This durable compost bin has the added benefit of being made from recycled plastic. So, you’re not only doing the Earth good by composting, you’ll be helping out by buying a high quality and recycled piece of gardening equipment. It’s designed to be super efficient and easy to use. Cost is $89.95 so it’s economical, […]
Just came upon a very interesting website called “Waste News.” It sounds a little strange, but the gist of the site is all things that have to do with solid waste, energy, alternative energy, and more! There are some fascinating articles on their site, including articles on composting, water quality, recycling, etc. Worth a visit […]
Vons supermarkets recently gave away $75,000 in compost to schools, individuals, and other organizations in southern California. Vons is a supermarket chain in southern California (mostly L.A. if I remember correctly). They actually made the compost, by the way. Now, if other supermarkets would only follow their lead! Read more here.
In honor of Earth Day, Vancouver’s “24 Hours” recently published a list of 10 things you can do to be kinder to Mother Earth. Their tips include: converting to compact fluorescent bulbs, properly disposing of pontentially toxic garbage, COMPOSTING!, and collecting excess water from your shower or sink to water your plants. See, we knew […]
The Chicago Sun Times has some great gardening tips published in this article about the Chicago Botanic Garden. Spring is upon us and the signs are everywhere, even in the Windy City! If you’re looking for information on how to prepare your garden for spring and summer, this is a fascinating article to check out. […]
Hi all, I just found this interesting blog entry from Ducking for Apples regarding one gardener’s experience with the adventures of composting. It’s got tons of practical information in it, and some pretty witty stories about cats meddling in the composting process. Some great pictures, too!
This unique round worm composting unit is a great pick for a friend or family member who does a lot of home composting. Increasing the number of earth worms in your garden soil is one of the best ways to insure healthy plants that can fight off pests and disease. Need more convincing? Here’s […]
While scanning the news today, I found an interesting article from Redlands Daily Facts that talks about composting in small spaces. Robert H. Schuler, a Master Gardener, has a column about gardening and the question of the day was:
I want to start a compost pile using my kitchen waste. I have some flower beds and […]
Check out these great composting accessories including compost pails, compost activators, compost thermometers, and even a handy little pocket-sized composting book! These little gadgets will help make your composting experience easier and more productive!
This interesting article from the Tri-City News in Canada is a meditation on our personal impact on the environment and what we can do about. As mentioned in the article, composting and recycling are certainly a first step, but there is more we can do. By reducing our personal consumption of items we don’t really […]
Check out this site on horses for tips on how you can compost horse manure. There certainly aren’t many folks out there who own horses or know people who do, but the article has some great info on how the composting process works. Since I’m sort of a science geek, I thought it was a […]
A great tool for the gardener is this light-weight electric tiller that will keep your garden happy, healthy and free of weeds. At 11 pounds, you won’t feel like you’re using a powered tiller at all! Also keep in mind that electric tools are less noisy and are easier on the environment. Cost is $59.95.
Amending your soil with compost is just one of many great water saving tips offered by the Rocky Mountain News. This article published on their website describes a half dozen techniques that you can use to help your garden use water more efficiently. Other tips from the article include:
Adjusting your water system
Mulching
Grouping plants according to needs
Using […]
Indoor composting is a simple and clean alternative to having an outdoor compost bin. An indoor compost pail using a unique fermentation process to create high quality compost might be just the thing if you have limited yard space.
Indoor composters are virtually odor free, and the liquid from your food scraps can easily be drained from […]
A Canadian family recently learned a hard lesson about what not to put in their compost bin. After adding hot ashes to the bin, the compost combusted and caught their house on fire. Please read up on what you can’t and can’t put in your compost pile!
EarthToys is an on-line resource for folks interesting in green building technology, alternative fuels, and all things green and eco-friendly. Their April newsletter features an article about unique composting products that are easy to use, attractive, and make composting very easy and user-friendly. You can check out the article here.
Swedish soil scientist Dr Holger Kirchmann discusses the use of compost and other techniques for growing wine grapes. Read more here.
