Kitchen Gardening

All About Compost

Composting turns kitchen and yard scraps into a marvelous soil amendment, and you don't have to do much to accomplish this stunning transformation.

By Ruth Dobsevage
Easy to assemble and disassemble, Lee Reich's compost bin can adapt to the size of your compost pile.
Photo/Illustration: Virginia Small

Easy to assemble and disassemble, Lee Reich’s bin can adapt to the size of your compost pile. Composting turns kitchen and yard scraps into a marvelous soil amendment, and you don’t have to do much to accomplish this stunning transformation. Whether you’re a new composter or a seasoned vet, check out the links on this page for tips on the benefits of composting, composting systems, building a compost bin, managing your compost, compost tea, and worm composting.

 

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A well-balanced compost pile doesn’t smell.
Photo by vinzca under the Creative Commons Attribution License 2.0.

Composting 101

• Hot Composting vs. Cold Composting
• Video: Composting Made Easy
• Creating Healthy Compost
• Composting Hot or Cold 
• Composting in Cold Weather
• Getting Started in Composting
• Compost: Things You Always Wanted to Know
• Start Your Compost Pile This Winter

 
The Victory Garden Composter Compost bins and systems

• 6 Ways to Make Great Compost
• The Victory Garden Composter – part 1
• The Victory Garden Composter – part 2
• A Starter Compost Heap
• DIY Food Scrap Digester/Composter
• A Homemade Compost Bin
• Building a Compost Bin
• More Compost, Less Work
• Portable Compost Bins
Let Worms Compost Your Kitchen Scraps Worm composting

• Let Worms Compost Your Kitchen Scraps
• Video: The Easy Indoor Worm Bin
• Video: Getting Started in Worm Composting
• Worm Composting
Bring On the Bokashi Other ways to compost

• Bring On the Bokashi
• Start a New Garden Bed with a Compost Sandwich
• The Compost Heap Alternative
• Composting in Winter
It's Fall Garden Cleanup Time Leaves and grass clippings

• It’s Fall Garden Cleanup Time
• Uses for Fallen Leaves in the Garden
• Leaf Mold as a Soil Conditioner
• Grasscycle, Compost and Mulch with Grass Clippings
• Video: Fall Leaves Make a Great Natural Mulch
• Improve Your Soil by Raking Less
Rabbit Manure in the Garden Manure

• Rabbit Manure in the Garden
• Raising Animals as Gardening Allies
• Using Manure to Fertilize Your Garden
• Fertilizing the Old-Fashioned Way, with Manure
 
Compost tea

• Video: How to Make Compost Tea
• Brewing Compost Tea
• The Jury Is Still Out on Compost Tea
Compost Q&A

• Compost and ammonia
• Using a compost tumbler in cold weather
• What’s living in my compost?
• Are compost activators useful?
• Flies in compost
• Does your compost pile smell?
• Ask a composting question…

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Fort Vee - Organic Potting Soil Mix

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

PRODUCT DETAILS: Vermont Compost Company Fort Vee Organic Potting Mix A rich, organic, compost-based potting soil that is ideal for growing your veggies, Plants, and herbs free from any harmful chemicals. Our all natural mixed organic garden soil is composed of all-natural ingredients our Plants needed to grow naturally and is a great choice for gardeners who prefer compost-based germination and growing medium. Product Weight: 20 Quarts
Buy at Amazon

Tubtrugs SP42GBK Flexible Black Gorilla Large 38 Liter/10 Gallon Capacity

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

2 comfort grip handles. Flexible sides for shaping against a wall or floor. Reinforced ribbing for extra strength. 100% recycled construction. Nontoxic, toy safe.
Buy at Amazon

Gardena 3103 Combisystem 12-Inch To 20-Inch Adjustable Metal Fan Rake Head

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

With adjustable tine spacing: suitable for raking coarse and fine material. Flexible, zinc-plated spring-steel prongs. Working width adjustable from 12-20 inches. Sold as head only, handle sold separately.
Buy at Amazon
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