My Compost Pile: A World Unto Itself
It’s a bright, breezy Saturday, first week of June—a fine time to be a backyard composter here in southern New England. I wander outside to check up on my pile, …
compost pile
Can Compost Go Bad? Plus 5 More Facts About Composting
I sometimes feel like a magician when I work on my compost pile. A few potato peels, a bell pepper core, and some coffee grounds go into the pile, and …
Mow, mow, mow, you go
It’s the middle of May, and my backyard compost pile here in southern Connecticut is now fully six months old. As much as the first half of its life was …
Root Pruning Secrets to Convert Unruly Blackberry Plants into Productive Bushes
Let’s face it – blackberry plants have commitment issues. Give them an inch, and they’ll take over your entire yard! One minute you’re dreaming of summer cobblers, and the next …
How to Make Eco-Friendly Slug Repellent at Home
How could something so helpless like a slug cause so much damage in your garden? You might not always know you have a slug problem right away because slugs only …
How to Keep Animals Out of Compost Bins
Composting is the gift that keeps on giving. I love turning food scraps, cardboard, grass clippings, and other green and brown materials into a usable and nutritious soil amendment. It …
Hydroponic vs. Garden Lettuce Growing Showdown
Are you stuck in lettuce limbo, endlessly scrolling through Instagram-perfect hydroponic setups while glancing guiltily at your perfectly good garden plot outside? You're not alone! The great lettuce location debate …
How to Make Bokashi Compost in 5 Easy Steps
Whenever I get to write about composting, I get that feeling you have when you’ve discovered a great new TV show and want to share all about it with your …
Compost Not Heating Up? 3 Ways to Fix Slow Composting
It's probably no surprise that I love compost. Ever since I began using compost in my garden, all my plants, vegetables, and herbs are happier than ever. And compost is …
The Best Way to Thin Carrots for Healthy Root Growth
Ask any carrot grower about their first harvest, and you'll likely hear tales of twisted, tangled, or stumpy roots that looked nothing like those perfect grocery store carrots. The secret …
