When the Spanish conquistador Bernal Díaz del Castillo walked into the great market at Tlatelolco in 1519, he was already struggling to find comparisons. He’d seen the causeways stretching across the lake, aqueducts carrying fresh water into a city built on water, and soaring stone pyramids. Now, at the market, he listed what he saw: […]
Aztec Composting: The City That Recycled Everything Read More »
For the last few years I’ve been experimenting with a very traditional form of gardening in my bottom garden bed. That system is, of course, the Three Sisters. You might have heard of it, and you might even have tried it. I’ve known many people (including me!) fail the first time they try it, and
The Three Sisters’ Garden: Corn, Bean & Squash Read More »
In 1905, the British government sent Albert Howard to India to improve Indian agriculture. He had a Cambridge degree, a diploma in agriculture, and first-class honors in the natural sciences tripos. [1] He was, by every measure, the expert in the room. Within a few years, he’d concluded that the farmers he’d been sent to
The Indore Method: Where Modern Composting Began Read More »
You can spend a lot of money on compost bins. (I’m speaking from experience here!) And while it’s true that a well made compost bin makes composting easy, you shouldn’t let budget concerns stop you from composting. First, many bins are easy to build. Certainly, the ones here are easy enough that I can build
11 Easy DIY Bins You Can Build In An Hour or Less Read More »
I’m always intrigued by the more esoteric edges of composting. Unfortunately, some of my desires to experiment, such as those with cockroach composting and humanure toilets, have been frustrated by what I can only explain as a family intervention. However, I’ve had no objections to my latest project, woodlice composting, and I don’t anticipate any
I Built a Secret Compost Bin for Woodlice. Here’s Why. Read More »
On January 12th I was in the middle of experimenting with some very early sowings of cabbage and broccoli. Planting this early is unusual, even in my relatively mild climate*, but after successfully overwintering young broccoli plants the last couple of years, I wanted to see if I could replicate that success with a winter
How to Fix Leggy Seedlings: The Low Compost Trick Read More »
The Australian Brush Turkey (Alectura lathami), known to the Yuwaalaraay people as Gweela, is not considered a particularly intelligent bird. However, it has mastered something that many of think is difficult even for people – hot composting. The bird gathers organic material and piles it into a large mound before laying its eggs inside. The
These Birds Make Compost – Hot Compost. Here’s How. Read More »
Affiliate Disclosure: This review contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support our testing work. Designed in Sweden, and adored in the UK – where it won Which? Best Buy for Compost Bins in 2021 AND Gardener’s World Best
Green Johanna Review: Thin Walls, Hot Results Read More »
Affiliate Disclosure: This review contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support our testing work. It’s cheap. It’s cheerful. And it comes in a lot of plastic. The Navaris Hanging Waste Bins won’t win design awards, it’s not particularly
Navaris Compost Bin Review: Half the Price, Twice the Bins Read More »
Affiliate Disclosure: This review contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support our testing work. The simplehuman Compost Caddy is beautiful. Maybe too beautiful. If you live in a country kitchen like mine, you’ll probably find it looks out
simplehuman Caddy Review: A Bin Above The Rest? Read More »