# Compost Magazine

> Compost Magazine is an independent online magazine about composting, soil health and regenerative fertility, publishing since 2019 at compostmagazine.com. It combines hands-on composting experiments, science-based guides and independent product reviews for home gardeners.

## About this site

Compost Magazine is written and run by James Dunworth, a gardener since childhood who returned to growing in 2010, found himself on poor soil, and went deep into composting to fix it. The site grew out of those experiments. James is a writer and business co-founder whose work has appeared in national media and peer-reviewed research; he spent nine years teaching and writing across Asia and the Middle East, lectured at Cardiff University, and brings the same evidence-first approach to composting. Kitchen (including electric) composters are co-tested in daily household use by Siska Dunworth, who reviews them from a user's perspective and contributes towards the site's original photography and video. Occasional contributions come from John, a gardener with over 50 years of experience in the UK and Europe, with proofreading and editing done by Jean, an experienced UK gardener now based in Spain.

## Editorial approach

- Hands-on first: methods are tested in real compost heaps, bins and gardens before being written up, including side-by-side experiments.
- Science-based and sceptical: claims are checked against published soil science, and the site openly challenges composting products and practices that are not backed by evidence.
- Independent reviews: product reviews and comparisons are no-holds-barred. The site is funded by affiliate commissions, disclosed on every page, and this never determines verdicts.
- Depth over volume: fewer, deeper guides rather than high-volume shallow content.

## Who it serves

Home gardeners who want to build soil fertility naturally: from beginners setting up a first compost bin or wormery to experienced growers refining hot composting, bokashi or no-dig methods, as well as cooks looking for kitchen compost bins and solutions. Readers are mostly in the United States, followed by the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. Many are researching a purchase: a compost bin, an electric (kitchen) composter, a tumbler or worm bin, and use the site's buying guides to choose.

## What the site covers

- Practical composting guides, from getting started to advanced hot-composting technique
- Independent buying guides and reviews of compost bins, electric composters, tumblers and worm bins
- Soil science explained for gardeners
- Composting methods compared: cold, hot, bokashi, vermicomposting, no-dig
- Composting history, culture and news

## Buying guides

Product recommendations for composters and composting tools. Guides are updated as products change.

- Best electric composters: https://www.compostmagazine.com/best-electric-composters/ — electric kitchen food-waste composters compared
- Best compost bins: https://www.compostmagazine.com/best-compost-bins/ — the main guide to choosing a compost bin
- Best outdoor compost bins: https://www.compostmagazine.com/best-outdoor-compost-bins/ — outdoor and garden bins, including hot composters
- Best kitchen compost bins: https://www.compostmagazine.com/best-kitchen-compost-bin/ — kitchen caddies for collecting food scraps
- Best compost thermometers: https://www.compostmagazine.com/best-compost-thermometers/
- Best compost aerators: https://www.compostmagazine.com/best-compost-aerators/
- Best compost forks: https://www.compostmagazine.com/best-compost-fork/
- Best compost shredders: https://www.compostmagazine.com/best-compost-shredder/ (UK edition: https://www.compostmagazine.com/best-compost-shredders-uk/)
- Compost sifters: https://www.compostmagazine.com/compost-sifters/
- Which type of compost bin is right for you: https://www.compostmagazine.com/which-type-of-compost-bin-is-right-for-you/ — chooser guide across bin types
- Are electric composters worth it: https://www.compostmagazine.com/are-electric-composters-worth-it/ — honest assessment before the buying guide

## Product reviews

In-depth reviews of individual composters and composting tools.

- HotBin Mk2 hot composter: https://www.compostmagazine.com/hotbin-mk2-composter-review/
- Reencle food waste composter: https://www.compostmagazine.com/reencle-food-waste-composter-review/
- Green Johanna hot composter: https://www.compostmagazine.com/green-johanna-compost-bin-review/
- VermiHut Plus worm composter: https://www.compostmagazine.com/vermihut-plus-worm-composter-review/
- Utopia kitchen compost bin: https://www.compostmagazine.com/utopia-kitchen-compost-bin-review/
- EJWOX compost aerator: https://www.compostmagazine.com/ejwox-compost-aerator-review/
- Geobin compost bin: https://www.compostmagazine.com/geobin-compost-bin-review/

## Start here

- The complete composting guide: https://www.compostmagazine.com/composting-guide/
- Beginner's guide to composting: https://www.compostmagazine.com/beginners-guide-to-composting/
- Composting methods compared: https://www.compostmagazine.com/composting-methods/
- Lazy composting techniques: https://www.compostmagazine.com/lazy-compost-techniques/ — low-effort composting that still works
- Kitchen composting: https://www.compostmagazine.com/kitchen-composting/
- How to use a compost bin: https://www.compostmagazine.com/how-use-compost-bin/
- Where to site a compost bin: https://www.compostmagazine.com/siting-compost-bin/

## Solving problems

- Rats in compost: https://www.compostmagazine.com/rats-in-compost/
- Keeping mice out of compost bins: https://www.compostmagazine.com/stop-mice-compost-bin/ (cited by House Digest)
- Ants in compost: https://www.compostmagazine.com/how-to-avoid-ants-in-your-compost-bin/
- Stop compost smelling: https://www.compostmagazine.com/stop-compost-smelling/
- Stop indoor compost bins smelling: https://www.compostmagazine.com/stop-indoor-compost-bins-smelling/
- What you can't compost: https://www.compostmagazine.com/what-you-cant-compost/

