the compost

Wandering in Place

Wandering in Place

In the quiet corner of my backyard in Westport, Connecticut, sits a humble compost heap—my ever-evolving monument to patience, decay, and renewal. Framed by upright logs and wrapped in garden  …
The Zero-Waste Gardening Kitchen

The Zero-Waste Gardening Kitchen

“Don’t toss that onion bottom!” I hollered just as my daughter Maya prepared to fling it into the compost bucket. She froze, onion in midair. “What? It’s garbage, Mom.”  …
The Do’s and Don’ts of Open Air Composting

The Do’s and Don’ts of Open Air Composting

Figuratively. There are things you'll want to know before you "figuratively" jump into open-air composting because I'm guessing you don't want to actually do that.  If you've read more than a  …
Mulching Matters

Mulching Matters

Gardeners have many allies, but mulch might be the quietest hero of them all. A good mulch is like a blanket for your soil—it shields it from the weather, conserves  …
Fall: Putting the Garden to Bed

Fall: Putting the Garden to Bed

By the time autumn rolls in, gardeners have baskets of tomatoes, jars of pickles, and maybe a little fatigue in their bones. But while the gardener deserves a rest, the  …
A Cat in the Garden

A Cat in the Garden

I’ve always wondered what pets think about gardening. What are they thinking when they hop up and dig holes in freshly planted beds? Is it that they’re chasing a little  …
Pee in Your Garden!

Pee in Your Garden!

When I woke up this morning, little did I know I'd be telling you all to pee in your garden, but as you'll learn in today's story, "Pee in Your  …
Ways to Make Compost Break Down Faster

Ways to Make Compost Break Down Faster

I know the feeling. You're excited about your compost pile; you've tried to keep the mix right between browns and greens. Finally, you're ready to get some finished compost and  …