The process of how compost is made – and how it benefits soil and plants – is fascinating. It’s also useful, as an awareness can help you create faster compost, better soil and healthy, luxurious plants.
If you’re new to the science of composting, we suggest starting with The Science of Compost – How Compost Happens!
Even in my relatively mild climate, winter temperatures occasionally dip as low as -7°C (19°F), and the surface of compost can freeze. While it’s not a frequent occurrence here, I know many composters live in much colder regions and wonder what happens when their compost piles freeze over. Fortunately, even when your compost seems to
Frozen Compost? Don’t Panic—Here’s What’s Happening Inside Read More »
In the dense, buzzing rainforests of Central and South America, an extraordinary story of mutual survival is unfolding in the canopies. Meet the Azteca ants and their Cecropia tree hosts – partners in one of nature’s most fascinating composting systems. A partnership built over millennia The Azteca-Cecropia relationship is a relationship that has developed over
The Secret Compost Masters of the Tropics: Azteca Ants and Cecropia Trees Read More »
Back in the 19th century, Albert Howard, considered one of the fathers of composting, was a big fan of adding lime to compost. In recent decades, though, the practice has been discouraged by many composters who see it as unnecessary. After all, lime is alkaline. While compost goes through some major pH swings, it usually
Does Lime Really Speed Up Compost? Read More »
Have you ever noticed all the gardening tips that flood tabloids at the start of the gardening season? You know the sort of thing – “This one tip will supercharge your plants says expert” and the like. One that made the rounds this year was the use of coffee grounds, with ‘experts’ advising us to
The Garden’s Barista? Worms’ Impact On Coffee Grounds Read More »
Would you ever use fresh compost in the garden? One friend of mine did, and used to wax lyrical about the benefit of free municipal compost. “It’s still hot, James – it warms the soil in the spring!” Much as I loved him, he was completely wrong in this case! Fresh compost can be high
Compost Maturity Matters: Why Fresh Isn’t Always Best Read More »
When I worked in Thailand at the start of the century, I was told that local farmers divided their land into two sections. The first section was where they grew crops for sale. These were grown in the modern way, using pesticides and fertilizers. The second was a smaller patch, where they grew their own
Is Compost-Grown Veg Better For You? Here’s What The Science Says Read More »
Imagine you had a simple kitchen ingredient in your cupboard that could make your compost hotter, enhance its nutritional value, AND reduce harm to the environment. If a Japanese study is right, the cooking oil you use every day could be that ingredient! The researchers had already identified that adding cooking oil to cattle manure
The Cooking Oil Composting Hack Read More »
Every time we finish a meal, and throw food scraps away in the trash, we’re contributing to a massive global problem. Over one-third of our human food waste is trashed – and the emissions that waste produces are helping to kill our planet. However, a study published in Nature revealed a hidden hero in the
How Composting Could Be A Game-Changer In The Fight Against Carbon Emissions Read More »
2nd May 2023 Gardeners and farmers alike are suffering from the effects of climate change. As heat waves sweep across the world, water levels are dropping – and tomato yields are particularly affected. However, a new study may have the answer – at least for tomatoes. Morrocan researchers compared the use of conventional chemical fertilizers
Are Your Plants Suffering from Climate Change? Scientists Have a Solution Read More »
Do you know which of Darwin’s books sold best when first published? Heads up, it wasn’t the Theory of Evolution – it was actually his book on worms. Darwin was both fascinated and impressed by the creatures, stating: “It may be doubted whether there are many other animals which have played so important a part
Worms of Steel: How Fast-Evolving Worms Can Remove Metal From Compost Read More »