🤔

  • @metamud8686
    @metamud8686 Před 4 lety +1

    Thumbs up first, now let's watch :-)
    0:52 where's the link?

  • @das250250
    @das250250 Před 4 lety +2

    Have you tested ,examined under a microscope the difference in compost between a mound dropped versus this bio reactor after 1 year ? It is a pretty expensive alternative to normal compost mounds so the returns should reflect that.

    • @MrPhatties
      @MrPhatties Před 4 lety +1

      I would think putting the tubes in a normal pile would get you most of the benefits here... Along with some regular irrigation, and would cost almost nothing if you use the pipes again in the next pile

    • @jerrymaxey782
      @jerrymaxey782 Před 4 lety

      Yes it would as long as air can penitrate

    • @jerrymaxey782
      @jerrymaxey782 Před 4 lety

      Air can effectively pen one foot in so design of that knowledge

    • @jerrymaxey782
      @jerrymaxey782 Před 4 lety

      The higth of it causes a chimney effect sucking air through it it's like a rocket stove

    • @jerrymaxey782
      @jerrymaxey782 Před 4 lety

      This way you eliminate the air pump

  • @anakamhi7097
    @anakamhi7097 Před 3 lety +2

    Can this be done in a smaller scale for urban backyard ?

    • @DiegoFooter
      @DiegoFooter  Před 3 lety +3

      Yes, you can use an IBC or trash can. Video on that coming up.

    • @anakamhi7097
      @anakamhi7097 Před 3 lety

      @@DiegoFooter wonderful!!! Will watch and share ASAP 🙏🏼

  • @ferretfather2000
    @ferretfather2000 Před 4 lety +2

    Could you theoretically use a compost pile as a heat/energy source?🤔

    • @DiegoFooter
      @DiegoFooter  Před 4 lety

      Yes. The trouble is keeping it hot for a long time. Warming the water or area is more likely than really pumping out heat.

    • @BonnieBlue2A
      @BonnieBlue2A Před 4 lety

      Christian Shiels I believe both Geoff Lawton and Paul Wheaton may have info/videos on using compost piles to heat water. Some people also build a compost pile on one side of their greenhouse in the winter to heat it.

    • @mmac4047
      @mmac4047 Před 3 lety

      Christian Shiels - yes

  • @savedbygraceofjesus6074

    If i have 4 ft x 50 ft woven fabric can i oakie rig it to make it work?

  • @ricerealtor980
    @ricerealtor980 Před 3 lety +3

    Can we see the resulting compost?

    • @Doitallgp
      @Doitallgp Před 3 lety +1

      Considering it is supposed to take 12-18 mos, it might be a while. But I’m also looking forward to seeing it