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Articles about Compost and Soil Treatments
Aerated Compost Tea, The New Organic Fertilizer
Bark As a Potting Soil Amendment and Mulch
Carbon:Nitrogen ratio of common compost materials
Compost mixtures you can make at home
Composting is Fun for the Whole Family
Green manures and Cover crops in the Organic Garden
Here is Why You Should Use Gypsum in Gardening
How to build a compost heap
How to make loam and leafmould
How to make worm compost
How to solve problems with compost making
How to use organic fertilisers
Mulching - Comparison of costs and results for organic and inorganic mulches
Mulching Benefits - Organic And Inorganic Mulch Types
N:P:K Analysis of common composting materials
Obtaining Free Mulch For Your Garden - Uses And Methods Of Getting It
Soil Basics - Creating Fertile, Healthy Soil
Soil PH And Its Effect On Your Garden
Understanding Soil Nutrients
Using Garden Compost
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Organic Gardening:
Composting is Fun for the Whole Family
by James Allen
Looking for something else?
Looking for an activity the entire family can participate in that is educational, good for the planet and fun? Look no further than composting.
Starting a compost pile in your backyard is one of the best ways to make a positive impact on the health of the environment and, on a smaller scale, the health of your plants and garden. Children of all ages can participate in some way and will learn invaluable lessons about how organic matter breaks down and the importance of keeping waste out of your county landfill. And, you'll be helping to prepare the next generation of composters to continue to do their part for the planet.
We all know recycling is important, and hopefully it has become an ingrained part of your family's daily routine. But once that plastic bottle or paper wrapper ends up in its assigned barrel, your work is finished. And unless you go visit a waste treatment facility or recycling plant, chances are it's pretty much a mystery to most what actually becomes of our recycled waste. Composting puts you in charge of the entire process. Your compost bin or tumbler is the recycling facility and you are the head of waste management, at least for a good portion of your food scraps and yard waste.
If you maintain a garden or even just have some basic plants and flowers around your home, composting is the ideal way to keep them healthy and really, to give them what they need to thrive. Finished compost, or humus, added to your soil acts as a pH buffer and helps your soil retain moisture and oxygen. Humus can also cool the soil surface and help deter erosion by encouraging a vigorous root system bolstered by the added nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and other nutrients present. If you're not the gardening type, simply donate your finished humus to a friend or family member with a green thumb or even to your local gardening center.
To get started, a simple compost bin or compost tumbler is recommended, along with one of the many guides or how-to books on the market. These should list the items that are good for your compost pile and those that are not. Pay special attention to this - not all waste is good for your compost pile. There is an optimum nitrogen - carbon ratio a composter should strive for, and adding the wrong food scraps or lawn and garden waste could ruin the whole batch.
