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Home Composting Study Misinterpreted By Mass Media, According to Research

15 Jan 2023 A new paper by Francesco Degli-Innocenti argued that mass media misrepresented a home compost study by the University College London (UCL). The UCL report used citizen science to assess the effectiveness of compostable and biodegradable plastics in home composting across the UK. The researchers found that participants were puzzled by the labels […]

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Seedlings growing in compost surrounded by the glow of the sun.

Types of Compost (Plus How to Choose the Right One)

How to Use Compost

Walk into a garden center, and you’ll likely be greeted by a dizzying array of compost options. With so many choices, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed — and it can be hard to figure out which one is right for your needs. This guide simplifies the process by breaking down 12 common types of compost,

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Pile of leaves in an oak forest illuminated by sunlight filtering through the leaves.

Leaf Mold Magic: How to Use Fallen Leaves to Improve Your Garden Soil

How to Make Compost

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

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How Often Should You Turn Compost?

How to Make Compost

It’s amazing how much advice on turning compost varies. Some sources advise turning compost every two to three days; others just once, and others not at all. If you’re wondering which advice to take, the first thing to remember is that every composting method works eventually. If you dump organic material into a pile and

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Free Air Space: The Key to Making Great Compost Without Turning

Compost Science, Vocabulary

Free Air Space (abbreviated to FAS) refers to the air pockets created in compost piles. In many guides to composting, a huge amount of focus is given the Carbon: Nitrogen ratio. While this plays a role in composting, getting the C:N right is both difficult and less important than you might imagine. In contrast, FAS

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Featured image showing bulking material in hand.

Compost Bulking Agents: The Key to Faster, Better Compost

How to Make Compost, Vocabulary

My first compost heaps were pretty awful. I used to put everything in a corner of the garden, and then wondered months later why I had a slimy mess. Later on I experimented with regular turning of my compost pile, and decided it was too much work to turn a compost heap every few days.

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Monty Compost Monitoring Technology: Interview with CEO Ashley Baxter

Compost Tools, Culture

Update: The company has come a long way since this interview! You can learn more about how the device works and how to use it in 7 Ways to Use Compost Technology to Speed Up Your Compost. There’s no point in aiming for total accuracy when it comes to composting. Unless you are a commercial

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How Worms Work Their Magic In Compost

How to Make Compost

When I dig into my compost and find thousands of worms wriggling around, my heart leaps with joy. That’s because worms carry many benefits for the compost heap, helping with everything from aeration to removing pathogens – and adding nutrient-rich worm castings. Meanwhile, adding that finished compost to the soil encourages other worms, which in

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Mycorrhizal fungi sprouting from the ground.

Mycorrhizal Fungi: The Underground Network That Feeds Your Plants

Compost Science, Vocabulary

Soil, when looked after, works wonders. In fact, after years of abusing soil with tractors, chemicals and artificial fertilisers, we are only just starting to learn how well it works when treated well. Much of that wonder comes down to Mycorrhizae Fungi. Contents What is mycorrhizal fungi? Mycorrhizae fungi is a family of fungus that

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Compost Sifters: Top Picks for 2026 plus DIY Options

Compost Tools

In a hurry? We recommend the Achla Designs Compost Sifter for most gardeners—affordable, durable stainless steel construction with a stackable design. For larger batches or back pain sufferers, the Dootiva Rotary Sifter works 4-5x faster with significantly less strain. Finally, your compost is ready. It may well be ready to use straight on the garden.

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