If you’re looking to improve the quality of your compost by removing impurities to get a compost with a consistent texture, this compost screen is a good investment. Screen out large chunks of material and fill your wheelbarrow with high quality compost or topsoil. This is a great tool that easily fits on most wheelbarrows. […]
With this handy electric chipper shredder, you can transform woody material such as tree trimmings into high quality mulch. You can also use this tool to make material to add to your compost pile. An added benefit is that you won’t have to fuel up your chipper shredder. Simply plug it in and you’re good […]
Food Cycler compost bags are a great item for those folks who collect kitchen scraps for their compost pile or compost bin. These bags stand up on their own, but you can use them to line other containers as well. They will hold up to moisture and slime until ready to chuck in with the […]
Turning and aerating your compost bin or compost pile is essential in creating high quality compost. If you don’t have a compost tumbler, then this compost turning garden tool is a must. With the extended “wings,” you can really get deep into the compost pile, which means that you can easily mix the entire batch […]
Looking for a great tool that will make it easier for you to pick up garden and lawn waste? This all-purpose grass and leaf caddy is made of heady-duty waterproof polypropylene and comes with sturdy steel handles. Just set it on the ground and sweep in your yard debris. With just one scoop you can […]
A great tool for the gardener and chef is this salad chopper, which will allow you efficiently chop your home grown vegetables. And remember that the kitchen is a great source of composting material. Use your vegetable scraps and fruit peels in your compost instead of throwing them out.
Oregon State University offers these handy gardening calendars, which have tips on when to plant, when to mulch, and when to start a compost pile or add compost to your garden. While they are specifically for the state of Oregon, you can still find some great info by checking out the site.
May and June are good months to start planting your pumpkins for a fall harvest. You can plant a little earlier if your local climate permits. One thing that this organic pumpkin growing site recommends is the liberal use of compost in your soil before you plant. Compost can help your pumpkins resist common diseases […]
Flowers are the super stars of your garden, and are usually the biggest conversation pieces for your friends and neighbors. However, many gardeners struggle to get flowers to grow full and lush, and resort to chemical fertilizers to get their flowers to grow. These chemicals don’t do much to help your flowers’ immune system in […]
Want to transform up to 30% of you home’s waste into high quality compost? This tiny compost guide is a best selling handbook that packs more tips into 32 pages than you can imagine. This is a small self-published book that is a must for anyone interested in making their own high quality compost. It’s […]
An Arizona based company called Farmer’s Secret, Inc. has started selling a consumer version of a liquid compost product that they normally supply to farmers in large quantities of 5,000 gallons and up.
Great Big Plants offers one-quart bottles of compost - part of the company’s “user-friendly, no-mess” marketing campaign, Thomas said. The liquid compost is […]
Do you live in the big city or in a small apartment? While an urban lifestyle may complicate gardening, it doesn’t make it impossible. Things like containers and raised beds can be a great help for the urban gardener. However, the same rules apply for urban gardeners as traditional gardeners. And rule number one is: […]
This garden sieve can help you clean your garden soil and compost to get rid of unwanted material. Passing your soil or compost through this sieve will improve soil texture and soil drainage. It is also easy to clean and will never rust. Buy it for $39.95 at Clean Air Gardening.
The Earth Machine Compost Bin gets a big thumbs up at this product review site. Made of recycled black plastic, it is durable and will do a great job with your compost. The review also has lots of great tips on compost and composting. Compare more compost bins and prices at the Compost Guide Store.
If you’re new to composting and you talk to a master gardener, they’ll sometimes tell you that you don’t actually need a compost bin, because a compost pile works just as well.
As far as actually making compost goes, that is 100 percent true. You can make compost very effectively with a compost pile.
