Soil & Compost
DIY: Build Your Own Backyard Compost Bin
Stackable Wooden Compost Bin The stackable wooden compost bin requires minimal carpentry skills to build. The cost depends largely on the quality of materials used, but you can expect it to cost around $50 when using cedar planks. Materials can also be obtained for free by scavenging wood from old fencing. The wooden compost bin…
Read More5 Ways to Heat Up Your Compost Pile
Want to get finished compost faster? You may want to try increasing the internal temperature of your backyard bin! Contrary to popular belief, compost piles do not heat up or drop in temperature due to atmospheric conditions (i.e. sun exposure, warm weather or cold weather) but rather, as a result of heat generation by specialized…
Read MoreDIY: Building Your Own Worm Bin & Getting Started Vermicomposting
Don’t think you have any room for traditional backyard composting at home? We hear that often from residents with small yards or who live in apartments or condos. Have you considered composting with a worm bin? Now, don’t make that face. Worm bins are easy, don’t smell, are a great way to recycle food, and…
Read MoreConstruya Su Propio Contenedor de Lombrices
Crees que no tienes espacio para hacer una composta — jardín chico, apartamento o habitante de condo? ¿Qué te parece un contenedor de lombrices? ¡Vamos, no hagas esa cara! Es fácil hacer un contenedor de lombrices. No huelen mal, son una buena forma de reciclar comida y es muy divertido (a los niños les encantan).…
Read MoreHow can I reduce the amount of water I use when composting?
Water conservation is an important concern for all homeowners and gardeners in California these days, especially in Southern California as it gets into the warmer summer months. Using compost in your yard and garden helps to reduce the amount of watering that your plants need by improving soil structure and, thus, the soil’s ability to retain…
Read MoreFrom the Rotline: What are the white things in my worm bin?
Rotline Question: What are the white things in my worm bin? Answer: Spot something unfamiliar in your worm bin? Don’t fret, you are likely to find many organisms other than worms in your worm bin! Like backyard composting, you will see a diverse, interdependent community of large and small organisms. They serve as food for each other,…
Read MoreFrom the Rotline: What are the white things in my worm bin?
Rotline Question: What are the white things in my worm bin? Answer: Spot something unfamiliar in your worm bin? Don’t fret, you are likely to find many organisms other than worms in your worm bin! Like backyard composting, you will see a diverse, interdependent community of large and small organisms. They serve as food for each other,…
Read MoreRainwater is Great in your Compost Pile!
You might hear our educators telling you to take the lid off your compost bin when rain is in the forecast. Why is that so important? First, the rainwater is free hydration for your bin. Compost bins are frequently dry in our Southern California climate. Also, rainwater is basically pure…there are no chemicals or salts,…
Read MoreWorm Care Guide
Keep the lid on the bin to protect the worms from light, to prevent escapees, and to keep flies/pests out. Keep bedding damp! When bedding gets dry, add water slowly. A layer of damp newspaper or coffee filters on top helps seal in moisture. Break or tear food into small pieces to encourage faster processing. Bury food below the…
Read MoreTales of a Beginning Composter
By Master Composter Graduate, Wendy Ullrich It’s fair to say that until recently I knew nothing about composting. In fact, what little I knew, was all wrong. If someone even mentioned composting, my nose would wrinkle and I would imagine all sorts of slimy and disgusting things that you might find clogged in a drain. YUCK!…
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