If your bin becomes too acidic, too moist, too dry, too compact, full of rotting food, full of food they don’t like, too hot, too cold or they just organize an expedition, your worms can attempt an escape from your bin. This thwarted escape plan (if your lid is on tight) ends up with many [...]
Posts Tagged ‘soil amendments’
“Rotline” Question of the Week: Why are there so many worms in the bottom collection bin of my worm farm?
Posted in "Rotline" Question of the Week, tagged compost bins, escaping worms, food scraps, red wigglers, removing chlorine, sediment in worm tea, soil amendments, too acidic, vermicomposting, wandering worms, wayward worms, worm bin, worm bin problems, worm castings, worm tea on October 6, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Rotline Question of the Week: Should I compost my grass clippings?
Posted in "Rotline" Question of the Week, tagged "Rotline" Question of the Week, compost, compost bins, Composting, environment, grass, grass clippings, grasscycling, Master Composters, natural fertilizers, soil amendments on August 6, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Grass clippings can definitely be added to your compost pile. Grass is a “green”, or nitrogen source. One caveat of adding grass to your pile, however, is that it has a high water content which can cause it to pack down and get slimy in your pile. This can be avoided by adding grass in [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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: Where can I buy worms in San Diego?
Posted in "Rotline" Question of the Week, tagged compost, Composting, gardening, red wigglers, red worms, san diego, soil amendments, Solana Center, vermicompost, vermicomposting, where to buy worms, worms on August 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The City of San Diego provides a convenient list of recommended locations to purchase worms. If you are starting a Wriggly Wranch Worm Bin, you will need about 1 lb. of worms. The type of worms you need are “red wigglers” or “red worms” (eisenia foetida). If you have any questions about getting started call the [...]
“Rotline” Question of the Week: Do I need to shred or grind my materials to compost them?
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged "Rotline", augers, blender, chippers, clippings, compost bins, Composting, decomposition, grinding, plant trimmings, shredders, shredding, soil, soil amendments, Solana Center, speeding up the process, vermicompost, worm bins, worms on August 15, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Shredding and grinding materials speeds up the process of composting. Smaller pieces will break down faster in your pile because it increases the surface area. This makes the material easier for bacteria to break down the material. You do not have to shred or grind your materials. The process will just take longer. If you [...]
“Rotline” Question of the Week: Is hay or straw best for my compost?
Posted in "Rotline" Question of the Week, tagged aeration, browns, carbon, compost, compost bins, Composting, greens, hay, Heat, Master Composters, nitrogen, soil amendments, straw, Temperature, weeds on August 4, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Hay is considered a nitrogen source, or a green, and can be added to your compost bin. Because hay often has weed seeds in it, make sure that your bin is reaching a hot temperature, 100 – 140 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are passively composting and not achieving high temperatures, you can bag the hay [...]
“Rotline” Question of the Week: How can I make my own compost bin?
Posted in "Rotline" Question of the Week, tagged bins, compost, Composting, fertilizer, homemade, recycling, Smith & Hawken Biostack, soil amendments, Solana Center, stackable wood bin, wire mesh bin, wooden pallet bin on July 30, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Here are a couple of designs we recommend: Stackable wood bin: minimal carpentry skills needed, can use recycled lumber (as long as it is not treated) Wooden pallet bin: all you need are four wooden pallets, bolts, and latches and you’re on your way Wire mesh bin: easy to make and inexpensive Homemade designs often [...]
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