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!
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 »
Biochar is under-used in compost, but there’s some promising research suggesting that it can help with everything from helping us to create faster, better compost to helping the environment. In this article, we’ll take a science-backed look at how biochar can help speed up the composting process, and what the benefits and drawbacks of using …
How Biochar Can Help Improve Compost Speed and Quality Read More »
Got moss in your garden? That’s not necessarily a bad thing. This fascinating plant has some amazing properties which can make it a boon in the garden as well as a viable compost material. In this post, we’ll cover some of the benefits of moss for gardeners even before it’s composted. We’ll also look at …
Composting Magic: How Moss Can Boost Your Garden Read More »
If you’re siting a compost pile or bin, location can be important. That’s especially the case if your bin is large, as once it is full of compost it can be difficult to move. So it’s worth taking a few minutes to think about the best location. However, the perfect spot for a compost bin …
Wondering Where to Put Your Compost Bin? Here’s What You Need To Know… Read More »
Moisture in compost is one of several key elements to successful composting. It’s not something you will always need to worry about, but it is worth monitoring in case you do need to take action. In this article, you’ll learn everything from why moisture levels are important to how to measure and control them. Let’s …
Moisture In Compost: Everything You Need To Know Read More »
I love using (the right kind of!) ash in the garden. I use it as a barrier around young tender plants to deter slugs, as part of a mix to make highly effective homemade fertilizer and to adjust the pH of the soil before planting brassicas. (I’ve even started to ask friends to keep leftover …
Is Ash a Good Addition to Compost? An Evidence-Based Answer Read More »
I didn’t scream. Honestly. It was more of a gasp. (A manly one, I might add. A claim I can make in the confident knowledge that I was the only person at the bottom of the garden.) I’d opened the lid to my compost bin, and there was a humongous rat staring at me. It …
I remember asking a hairdresser if I could collect hair from her. I’ll never forget the look she gave me. Even after I explained it was for my compost heap, she still seemed to think I was rather strange. Eventually, she swept up my hair and put in a bag for me – but there …
Can You Really Compost Hair? Here’s What The Science Says Read More »
Next time you walk in a forest, try bending down and taking a handful of the soil. You’ll find it dark with a delightful smell somewhere between rich earth and old leaves. These leaves are full of nutrients – the very nutrients that can be used to grow huge trees. And in the autumn, there …
Leaf Mold Magic: How to Use Fallen Leaves to Improve Your Garden Soil Read More »
Some composting systems recommend regularly turning compost piles. For example, the Berkely method recommends turning compost every single day until the compost is finished. Other systems recommend turning compost infrequently, or even not at all. Both systems can work – and both come with pros and cons. So in this article we’ll examine the different …