Every time I stick something strange and new in my compost pile, I watch it like a hawk for the next week. If things seem slow, I’m always worried that I messed up the ratios, acidity, microbiota, etc. At least, that used to be me. The truth of the matter is, it’s pretty hard to …
Buying compost was too expensive for me. So I decided to start composting on my own. A composting tumbler was too expensive though so I decided to make my own Bokashi buckets and start an outside compost heap. I thought that I was done spending money on my composting journey and I could finally start …
Did you know that grass clippings make up nearly 20% of the solid waste that collected in communities? And that’s a year round average, not just the summer months. In fact, during summer months the grass clippings of some communities can make up a staggering 50% of collected waste! Now, grass is obviously far more …
Parchment paper is the go-to tool for home bakers and individuals who routinely cooks things in their oven. It turns any pan or dish into a functioning non-stick surface and saves you the pain of having to clean it, especially if your food is greasy or sticks! We all know the feeling of having to …
You have the compost bins ready, there’s every type of dirt you need to get the layers perfect, you have enough plant waste to last several months, and you have paper layers ready; all you need are the worms. It should come as no surprise that several different types of worms are out there to …
I don’t admit this at parties, but since you’re here, I can tell you, and maybe it won’t seem weird. I’m really into worms. Or at least, worm composting and using them to improve my soil. So when a new worm species comes on my radar, I’m all about it. I usually have to add …
Watching fires makes you feel alive. If you’re crazy. The thing is, fire is actually a life-giving force for many forests and ecosystems throughout the world. Why is that? It seems common knowledge that some seeds (such as those for pine trees) need fire to open and become viable. But is that the only reason? …
When you get down to it, composting is simply a controlled method of leaving food in/on the ground until it returns to earth. Mother nature has been doing it for millions of years and the new-fangled methods people use are just an effort to speed things up. This has led many people to think they …
The red wriggler worm is a composting wonder, and you can typically find them in your pile of well-rotted manure (especially if you put them there). Red wrigglers are also one of the most common types of worms found in vermicomposting bins. You might have even seen them wiggling around on top of moist soil …
Ever wondered what the secret is behind successfully growing Ericaceae plants? Well, if you’ve tried and failed, you’ll be happy to hear that it probably isn’t your fault. In fact, the likelihood of you having soil suitable for Ericaceae plants is highly improbable. This is because most of the world’s distribution of soil isn’t acidic. …