Visiting The Sylvagrow Compost Factory | How Is Peat Free Compost Made?

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Күн бұрын

Visiting the Sylvagrow factory to see exactly how my favourite peat free compost is made, discussing tips on how to get the most out of it, and talking a bit about the environmental costs. This video was not sponsored in any way! Really hope you enjoy.
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Telegraph article was on this paper:
www.nature.com/articles/s4428...
Very interesting and I think the main takeaway is that if you want to do small scale ag in a way that's best for carbon you have to focus on using recycled materials. One of the most interesting bits in here for me was the part about people composting badly and making stuff go anerobic which releases methane! Something I'd definitely never thought about.
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Пікірлер: 77

@simplifygardening 5 ай бұрын

Amazing to see Sylvia grow facility it was also great to see Jessie’s version. I agree about the quality and it’s great they have consistency it is so important. Thanks for the mention JB. Great video mate.

@JBNat 5 ай бұрын

Thanks Tony!

@Genevieve8002 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for the Sylvagrow special. Started using Sylvagrow a couple of years or so back, after seeing Jessie use them on her plot. 😊

@Bananaskin101 5 ай бұрын

I always carefully cut open my compost bags and re-used them for other purposes like rubble bags, cat litter disposal etc

@tecmow4399 Ай бұрын

Such a fascinating dive into this product! I agree - if there’s a move away from peat the peat free products need to be consistent. At seedling stage there’s nothing worse than waiting several weeks to realise you’ve had a rubbish batch. I can see how you went down a million rabbit holes 😂 Thanks for sharing

@CSaville 5 ай бұрын

I was really looking forward to this video and I wasn't disappointed, fascinating stuff. I couldn't find Sylvagrow this year at a sensible price but I'll be on the hunt early for next year. As you say some other manufacturers are so inconsistent. I've bought bags of lovely fluffy wonderful fine compost from some providers that hardly needs sieving then bought the same product a few weeks later that was full of twigs, large woodchips and stones. I guess we've all been there.

@jennywrenslife 5 ай бұрын

Absolutely loved this video JB, thanks for making it. I've only used a few of the Melcourt products but they have all been perfect for the jobs I used them for.

@sharonphelps 5 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for this video. I started using Sylvagrow last year, and it is now my favourite compost for seed sowing and potting young plants. I love the fine texture, and it's great that you explain how Melcourt achieve a consistent fine blend. I had been trying to work out which ingredients are in the Sylvagrow mix, but could only be sure there is wood fibre. It's really interesting to see what else is mixed in.

@brigidaodonnell7053 5 ай бұрын

Thankyou for going there to see how they make their products. It was really eye opening and much more work than I ever thought would be involved in making Sylva grow.

@SuzanneL 5 ай бұрын

Omg a JB and Jessie collab 🤩 such a great idea to reach out to SylvaGrow and teach us about their compost. That was quite interesting & insightful 👍

@mariewright9352 5 ай бұрын

Very interesting JB, made me think. Enjoyed Jessie video too, looks like you had a good day as well as learning a lot

@christinebrooks6364 5 ай бұрын

Hi JB, what a great venture for you & Jessie. I've watched Jessie's video, which was really good. Great video with lots of interesting information anpit silvagrow compost. Thanks for sharing and take care 😊

@monro2159 5 ай бұрын

This was fascinating JB. It's true that peat free compost is a real challenge and consequently has been very hit or miss. There is certainly no blame for all the companies trying to crack it. It's almost like trying to make omelettes without eggs in terms of quality. You're the environmental expert but I would imagine there is nothing these days truly 100% environmentally friendly with the way any produce is manufactured in bulk. All we can ask is that companies endeavour to try their upmost to make it as friendly as they can and ring fence finance for continuing research for improvements. It certainly appears that Melcourt go that extra yard to achieve as much as possible at the moment which is no doubt reflected in their current success and the price of their products. Great video.

@maryobrien5568 5 ай бұрын

Thank you. A very interesting video, raising one of the dilemmas we have as gardeners about our environmental impact. I have been thinking about this for a number of years, especially when you see the amount of inputs many KZfaq gardeners use. I have decided to try to minimise bringing products into the garden through using my own compost/worm castings, mulching with grass clippings/ leaves/ seaweed, using green manure/ Jadam soil amendments and transitioning to perennial vegetables as far as possible. I shall see how it goes.

@kennytait9865 5 ай бұрын

Great vidio jb very interesting on how the compost is made and what goes into making it look forward to more of your vidios

@Carol-oc7mx 5 ай бұрын

A very interesting video and it has given me lots to think about. Thank you. Off to go and watch Jessie's video now 👍

@mrcogginsgarage7062 5 ай бұрын

Thanks JB really useful film,looking forward to the next episode I've been using Sylva Grow for ages ,this will be my eighth year ,it's allways consistent quality,and the fact that's it's local to me help greatly with the veg growing.