However, there are […]
A recent article in the Contra Costa Times talks about how you can improve the looks of your compost bin so that it isn’t an eyesore. There are lots of great tips in the article. Of course, one of the best ways to compost without drawing attention to your compost pile is to use an […]
I just came upon this article from “Redlands Daily Facts” that talks about using mushroom growing medium, tea, and coffee in your compost pile. As we’ve discussed before, coffee grounds get a big thumbs up! So does mushroom growing medium. However, the article cautions about the pesticides used for growing mushrooms. So, the lesson is […]
If you’re getting ready for the growing season and looking forward to a batch of home grown tomatoes, you could really benefit from the addition of compost to your soil. So, while the spring is quickly approaching, you should look into starting your compost bin today. Learn how compost will help your tomatoes grow healthier and more […]
Your rain gutters can collect a large amount of leaf litter and other organic debris. This material can easily be composted, but cleaning the rain gutters of your home can be a truly thankless job. No one likes to haul out the ladder and scoop out the nasty goop that collects in the gutter. However, […]
While the location of new landfills can often be a NIMBY issue (Not in My Back Yard), landfills are a necessary part of daily life. We create garbage, so we need somewhere to put it. Ohio State Senator Tom Niehaus understands this issue all too well as he deals with landfill legislature each year as […]
Heads up! I just found this Google discussion group that deals with gardening issues. They have an extensive discussion going on about composting techniques with lots of great tips. In addition the Compost Guide, this is a great place to go to share info with other gardening enthusiasts and ask questions about composting and many […]
If you are one of the thousands of Americans who is required by their local government to place their yard refuse in special paper bags, the Yard Genie is for you. The Yard Genie holds these bags upright for easy use. Check out the Yard Genie at the Compost Guide Store.
In Contra Costa California, now you can compost without even doing it yourself!
They are now picking up the materials from the curb and composting it for you, in a test program.
If the service is popular, it could be extended to other communities as well.
“The challenge for us is showing that you can avoid or minimize […]
This unusual composter from Blue Planet Smart looks beautiful in your yard and works like a charm. Spin it to mix the compost. You’ll also be rewarded with a rich compost tea, which is a byproduct of the composting process. Compost tea works like an organic fertilizer and will make your plants very happy! The […]
A Seattle newspaper reader writes to the gardening advice columnist about his experience with rats and composting.
I would love to say that if a home gardener puts only the appropriate items in the compost heap, there will never be a rat issue. I don’t think that is the case, especially if the rats are already […]
Some Ohio residents are unhappy about new landfill construction in their area, but they haven’t had much luck preventing it.
The state senator writing the article mentions that people should start composting and recycling more to prevent garbage from going into the landfill in the first place.
Muncipal composting is something that isn’t mentioned, but should be! If […]
Learn how to do some basic composting with help from the BBC.
It’s a quick, one page guide, but it covers the basics about what you can compost and which materials you shouldn’t, and what to do with it all.
Don’t forget to buy a composter.
Do you know your soil pH? You should! Having the correct soil pH can make the difference between thriving flowers and veggies or struggling ones. One of the best ways to monitor your pH is with an electronic soil tester. This handy tool allows you to gauge not only your pH, but also other important […]
The How Stuff Works site has an interesting guide to the composting process, and what happens when yard and food scraps break down into compost.
The compost pile actually has a complex organization of living organisms — a foodweb. Bacteria and fungi primarily break down the organic matter in the trash. Single-celled organisms (protozoa), small worms (nematodes), […]
When you’re collecting scraps from your kitchen for your compost, try out these biodegradable biobags, made from corn. They breathe to allow moisture to escape, which also reduces odors. These bags contain corn from countries that don’t allow GMOs, so they’re guaranteed GMO free! They will fully decompose in 2-3 weeks. This is a fantastic […]
A Washington Post article talks about using a compost bin to make compost.
Just as there are many approaches to compost making, there are many types of compost container. If there is one rule about composting, it is that some sort of enclosure or bin is better than a loose pile: The bin will hold more […]
If you’ve got a compost pile or a compost bin, you may want to consider this handy collapsible debris container, which makes collecting garden waste very easy. It’s made from durable PVC fabric with a steel coil that holds the container upright. Simply line it with a plastic bag and you’re good to go! The […]
A short article in the Columbian newspaper in Clark County, Washington, writes about how if you just throw all your yard debris in a pile somewhere and never touch it again, it will eventually break down into compost.
I think this is a good point. A lot of people get too overly concerned about adding compost […]
