Soil & Compost
Rainwater 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!…
Read MoreThe 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…
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