There are several things to keep in mind when setting up your composting station: Sun or shade? A worm bin is best placed in the shade. The worms will not fare well in hot temperatures or during a deluge of water during a rainstorm. By placing them in the shade, they will be more protected [...]
Posts Tagged ‘home composting’
Rotline Question of the Week: Where should I position my compost bin?
Posted in "Rotline" Question of the Week, How to, tagged "Rotline", "Rotline" Question of the Week, bins, compost, compost bin location, compost bins, compost insects, Composting, Heat, home composting, moisture, sustainability, vermicompost, vermicomposting, water, water conservation, where should I put my compost bin?, worm bin, worm bins, worms on June 30, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Rotline Question of the Week: Aerators? What are those for?
Posted in "Rotline" Question of the Week, tagged "Rotline" Question of the Week, aerators, anaerobic compost, compost, compost aeration, compost microbes, Composting, composting accessories, decomposition, gardening, home composting, smelly compost, soil amendments, Solana Center, turning bins, water on June 24, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Too lazy to turn your compost bin? Is your bin not easily turned? Does your compost bin smell yucky? If you answered yes to any of these questions, a compost aerator could be the right tool for you! Aeration (or the addition of air) is a very important ingredient in your compost pile. The microbes [...]
Free Composting Workshop this Saturday!
Posted in Composting Workshops and Events, tagged compost, Composting, free workshops, home composting, Master Composters, San Diego County, Solana Center, Water Conservation Garden, worms on May 10, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
El Cajon Composting Workshop Saturday, May 15th, 2010 10am – 12noon Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College 12122 Cuyamaca College Drive West, El Cajon 92019 We will cover backyard composting and composting with worms during this 2 hour workshop. A limited number of subsidized bins will also be available at the conclusion of the workshop. [...]
Rotline Question of the Week: How do I figure out the C:N ratio in my compost pile?
Posted in "Rotline" Question of the Week, tagged "Rotline" Question of the Week, browns, browns to greens, C:N ratio, compost, compost calculator, compost mix calculator, compost recipe, Composting, food scraps, greens, home composting, nitrogen, soil amendments, water on April 22, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
The ideal Carbon to Nitrogen ratio (“browns” to “greens”) in a compost pile is somewhere between 25:1 and 30:1, depending on who you talk to and what you are planting. Some composters take the more laissez-faire approach, throwing in whatever they have when they have it, letting the C:N ratio be whatever it is going [...]
Rotline Question of the Week: All this rain has made my bin too wet!
Posted in "Rotline" Question of the Week, tagged "Rotline" Question of the Week, anaerobic, bins, browns, compost, compost bin wetness, Composting, home composting, moisture, nitrogen, rain, red wigglers, straw, vermicomposting, water, worm bins, worm tea, worms on January 22, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Bin wetness from rain is usually a non-issue in San Diego County but recently, with the extreme rain that has fallen on our lovely County, outdoor compost bins are probably on the soggy side. Remember, optimum bin dampness is comparable to that of a wrung out sponge so if your bin is dripping, it is [...]
Why should I compost? I’m not growing vegetables.
Posted in Master Composters, tagged alternate daily cover, anaerobic, biodegrad, carbon dioxide, carbon sequestration, compost, Composting, decay, decomposition, food scraps, garden compost, gardening, green house gases, greens, healthy soil, home composting, landfill, Master Composters, methane, moisture, organic material, pollution, runoff, soil, soil amendments, Solana Center, sustainability, vermicomposting, waste, water conservation, water retention, yard clippings on November 18, 2009 | 2 Comments »
by: David Emmerson, LCCHS Science Teacher and Solana Center Master Composter Kitchen waste, yard clippings, paper, coffee grounds, and other organic materials that are produced in the home are all considered “biodegradable”. This term has a positive connotation, especially to us environmentalists. It means that they can be broken down into their raw materials by [...]
“Rotline Question” of the Week: Composting Pumpkins?
Posted in "Rotline" Question of the Week, tagged "Rotline" Question of the Week, browns, compost bins, Composting, greens, home composting, nitrogen, pumpkin, pumpkin composting, vermicomposting, worm bins on October 30, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
It is pumpkin season, but now that you don’t need your carefully carved pumpkin any more, don’t throw it away! Pumpkin is a great addition to both your compost and worm bin! To add pumpkin to either bin, it is important that it is broken down into smaller pieces. Chop, cut, or saw the pumpkin [...]
“Rotline” Question of the Week: What is the difference between biodegradable and compostable?
Posted in "Rotline" Question of the Week, tagged amendments, biodegradable, compost, compostable, home composting, industrial composting, soil on April 7, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
There are some things that are biodegradable that are not recommended for your compost bin or worm bin. This includes meat, dairy, greasy foods, pet/human waste, and sweets. Biodegradable materials will break down into carbon dioxide, water and biomass within a reasonable amount of time in the natural environment. Some biodegradable materials may contain toxins. [...]
Compost your Christmas tree
Posted in General, tagged Christmas trees, compost, home composting, San Diego County on January 5, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Christmas trees are a great source of carbon and nitrogen for composting. It is very difficult to compost Christmas trees on your own unless you have a chipping system in your backyard, but municipalities throughout San Diego County have set up drop-off locations as well as pick up service for residents. The City of San [...]
Save Time and Effort with Ground Augers
Posted in General, tagged aeration, augers, gardening, home composting on December 22, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Looking for an easy way to turn your compost pile? Try using a ground auger system. Auger systems use sharpened, rotating augers that can dig, till, and aerate your soil and compost piles. Since these augers are made to fit in to your 3/8″ or 1/2″ electric drills, you can do all of your taxing [...]
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