Soil & Compost
Top Three Reasons to Become a Master Composter
Blog Post by Master Composter Graduate, Tammy Churchill. When I registered for the Master Composter Course in early 2020, I did not have much experience composting, as my neglected passive pile would gladly attest. Composting was something I was interested in: I’d moved into a new house with plenty of room for growing vegetables, and…
Read MoreHow Do Tumbler Compost Bins Work?
Tumblers are composting bins that are manually flipped, spun, rolled or crank-turned for aeration, depending on the style. These bins do not require turning with a pitchfork or auger, instead, the entire compost bin is turned for aeration. There are several variations on this theme. Spinning Tumbler This tumbler is spun around a central axis.…
Read MoreClimate Solutions: How to Manage Weeds Without Toxic Chemicals
What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Before discussing how to eliminate weeds, there are some common weeds that are both edible and nutritious. Harvesting free greens from our gardens is one way to approach the plants we did not intend to have in our…
Read MoreClimate Solutions: What Is the Right Moisture Content for My Worm Bin?
Moisture content is very important when composting with worms. This is because your red wigglers breathe through their skin and need appropriate moisture to do so. Often times the materials you add will give your bin moisture, but you will likely still need to add water to obtain the appropriate amount (especially with warmer weather).…
Read MoreClimate Solutions: How to Manage Bee Swarms in Your Compost Bin
What Should You Do First? Many of us know that bees serve a vital role in the environment as pollinators, and that their populations have seen a concerning decline in recent years. However, it can still be alarming when a swarm of honeybees chooses to land around our home– including the inside of a compost…
Read MoreComposting Key to Regenerative Agriculture
There’s a lot of buzz about regenerative agriculture, particularly its ability to capture carbon in soil and in aboveground biomass, as well as its many benefits for farmers, consumers, and local environments. According to regenerative agriculture, the answer lies beneath our feet. Soil loss is a global problem and growing worse around the world, at…
Read MoreClimate Solutions: Can Weeds be Composted?
There is not a simple yes or no answer to this query. Weeds have many nutrients so they are a great addition to the compost pile, but you do not want compost filled with viable weed seeds. The best time to take care of weeds is when they are small and have not established deep…
Read MoreClimate Solutions: How Do I Add Compost to Container Plants?
Container gardening is an incredible solution to a variety of growing woes, especially when it comes to the creative and economical use of space. Gardeners lacking backyards or yards with full sun exposure, gardeners working with truly difficult soil, and new gardeners looking to gain confidence in the craft are common beneficiaries of the practice.…
Read MoreClimate Solutions: Is Ink Bad for Worms?
Question: May I add shredded mail and computer paper to my worm and garden compost bins? Are the inks toxic? Answer: That is a frequently asked question, thanks for bringing it to the blog! The inks used today in newspapers, boxes etc. are non-toxic and are readily broken down through composting. However, the see-through address…
Read MoreClimate Solutions: What should I do with my worms while on a trip?
Question: “What should I do with my worms while on a trip?” Answer: Depending on the length of your trip, you will likely not need to do anything at all. Even a new population of worms only needs to be monitored every few days to assess how much food was eaten, moisture levels, and whether they need…
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