Soil & Compost
The Magic of Manure Compost: Protect Your Waterways, Save Money, and Improve Your Soil!
When you think of San Diego County, horses aren’t usually the first thing that come to mind, but we do have the second-largest number of horses in the state (only Riverside County has more). As beautiful as they are, there are few ways to turn money into manure faster than having a horse. Horses can…
Read MoreHow to improve aeration in your backyard compost bin
An ample supply of oxygen is key to the success of your backyard compost bin. Decomposer microbes need oxygen for their metabolic functions to operate efficiently. Without access to oxygen, some microbes die and others switch to a different form of metabolism, anaerobic (without air) respiration. This has a few negative consequences: Instead of the…
Read MoreFrom the Rotline: Are all Biodegradable Plastics Compostable?
Rotline Question: What is the difference between biodegradable plastics and compostable plastics? Answer: Plastic that is compostable is biodegradable, but not every plastic that is biodegradable is compostable. Biodegradable plastic may be engineered to biodegrade in soil or water, whereas compostable plastic refers to biodegradation into soil conditioning material (i.e., compost) under a certain set…
Read More5 Creative Ways to Source Materials for your Compost Pile
Sometimes when we want to build a compost pile, we either have a disproportionate amount of greens or browns or, don’t have enough material. What to do? Here are a few ideas to help augment your composting materials: Waste diversion is more fun with friends! Post on a community bulletin board such as Nextdoor or a community…
Read MoreThe Benefits of Composting as a Family
Teaching kids how to be responsible stewards of our home planet can start in their early years! Along with spending time in nature, composting is a great way to introduce children to the environment and the science behind many natural systems. When we teach kids how composting works and get the whole family involved, they…
Read MoreRotline: How often do I turn my compost pile?
Rotline Question: How often do I turn my compost pile? Answer: We love this question, mainly because the answer is so incredibly forgiving. How often you turn your compost depends on what you are planning to do with it. For example, will you be feeding your house plants once in a while or amending the soil in your six…
Read MoreCommunity Series: Kickstart Your Summer with a Garden
Wondering how to make the most of your San Diego Summer? We’ve got the answer… a garden! Growing your own food or making the switch to locally sourced foods have both health and environmental benefits. Fruits and vegetables begin to lose their nutritional value as soon as they are picked. In order to meet your…
Read More3 Composting Myths Debunked
Composting is a rewarding practice for so many reasons. It allows you to prevent waste by creating healthy soil, provides organic material to help store more water in the ground, and can even benefit your wallet by decreasing the need for frequent trash pickup. But we’ll be the first to admit that getting started with composting can be intimidating – especially…
Read MoreRotline: Is it possible to have too many worms in my vermicompost bin?
Rotline Question: Is it possible to have too many worms in my vermicompost bin? Answer: Red wiggler worms are amazing in so many ways, and population management is one of them. So, the short answer to the question is “No, you can never have too many worms!” Here’s why:As worms adjust to their home, they…
Read MoreMental Wellness And Gardening
Written by Master Composter Volunteer Mary Purpura, MA, HTR If you garden and compost, you know there are many physical benefits. Digging, hand tilling and turning compost piles can all increase your heart rate, offering a boon to your cardiovascular system. Weeding and planting maintain and improve hand strength. All that time spent outdoors tying…
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