@angeladrummie4461 5 ай бұрын

A really interesting trip to the Sylvagrow factory, I watched Jessie's video on Tuesday, some great footage. This is my first year using their peat free compost and I can honestly say I am impressed by the quality and consistency of the compost. I totally agree that it will take a while to get used to the amount of watering required. Ty.

@receii 5 ай бұрын

Great video JB, absolutely jam packed with information!

@JBNat 5 ай бұрын

Thank you!

@kitchengardengrows 5 ай бұрын

Really enjoyed that JB!

@sharronmorrison2105 3 ай бұрын

I thought they were slug eggs too 😂. Thank you for such a great video and so much info x

@thatgirlthatgrows 5 ай бұрын

This is such a great video JB! It’s so funny how I question everything I put on my plot and crops, but for some reason I never think about compost (apart from peat free) which is probably the one thing I absolutely should be!!

@margerycummings8158 5 ай бұрын

Loved this JB, really interesting. Compost has drove me round the bend in recent years since trying not to use peat. So much is rubbish. I still haven’t managed to get hold of this but will keep trying. Thanks for all the info 👍❤️

@BumblebeeAdventure 5 ай бұрын

🐝Thanks for the great video 🌻 THIS WAS soooo intresting thanks JB

@rubiccube8953 5 ай бұрын

Interesting JB . I make and recycle most of my own compost from wood chips. I sieved some of the compost add fine sand and sterilise at 185 F in a stainless 14L steel bucket inside a old electrical. 30L tea urn. You only need seed and cutting compost sterilised and fine. I put cheap compost that weed free on top of the planting up pots.

@simonbattle6689 5 ай бұрын

Really fascinating and nuanced overview. It is a brilliant product. I use other peat free composts too, just because with an allotment it would be too pricy to rely solely on Sylvagrow. I do not get too frustrated by the others, I see them as a horticultural challenge! For instance Homebase peat free was a Which best buy but I found it very fluffy/fibrous. However at an allotment is absolutely fine for raised beds, potatoes in pots, and can be mixed in with other ingredients. It is not an easy task to produce this level of quality and consistency. I hope that this is not used as a delaying tactic for banning peat. Gardeners and professional growers are creative people and surely can grow in more sustainable growing mediums than peat, which is thousands of years in the making.

@JBNat 5 ай бұрын

Thanks so much Simon! You have a great attitude.

@TheJenmiester 5 ай бұрын

After watching Jessie video I have been excited to see yours, great information there JB thank you

@addickUK 5 ай бұрын

Great video from behind the scenes. Interesting to hear you talk about them saying to buy less compost, as I noticed today that the bags of Sylvagrow I got two weeks ago had a production date printed on the bag (December 2023 in my case)

@annaeborall934 5 ай бұрын

Really interesting video JB. Trialled Silvagrow courtesy of the garden club in 2020 and loved it. Bought a bag the following year and was disappointed so that must have been their blip. I use coir bricks as have limited storage and as they keep can buy in bulk. When potting on I mix coir with some of my home made compost as find plants transplant better. It depends on the type of plant how much of my own compost to use so do need to experiment. Also depends how much of your own compost you have. You should get some nice stuff in that hotbin.

@beansbrewsandbread 5 ай бұрын

Great video, super informative. Their process really comes across a bit like the craft beer / indie brewers scene somehow 😂 might fight my aversion to fomo and get a bag or two this year . Cheers, Andy!

@user-mx1ls1uu3w 5 ай бұрын

Such an interesting and educational video JB Well done. I have checked out all garden centres in my area without any luck. Then after watching Jess’s video the other day I tried again! It was mentioned that they supply landscaping companies so I went down they route thank god I did because I only found it at a builder’s landscaping merchant! They didn’t have it at that depot but got it in from another! £7.02 a bag inc vat errr I had 10 bags! Couldn’t help myself 😂😂😂

@lyndaturner6686 5 ай бұрын

It was a fascinating video to watch, sadly I haven’t been able so far to buy any Sylvagrow to try, except on Amazon at about £18 and frankly I can’t afford that. I do make compost but I always understood it’s not good for seed sowing as it’s likely to have weed seeds and slug eggs in it , I shall hopefully find some soon.

@jackgreen1698 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for that- an excellent video

@colinchick2692 5 ай бұрын

I do make all my own compost for beds in the garden etc - the only compost I buy is for seed starting as I cant get the fine particles that I want and I am too lazy to sieve it that well. I know I should make the effort but as I only buy a small amount for seeds I will put up with the transport and the plastic ( I do use it for lining my baskets etc so some effort at recycling the plastic). It is good to be reminded of the wrapping of the large pallets and importing the coir etc.

