When I first started vermicomposting, I turned to the seminal work on the subject: Worms Eat My Garbage. The author, Mary Appelhof, built her first worm bin in 1972 and self-published the first edition of the book ten years later. She would go on to sell over 100,000 copies before her death in 2005. My […]
Worms Eat My Garbage – Review Read More »
If you’re looking for a solid, comprehensive and well-illustrated introduction to composting, Composting for a New Generation, Latest Techniques for the Bin and Beyond by Michelle Balz is probably the best. (Or at least, it’s the best I’ve read so far!) In fact, while the Humanure Handbook is my favourite book for a good read,
2nd April 2023 The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is allocating millions in funding to support community and municipal composting programs across the US. The department is keen to spread the word to people setting up innovative composting projects around the USA, and recently reached out to Compost Magazine to help spread the word.
US Gov Allocates Millions for Compost Programs: Is Yours Eligible? Read More »
Compost science is a fascinating topic, but getting a decent grasp of it online often means wading through realms of densely written material. Simply put, science-based articles on compost are rarely written for the layperson. So when I was recently offered a copy of “Compost Science for Gardeners: Simple Methods for Nutrient Rich Soil” for
To grow food in our modern civilization, we mine phosphate and potassium. We ship them across the world. We lose some, and use a lot of energy, in the process. These minerals are essential for making artificial fertilizers – fertilizers that have changed the world! Multiple times we have feared that our world faced mass
How Humanure Could Change The World (If We Don’t Turn Up Our Noses!) Read More »
I have a good few books on compost in my library, and the now stained and worn copy Humanure Handbook, Shit in a Nutshell is one of my favorites. Firstly, there’s the breadth of the book. It could easily have been a narrow polemic on the need for humanure, but instead, the book takes you
Humanure Handbook Review – You’ll Never Think About S**t In the Same Way Again Read More »
Update: The company has come a long way since this interview! You can learn more about how the device works and how to use it in 7 Ways to Use Compost Technology to Speed Up Your Compost. There’s no point in aiming for total accuracy when it comes to composting. Unless you are a commercial
Monty Compost Monitoring Technology: Interview with CEO Ashley Baxter 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 »
Think the history of compost is boring? Think again. In this article you’ll find bones stolen from graveyards and battlefields to fertilise Yorkshire fields. You’ll find Egyptians facing death for stealing earthworms and ancient people using blood to fertilise their gardens. You’ll also find some sound principles and solutions that could well help us in
Compost History: The Fascinating Story of an Ancient Science Read More »
What do a handful of former U.S. Presidents, explosive TNT, and a curious Australian bird have in common? As you’ll find out in this blog post, the thread that connects them is the humble but extraordinary process of composting. Intrigued? Well, that’s just the start, because whether you are simply looking for quirky trivia questions
23 Fascinating Facts About Composting You Probably Didn’t Know Read More »