Compost bins come in a lot of different shapes and sizes. Some of them have many holes, but others have none at all. And if you’re building a DIY bin, you could be left scratching your head wondering whether or not to put holes in it! But what are these openings for, and do you…
Understanding if and how you should use ashes in compost can be confusing. For example, you hear a lot of gardeners using ashes as fertilizer in the soil. So should you just throw it directly onto earth, or is it better to put it in compost? And if you regularly use a fireplace or stove,…
Knowing what materials to put into compost can be a headache at times. When I started composting, I remember trying to figure out the perfect ingredients for my compost heap and whether certain materials would do good or bad! And it can be frustrating trying to find that information. So in an effort to provide…
I only learned about ericaceous compost recently when I started to get interested in blueberry plants. Confused ? So was I at first. But it’s really not that complicated. In this article I’ll explain everything you need to know about ericaceous compost, what it is, which plants need ericaceous compost, how to make it, and…
You look confused ! And I totally understand… In the gardening world, the proper use of compost and fertilizers can be bewildering. But in a few minutes all will become clear ! I’m going to explain the essential differences between fertilizers and compost. So next time you meet your gardening pals you can astound them…
Confused about compost starters ? I certainly was when I first heard about them. When you begin composting, you might notice after a few weeks that your compost doesn’t seem to be turning into “compost” ! So you get frustrated and start looking for solutions to “speed up” your organic rotting experiment. This is when…
When I first started composting, one of my biggest concerns was that it would stink. But by following the right composting rules, you can have an odor-free compost bin without much difficulty. Does compost smell? A correctly maintained compost bin shouldn’t give off much odor. If you find your compost smells strongly like ammonia, rotting…
If, like myself, you compost a lot of your kitchen waste, you inevitably ask yourself whether you can compost dairy products like cheese, cream, or even milk. After all… All food is organic and ends up rotting… Right? So can you compost dairy products? Dairy seems to be one of the food types that traditional…
Most people recommend against the addition of bread to a compost pile. But stale bread is organic just like any other kitchen waste, and rots just the same. This can leave people wondering if it’s really a good idea to include bread, or if they should leave it out altogether. So, can you compost bread?…
Finding a good source of brown (carbon rich) material for your compost bin can be tricky at times. Below I’m going to help you identify the best brown composting materials that are commonly available. As a composter you should have some knowledge about the organic brown ingredients needed for your compost bin. Having a good…