My local council has a free compost scheme. The food and garden waste collected from households is turned into huge quantities of compost. A portion of this is taken to one collection point, and anyone can come and help themselves. When you arrive at the collection point, the compost is often still hot. Steam rises […]
5 Reasons to Let Your Compost Mature for Longer Read More »
Manure may smell, but as a source of fertility for your soil, it’s hard to beat. It’s also one of the best compost materials you can use. Despite that, there are problems with manure that you need to be aware of. You’ll also find that different animal manures have different properties, and need to be
Using Manure in Compost: How to Turn S**t Into Black Gold Read More »
If you think there’s only one or two types of composting, you might be in for a surprise. There’s actually dozens of ways you can turn organic waste into a soil amendment so valuable it’s called ‘black gold’. Each composting method has its pros and cons – and its fans and detractors! In reality, most
17 Composting Methods – Plus How to Choose the Best One For Your Garden and Your Needs Read More »
Compost has its very own week, organised and held every year by the Compost Research and Education Foundation – aka CREF. We sat down with the Ginny Black, Trustee Chair of CREF, to find out more. Can you tell me a little bit about the Foundation and its goals? The mission of CREF is to
International Compost Awareness Week: An Interview with Compost Foundation Read More »
Composting is a fascinating but complex process that involves chemical reactions, bacteria, fungi and multiple organisms. To be clear, you don’t need to understand the science of compost to be able to make compost! You may find, however, that an appreciation of the subtleties does make you a better composter. What is composting? There’s no
The Science of Composting: How Compost Happens Read More »
Hair. Dead chickens. Fish. I’ve composted them all. In fact, if your pile or bin maintains a temperature of at least 130-160°F (55-70°C), you can compost almost anything that’s recently been alive. Even if it’s not hot, you might be surprised at the number of things you can turn into compost. From garden waste to
What You Can Compost: From Everyday Items To The Bizarre… Read More »
So you want to know more about compost? You’ve come to the right place! In this guide, you’ll find a brief overview of what compost is, along with lots of links to more in-depth guides to explore at your leisure. (If you’d prefer to learn more about how compost is made, see our companion guide:
“The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.” Franklin D. Roosevelt There was a time when scientists thought agriculture was simple. You added fertilisers, plants used the fertilisers to grow. But the more we study soil, the more we learn about the interconnection between soil, plants and food It’s a fascinating, complicated subject. And while
23 Benefits of Compost Backed by Science Read More »
You don’t need many tools to make compost. As long as you’ve got something to collect your compost in (wheelbarrow, caddy or even a bag or sack), somewhere to put it and something to turn it with, you can make compost. But additional compost tools can be useful for: There are quite a few tools
Compost Tools for Better, Faster Compost Read More »
There’s plenty of interest in organic compost – and plenty of shops selling it. But in my research for this article, I’ve found plenty of pitfalls too. The very definition of organic compost is questionable, and not all organic compost is good for the environment. Some gardeners assume that organic compost is also peat-free –
Organic Compost: Black Gold or Commercial Hype? Read More »