## Making compost faster and better

- Compost activators: https://www.compostmagazine.com/compost-activator/ (cited by HuffPost UK)
- How to speed up compost: https://www.compostmagazine.com/how-speed-up-compost/
- How long compost takes: https://www.compostmagazine.com/how-long-make-compost/
- How to aerate compost: https://www.compostmagazine.com/how-to-aerate-your-compost/ (cited by The Cool Down)
- How often to turn compost: https://www.compostmagazine.com/how-often-turn-compost/
- How to hot compost: https://www.compostmagazine.com/how-hot-compost/
- The three-bin composting system: https://www.compostmagazine.com/three-bin-composting-system/ (cited by the NYC Food Policy Center)

## Compost science

- The science of composting: https://www.compostmagazine.com/compost-science/
- Carbon-nitrogen ratios: https://www.compostmagazine.com/compost-carbon-nitrogen-ratio/ (cited by The Atlantic)
- Carbon-nitrogen ratio tables: https://www.compostmagazine.com/carbon-nitrogen-ratio-tables/
- Types of compost: https://www.compostmagazine.com/types-of-compost/ (cited by Reviewed)
- The benefits of compost: https://www.compostmagazine.com/compost-benefits/ (cited by Modern Farmer)
- Moisture in compost: https://www.compostmagazine.com/moisture-in-compost/
- Worm castings and how to use them: https://www.compostmagazine.com/the-magic-of-worm-castings-and-how-to-use-them/

## Methods

- Hot versus cold composting: https://www.compostmagazine.com/hot-versus-cold-composting/
- Anaerobic composting: https://www.compostmagazine.com/anaerobic-composting/
- Trench composting: https://www.compostmagazine.com/trench-composting-guide/
- Worms in compost: https://www.compostmagazine.com/worms-in-compost/ (cited by The List)
- Adding worms to a compost bin: https://www.compostmagazine.com/add-worms-compost-bin/
- Cockroach composting: https://www.compostmagazine.com/cockroach-composting/ — featuring an expert interview (cited by WasteMINZ)
- Compost history: https://www.compostmagazine.com/compost-history/

## Cited by

Compost Magazine's guides are frequently cited as a reference by news media, universities and sustainability organisations, including:

- The Atlantic, "A More Fly-Free Way to Deal With Food Waste" (2023), citing our guide to carbon-nitrogen ratios: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2023/04/get-rid-of-fruit-flies-kitchen-compost-pile-bin/673766/
- HuffPost UK, "UK Gardeners Advised Not To Throw Out Nail Clippings" (2025), citing our compost activator guide: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/nail-clipping-compost_uk_68b6d9a8e4b0bdebd5aadebf
- Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (University of Illinois), "Celebrate the Yule Book Flood with these books on sustainability issues" (2025), referencing our composting book review: https://blog.istc.illinois.edu/2025/11/25/celebrate-the-yule-book-flood-with-these-books-on-sustainability-issues/
- Reviewed (USA Today network), "8 Best Compost and Best Bagged Compost for Gardening", citing our types-of-compost guide: https://www.reviewed.com/home-outdoors/best-right-now/best-compost-and-best-bagged-compost-gardening
- Modern Farmer, "We Bought a Home with a Sterile Suburban Yard" (2023), citing our compost benefits guide: https://modernfarmer.com/2023/10/sterile-suburban-yard/
- Green Matters (2025), citing our coverage of research on hair in compost: https://www.greenmatters.com/pn/tired-of-cleaning-your-cats-hair-all-around-the-house-turns-out-your-garden-has-a-good-use-for-it
- House Digest, "The Real Reasons Why You're Having A Pesky Rodent Problem" (2021), citing our guide to mouse-proofing compost bins: https://www.housedigest.com/431550/the-real-reasons-why-youre-having-a-pesky-rodent-problem/
- The Cool Down (2023), citing our compost aeration guide: https://www.thecooldown.com/green-home/compost-bins-stink-odor-smell-heap/
- The List, "Do You Need Worms To Compost?" (2022), citing our worms-in-compost guide: https://www.thelist.com/884228/do-you-need-worms-to-compost/
- Dengarden (2026), citing our guide on how long compost lasts: https://dengarden.com/gardening/gardener-hack-composting-metal-pasta-strainer
- NYC Food Policy Center, "6 Benefits to Diverting Your Food Scraps from the Landfill" (2023), citing our three-bin composting system guide: https://www.nycfoodpolicy.org/compost-awareness-week-benefits/
- National Peanut Board, "Using Peanuts to Reduce Food Waste", referencing our compost history feature: https://nationalpeanutboard.org/podcast/using-peanuts-to-reduce-food-waste/
- WasteMINZ (New Zealand's waste industry body), "Fascinating Facts about Composting" (2026), referencing our cockroach composting article: https://www.wasteminz.org.nz/icaw/fascinating-facts

## Presence

- Facebook (over 10,000 followers): https://www.facebook.com/p/Compost-Magazine-100091214273093/

## Site facts

- Publishing at compostmagazine.com since 2019 (independently verifiable via the Internet Archive, first snapshot December 2019)
- Every post and page is archived to the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine on publish and update