One of the reasons many people are reluctant to compost is the concern about insect invasions, whether that is in a small kitchen compost bin or a larger outdoor bin. And as anyone who has ever had an outdoor picnic knows: where there is food, you will find ants. Ants come quickly to a food […]
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After months or even years, your homemade compost is ready. It’s matured, darkened and gained a fresh earthy smell. Now it’s time to use it – and what a lot of uses there are for it! In fact, the many uses of compost all around the garden mean that even the keenest of gardeners usually
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One of the primary excuses people give when it comes for not composting is the pesky pest known as the fruit fly. If you have ever experienced fruit flies in your kitchen, you know just how frustrating these tiny little insects can be. It is no wonder then that many people are opposed to kitchen
8 Easy Strategies to Keep Fruit Flies Away from Your Compost Bin Read More »
Have you ever bought live pot herbs from the store? Usually they look great, but after a week or two they start getting problems. First the plant droops, then the leaves turn yellow, and then the plant dies. I used to think that this was just because they were forced. But then I learnt that
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I think it’s fair to say I’ve used my fair share of kitchen compost bins over the years. Not only do I use a kitchen compost bin at home, I also keep two running at work, one in both of the kitchens. I’ve used everything from plastic containers (workable if you empty it regularly!) to
The Best Kitchen Compost Bin to Use – Our Top Picks for 2025 Read More »
My local council has a free compost scheme. The food and garden waste collected from households is turned into huge quantities of compost. A portion of this is taken to one collection point, and anyone can come and help themselves. When you arrive at the collection point, the compost is often still hot. Steam rises
5 Reasons to Let Your Compost Mature for Longer Read More »
Manure may smell, but as a source of fertility for your soil, it’s hard to beat. It’s also one of the best compost materials you can use. Despite that, there are problems with manure that you need to be aware of. You’ll also find that different animal manures have different properties, and need to be
Using Manure in Compost: How to Turn S**t Into Black Gold Read More »
If you think there’s only one or two types of composting, you might be in for a surprise. There’s actually dozens of ways you can turn organic waste into a soil amendment so valuable it’s called ‘black gold’. Each composting method has its pros and cons – and its fans and detractors! In reality, most
17 Composting Methods – Plus How to Choose the Best One For Your Garden and Your Needs Read More »
Compost has its very own week, organised and held every year by the Compost Research and Education Foundation – aka CREF. We sat down with the Ginny Black, Trustee Chair of CREF, to find out more. Can you tell me a little bit about the Foundation and its goals? The mission of CREF is to
International Compost Awareness Week: An Interview with Compost Foundation Read More »
If you have a large garden or smallholding, chances are you have a mountain of woody material to deal with. As we explored in 16 ways to speed up your compost, the size of compost material is key to successful shredding. That’s particularly the case if it is woody material. There are different tools and
Your Guide to the Best Compost Shredder on the Market Read More »