@rogerricketts1146 5 ай бұрын

Hi, I’m celebrating today, I’ve found some Silva grow and I’m really over the moon, I am so excited and relieved that I have found some. Start using it tomorrow 👍😆

@Kev_Partner 5 ай бұрын

Fascinating video, JB, thanks. It's interesting that they acknowledged that there had been a wobble in quality during the pandemic - I'd noticed that, for one year, I'd had dodgy results with Silvagrow and I guess that must have been why. I try not to use much bought in compost, preferring to make my own and to buy in composted stable manure for my beds (it's cheaper and locally sourced), but Silvagrow is my choice for seed raising and, when I can afford it, container growing.

@JBNat 5 ай бұрын

Totally agree on manure for beds, and sylvagrow do too! They said they were horrified when they saw new gardeners filling raised beds with Sylvagrow when topsoil would have done. It's very much designed for seedlings and container growing!

@charlotteoleary196 5 ай бұрын

I love Sylvagrow. I had to swap to blocks of coco coir as my local garden centre never had it in stock and it's so expensive to get it delivered. Also the coco coir comes in small blocks you can keep in the shed and hydrate as you need it. When I get my 'forever' garden I will definitely go back to the Sylvagrow, hopefully I'll have some sort of undercover place to put it. What a great video, thank you for asking them for a tour!

@nitelite78 5 ай бұрын

I haven't used Sylvagrow but I've used coco coir and it looks very different to the stuff in Sylvagrow. The coco coir I've used didn't seem broken down anywhere near as much. It had a weird spongy texture. So I guess you don't just have to just consider the components of compost but also the fact that each component has its own varied qualities i.e. not all coco coir is the same.

@ekcs3941 2 ай бұрын

I made the biggest mistake of trying an alternate brand (I had a discount code) and it was awful it set rock hard like cement I regret not sticking with my old reliable Sylva grow!

@allthingsallotmentonplot21 5 ай бұрын

Great video from you and Jessie. Can’t get hold of it so far. But still trying to find a West Yorkshire stockist.

@alexgrowsfood 5 ай бұрын

This is such a great video. I really wanted to ask about going on a compost factory tour, so I'm very glad they said yes and you two got to make this. I've got similar feelings about coir. It looks like it depends a lot on which producer you buy from - so as long as you're sure they aren't entirely green-washing, then I presume being dehydrated and compressed makes up for the transport as you say (and the other issues are invalid/less significant). And I presume the increased germination (that I get anyway) must counter-act some losses due to low germination if it wasn't in the mix? It's a shame there isn't *much* high quality and recent info on coir out there, because I love the stuff... I'm curious if you've read that nature paper and what you think about it. I had a look but couldn't quite see the breakdown for their life-cycle assessment - it almost looks like not using raised beds makes an individual garden similar impact to a community garden. But I imagine their sample will have a significant impact and as you say it didn't mention other non-carbon impacts. It also looks like the criteria was 5 a day plus recommended calories?

@JBNat 5 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for watching & commenting Alex! Yes I didn't see the statistics but sylvagrow said that moving the coir from India actually produces less emissions than goes into moving the product and ingredients around on UK roads just because of the economy of scale you get from shipping. Great point about failed germination! I did read the paper and it's quite light on detail isn't it. I popped a few thoughts in the description of today's video but yeah it really seems like new timber structures (sheds and beds) seemed to account for most of the carbon costings. The bit about bad composting process really made me think. I think the authors are REALLY balanced about their findings, and their discussion is really interesting. There's a nice bit about potential benefits of no dig for storing carbon too. And the fact that often veg growers have a higher proportion of their caloric needs satisfied by veg which is generally lower environmental cost.

@purecountryman 5 ай бұрын

peat free compost has got me thinking ,is there such a thing . compost is dead or dying vegetation the same as peat only difference i can see is peat uses waterlogged land to slow the vegetation from fully decaying . so if where taking the vegetation away from the waterlogged area then there is no peat ? compost is just a speeded up peat variant .

@DigwellGreenfingers 5 ай бұрын

Just up the road from me. I used to go there to buy compost when they were "small" but I think they have stopped onsite sales now.

@chriseverest4380 5 ай бұрын

Brilliant explanation. Need to give a bibliography citing your sources. 😂😂😂(hee hee spot the ex-academic librarian)❤ thanks JB.

