Ready to get the most out of your garden and turn waste into black gold? It’s time to learn about composting! Here you’ll find clear, step-by-step instructions, informative articles and pro tips on the composting process that will help you become a master composter in no time.
If you’re totally new to composting, start off with our home composting guide, while experienced composters might want to find out our 17 tips for speeding compost up!
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, …
Have you been panicked into putting half your waste into the trash can instead of the compost bin? Pretty much every week an article seems to be written on things you CAN’T compost. The truth is, pretty much everything that has recently lived is compostable. It IS true that some things are more difficult to …
Composting Myths Debunked: The Truth About ‘Non-Compostable’ Items Read More »
Have you struggled to get your compost heap hot before? Chances are you have missed one of the five keys to successful hot composting. Or quite possibly you’ve become disheartened after listening to instructions to turn your heap every other day, or build a huge pile. (As Joseph Jenkins noted in The Humanure Handbook, the …
The Five Rules to Successful Hot Composting (or How Anyone Can Hot Compost) Read More »
In our guide to the Carbon: Nitrogen ratio, we took an in-depth look at the role of the essential nutrients in composting. As discussed there, you CAN compost with a wide range of C: N ratios. Moreover, while you can calculate exact ratios, it’s complex, time-consuming and probably far more involved than the average home …
Get to Know Your Organic Materials: C:N Ratio Tables for Effective Composting Read More »
When I started this post, I thought about calling it something like 17 ways to get your compost hot. But in reality, when you build a compost heap, you (mostly) don’t provide the heat. Instead, you provide the conditions for heat to be generated. (I say mostly because you can help kick-start compost bins through …
17 Effective Ways to Insulate Your Compost Heap or Bin Read More »
When a compost pile is built correctly, you shouldn’t have many problems with flies. In fact, The Composting Handbook notes that composting is a great way to reduce the number of flies on farms. What’s more, a few flies are not really a problem. In fact, they can even provide a benefit for the compost …
14 Effective Ways To Prevent and Control Flies In Compost Read More »
If you have access to a lot of hair, you’re in luck. Hair is high in nitrogen and has excellent water retention ability. Before composting, hair can contain both heavy metals and chemicals from treatments. However, multiple studies show that despite this the final result makes great compost. This may be partly down to the …
Yorkshire Tea Bags are my first choice when it comes to tea. It’s not just because my dad is from Yorkshire (although admittedly he does insist on buying them). I prefer the strong taste to other teas, and I am also impressed by the work they have done for the environment. So I’ve always been …
Are Yorkshire Tea Bags Compostable? Only Under Ideal Conditions! Read More »
You’ve made your first compost pile. You wait, expecting to come back and find a beautiful brown crumbly material. Instead – it stinks! If you haven’t been composting for long, it can easily happen. Even if you’ve been composting for a while, it’s easy to slip up and make a mistake. On the positive side, …
6 Easy Ways To Stop (Outdoor) Compost From Smelling Read More »
Air is one of the keys to making compost. In fact, some studies suggest even a temporary absence of air can lead to a reduction in compost quality. In a previous article, we took a look at the role of oxygen in compost. That was the more sciency, technical aspect (but super interesting – do …
11 Ways to Aerate Your Compost (Only 1 Involves Turning!) Read More »