How to Avoid Salmonella in Compost
If your idea of a fun afternoon is reading academic research papers, just Google "Salmonella in compost." You'll get titles like Cascading effects of composts and cover crops on soil chemistry, bacterial …
composting
5+ Soil Additives to Improve Drainage in Soggy Gardens
After a rainstorm (or even a heavy watering), does your vegetable garden resemble day three of Woodstock? Soil drainage may be an issue! The good news is that there are …
5 Benefits of Worm Castings for Indoor Plants
Let’s just get this out of the way: Worm Castings = Worm Poop. But, “castings” is a much more civilized way of describing the digested waste of your garden variety …
Tips for Managing Bugs in Compost Bins
I don't want to write about bugs in compost bins any more than you want to read about it, but it happens, so here we are. Don't worry; I'm not …
Keyhole Gardens for Beginners
If spring weather has you feeling excited about fresh herbs and produce from your backyard, you might want to try keyhole gardening. Even aspiring green thumbs can easily master this …
Is Pine Needle Compost too Acidic for Vegetable Gardens?
Pine needle compost might be one of the most misunderstood areas of composting. Sure, there's some confusion about whether that take-out container is compostable, but when it comes to pine …
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 …
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Adding Manure to Garden Beds
I might be dating myself here, but anytime I think about adding manure to garden beds, I have a vision of the scene from Back to the Future. You know …
Why Rhubarb Leaves are Toxic and What to Do with Them
While many gardeners swoon over rhubarb's ruby-red stalks and dream of homemade pies, this popular perennial comes with a catch that gives some of us pause. Sure, those tart stems …