@JenniMBE 5 ай бұрын

I like Sylvagrow but it's so hard to get hold of. I have one supplier near me and it sells out really quickly

@ballysillanallotment-man5793 5 ай бұрын

Very Very interesting video nothing we do is going to be environmentally perfect we can just do the best we can and i honestly think allotment gardeners do their bit yes when you walk around an allotment you might see plastic etc being used but we are not one use people we reuse and invent uses for materials an example would be my own polytunnel plastic covering over 10 years old but when i recovered it i didn't dump the plastic i made mini plastic cloches with it for the outside beds sorry rattling on well done Sylvagrow going about making your product the best way possible

@JBNat 5 ай бұрын

Brilliant points and I totally agree! I think the culture of reuse and recycling runs through allotments and it is one of the best things about them!

@ritahobbs5256 5 ай бұрын

So interesting 😊

@JBNat 5 ай бұрын

Thanks Rita !

@martinohara4357 5 ай бұрын

Great show, at least sylvagrow has transparency how they make their compost. BTW check out at 2.58 minute behind you above the picture, something odd goes by.😊

@Zoeybeau_1 5 ай бұрын

We don't get this in NI I wish we did, so I rely on the local garden centres mix of normal all purpose compost.

@DavidGibb-vo3df 5 ай бұрын

Great video very interesting if only I could get it over here 😢

@irenesmith5676 5 ай бұрын

Hi jb yes I saw Jesse video very interesting lv Irene 😘 xx

@chrislawton4692 5 ай бұрын

I think the peat ban has been moved back a few years 😮

@user-ss9xc1uk6y 5 ай бұрын

So how many bags did you bought on that day JB ❤ because it looks so good

@glassbackdiy3949 5 ай бұрын

If you want really want to get into biological compost (rather than chemical salt fortified + imported stuff) get in touch with Laverstoke Park education center and ask if you can tag along on one of their tours (Hampshire) biologically active consistant compost suitable for commercial compost teas all made from green waste. Their lab is soil food web approved, proper next level with their own mass spectometers! They also do Albrecht and Reams soil testing for mineral rebalancing, fancy next level gardening for nutrient density of your food? I went there for a compost tea seminar in 2011, blew my mind, get some water buffalo ice cream while you're there, it'll spoil you for all other ice cream, it's like Disney Land for soil nerds lol

@Dawn_Grows_Veg 5 ай бұрын

Great video JB. It makes the perfect companion piece to Jessie’s video. What a day you guys had, I was very envious of your day trip. I now understand what makes Melcourt products so good, they have a consistent approach to their recipes. I love this kind of thin* the science behind it all is so interesting. Thanks for doing this one.

@lucrom1097 5 ай бұрын

Fantastisch JB video thé Compost thé moostuin te planting you the best friend thans te vlog Good weekend Top 👍🌱🌷✔️🌺🌳🍂🌞

@davidshaw9309 5 ай бұрын

I also like the folks at Melcourt. Did I see Perlite in your compost? I think they advise against adding stuff like that as the finished compost is carefully adjusted and additions usually upset the balance. But maybe you compared the compost as sold with the compost + your addition and found the latter was better? I am facinated how some brands grow great brassica seedlings, others grow better lettuce seedlings.

@JBNat 5 ай бұрын

Yep I use perlite in my chilli mix as it really helps with drainage, coir can be a little dangerous for chilli's which don't like to sit wet.

@davidshaw9309 5 ай бұрын

@@JBNat Thanks

@locke6531 5 ай бұрын

👍

@JoesPatch 5 ай бұрын

👍🌱

@Lynne-plot35b-36b 5 ай бұрын

Can’t get sylvagrow in midlands near me as far as I can tell, well maybe on the internet and it’s very expensive as you and Jess have said many times.

@JBNat 5 ай бұрын

Have you checked their stockists? It looks like the midlands has decent coverage! melcourt.co.uk/where-to-buy/

@Lynne-plot35b-36b 5 ай бұрын

@@JBNat Evesham BGS is nearest which 1hr 10 mins from me. I’m Warwickshire which is in the dead middle of the country. Maybe I’ll look online and brave the cost for a bag or two of this miracle black gold lol.

@JBNat 5 ай бұрын

Oof yeah that's a big trip! They might be able to do delivery if you're lucky? Some of my nurseries do deliveries!

@amandar7719 5 ай бұрын

@@JBNat Melcourt stockists might be either out of date or contracts not yet signed. Charlecote Nurseries for example don’t stock it, yet it’s on Melcourt’s list. The nursery is now owned by a large chain so maybe its corporate HQ hasn’t yet pressed the all clear button. The staff at the actual nursery haven’t heard of Silvagrow….

@bthyme 5 ай бұрын

I wish they would develop production in the US

@JBNat 5 ай бұрын

Ooh interesting! One thing that is quite interesting is that peat can be sustainably produced in Canada! So I'm not sure there's so much pressure to move away from peat in the US.