Techniques for Extending Your Growing Season: Mulch This series offers some common techniques that you can use to try to extend your growing season. Most of the methods help your soil stay warmer and protect your plants from harsh, cold winds. These techniques can be adopted one at a time, or you can use more … Read more
Sheet composting is similar to trench composting in that it is cheap and low-maintenance once you’ve set it up. In this technique, you simply place layers of compostable materials on your garden beds and wait until they decompose to plant there. These layers are usually started with multiple layers of newspaper or one layer of … Read more
Trench composting involves simply placing organic matter in a dug trench of your soil. It is very cheap and very simple to do, but there are some things you should take into consideration: This may be best for larger gardens since it is low maintenance, but also because you want to put compost in garden … Read more
Vermicomposting is a word used to describe composting using worms. This method is pretty small-scale, so it should be used alongside other more large-scale composting methods. It is a great way to get kids aware and thinking about decomposition, and unlike other methods can be done inside the classroom. The finished product, worm castings, is … Read more
The 3-bin compost system involves either building (or buying) 3 linked “bins” or boxes. This method is best for gardeners who have the ability to easily turn compost with a pitchfork, and for larger gardens that produce high amounts of plant and food waste. You will start by adding your first compost materials to the … Read more
If you need a refresher on the basics of compost, use our post on Composting 101 and this infographic to help get up to speed. This composting method uses a 3-bin system contained in one composter. This is best for gardens that will not have large amounts of compost material, or who do not … Read more
This approach to composting is one of the cheapest and easiest to set up. It is best for gardens that do not struggle with larger pest animals and do not require fast compost turnover. This method involves simply choosing an area of one of your garden beds to start building your compost. Ideally, you will … Read more
This method works best for gardens that struggle with animal pests, for gardens that want faster composting turnover, or for gardens that have limited space. This approach to composting involves using any type of compost tumbler or vessel that can be moved around. Some you can roll across the ground, some revolve on a central … Read more
Composting is a great inexpensive way to fertilize your garden! Composting not only adds nutrients back to the soil from plant and food waste, but it can also increase your soil’s aeration, drainage and structure. In sandy soils, compost can help retain water, and in clay soils, compost can help increase drainage. Best of … Read more