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Is Cow Manure Fertilizer Safe for Vegetable Gardens?
If you've ever driven through farm country at the right time, you're already somewhat familiar with cow manure fertilizer. That's one of those rare times in life where I think …
compost pile
How to Keep an Odor Free Compost Bin in Your Home
Composting used to scare me. I should say, compost bins used to scare me. I had heard all the great things about composting: that it was a super sustainable and …
Digging Deeper: A Conversation Between Author and Alter Ego
Don Nicholas (DN):
Good afternoon, readers! I’m Don Nicholas, your intrepid gardening reporter—and today I have the extraordinary pleasure of interviewing someone quite… unique. He’s a globe-trotting gardener, a grieving widower …
What to Do When Your Compost Smells Like Ammonia or Sulfur
If you've read much about compost, you know it shouldn't have too much of an odor. And if you've been composting for more than five minutes, you also know that …
What to Plant in July in USDA Zones 4-6
As we step into the warm embrace of July, many of us might think it's too late to start planting. But let me tell you a little secret: July is …
August Adventures in the Garden
There’s something about August that feels like the garden’s grand finale before Fall starts tapping on the shoulder. It's hot, a little chaotic, and honestly, I’m never quite sure if …
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, …
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 …
