As you might imagine, writing for Compost Magazine, I make a lot of compost. In fact, I currently have no less than ten compost setups—although some are experimental, and others were hastily assembled to deal with a trailer load of manure I received over the weekend. (The mini-windrow below, for example, was created when I’d […]
4 Productive Vegetables That Thrive Without Compost Read More »
What a start it’s been to April! A blazing sun saw our house party spill out into the garden—where, with Easter coming up, the kids lined up to have a bash at the piñata swinging from the rose arch. With colorful paper strings scattered across the grass, I couldn’t help but think about all the
Composting at Easter: How to Keep Your Holiday Eco-Friendly Read More »
Sometimes you have all the time in the world to create a beautiful compost bin. You make your plans, order your supplies, maybe paint the wood, and build it slowly over a couple of days. And other times you need one fast. I was in the second situation last year when I had a call
How to Build an Emergency Wire Compost Bin in 15 Minutes or Less Read More »
1st April 2025 Fascinated by the thought of human composting, but don’t have the funds to pay for it? Or maybe you have multiple relatives coming to the end of their time on earth, and you want a cheap and ecologically friendly way to dispose of them? At Compost Magazine we have the solution with
DIY Home Human Composting Kit Now Available Read More »
If you haven’t heard of trench composting, it’s just what it sounds like – you dig a trench in the ground, add organic material and then pile earth back on top. Typically you leave it around a year (or plant some cover crops on top of it) while microorganisms break down the material and incorporate
Can I Trench Compost in a Pot? Read More »
As you may already know, biochar in compost has major benefits. We’ve written about it in depth before, but in short these benefits include: What we haven’t known until now is when to add it! However, a recent study has tested two different timings, leaving us with clear guidance as to the best time to
Study Reveals When to Add Biochar for Faster, Better Compost Read More »
15th March, 2025 If you’ve made compost from materials outside your garden, and nothing has grown in it, the problem could well be due to a hidden herbicide. While most traditional herbicides do break down in compost, there’s a new breed of herbicide which is far slower to do so. Contaminated manure has caused headaches
Herbicide Contamination in Compost: Risks, Research, Solutions Read More »
I don’t know about you, but I find most “can’t compost” lists incredibly annoying. They often include items like grass (I compost vast amounts of grass every year), weeds (an excellent source of compost material) and human waste (haven’t they read Humanure, Shit in a Nutshell?) In fact, I often find it quite hard to
What You (Really) Can’t Compost Read More »
Winter sometimes seems endless, but my heart always begins to soar as the days grow longer and the first daffodils, tulips, and crocuses emerge from their long hibernation. It’s time to pack away the books, switch off the TV and turn our attention to the joys of gardening and composting once again. After all, it’s
Spring Composting Guide: 6 Tips For Success Read More »
Scientists have discovered that applying relatively small amounts of vermicompost can improve germination rates, plant size, and growth speed—and there are some great lessons for gardeners buried in their study. The scientists experimented with the impact of the Californian compost worm, Eisenia andrei Bouche, on arugula plants. First, they created vermicompost over eight months, using
Scientists Report: Vermicompost Grows Plants 38% Taller Read More »