Compost Articles
Thinking about the Compost
Today I am going to begin contemplating my new compost pile. This is a bonus week because I was so harried from in-laws and travel that I only posted one post. So, this week, you get three, yes, three posts for the price of two. Big bargain! That means you can head on over to the compost supplies page and stock up. Ok, on with business. …
Indoor Worm Composting
Worms are great! They are, hands down, the unsung heroes of the garden. Worms are great for home gardeners, especially organic gardeners, who want to make crumbly, luscious compost for their vegetable beds. Even though winter is upon us, we can still put worms to work to help us break down our vegetable scraps and any scrap leaves from houseplants and such. Here’s how to build …
Cold Weather Composting
Animals and microorganisms that break down organic matter into compost rely heavily on temperature to help them. Heat acts as a catalyst, speeding up the composting process. Composting does not stop as the weather cools down, but there are some things you can do to make composting more successful in the cold.
Tips for Composting in the Cold
1) Add shredded leaves. …
Green Versus Brown Compost Materials
Download a Printable Guide for Your Fridge (PDF)Composting in your garden is very easy to do, however, to achieve quick and optimal compost, it should be well balanced with green and brown waste materials.
What are green versus brown materials, and why should you care? Think of compost as a healthy meal for your soil life – those worms and microbes that do the actual work …
When Should Compost Be Applied?
The principal factor in determining when to apply compost is its condition.
If the compost is half finished or noticeably fibrous, it could be applied in October or November. By spring, it will have completed its decomposition in the soil itself and be ready to supply growth nutrients to the earliest plantings made.
Otherwise, for soil enrichment, the ideal time of application is a month or so before planting. The closer to …
Green Manure
Green manure is a term used for grasses and legumes grown and then tilled under. It is very cheap and easy to use, and in most cases is faster-acting than home-made compost.
In severe winter areas, a green manure crop can protect the soil and give the added benefit of nutrients and organic material to the soil in spring. The best plant to add nutrients to the soil are grasses …
Easy Ways To Compost
An easy way to compost if you have limited space is to use a garbage can or drum.
Punch holes in the bottom and sides for drainage and aeration, set on bricks or concrete blocks, and layer the materials with soil inside. You can roll it around on its side periodically to help aerate the material inside.
Commercial compost containers are also available. Most are designed so the finished …
Organic Composting
Is manure necessary in making compost?
Even if animal manures are not available, compost can be made successfully. Cut or shred the plant materials as finely as possible in order to expose a maximum amount of surface to the organisms of decay.
The leaves of all trees are a valuable source of organic matter and minerals.
Leaves of such trees as eucalyptus, camphor and walnut should be exposed to the weather for a time before composting so that …
