Compost Thermometer
Aug0
Have you ever thought of knowing how hot your pile is?
What should be the appropriate temperature? The stainless steel made Comport Thermometer is the solution to your queries. It is used to gauge the core temperature of compost pile. It can measure up to 200̊̊ F and to continuously keep the pile cooking, three temperature zones are available in the compost thermometer.
The basic features of thermometer include 1-3/4″ easy-to-read dial, 20” stem, waterproof, plastic lens. The compost thermometer gives best result as it is highly accurate i.e. +/- 1% full scale and everything is welded with stainless steel.
The main purpose of using Compost Thermometer is to maintain a high temperature in the compost pile in order to speeding up the composting. It is always vital to keep a check on compost so that bacteria work under an optimal temperature favorable for composting. The suitable temperature for these bacteria is in the range of 120 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit and in order to break down food scraps they require fresh oxygen by not being exposed to too much cold air.
It basically avoids unwanted tumbling or turning of compost. It actually helps in saving of time by indicating about the cooling down of compost and whenever fresh air is needed to your compost, you may turn the pile.
Compost Thermometer is hermetically sealed and thus there is no fear of it fogging up even when pile is left outside for a night. It also prevents scalding and it gives indication when the compost is about to finish.
Go, and get one now.
Compost Tumbler
Aug0
‘Going green’ is the buzz phrase in today’s world. Compost Tumbler is one of the best alternatives available in order to make your yard, flower or vegetable garden more organic.
The only major difference between Compost tumblers and compost bin or compost pile, whose principle is quite similar, is that compost tumblers are contained. You just need to put all yard clippings and other organic wastes into it and after a short period of time; you will find much needed compost with all nutrient contents.
Using a Compost tumbler for composting is a better than an open compost approach where nature does play its role.
While in some of the urban areas, open compost bins or piles are not allowed because of practical reasons. The outcome of open composting is a very unpleasant smell of decomposition and it affects your relationships with your neighbors.
Using a compost tumbler in place for open composter is likely to solve such problems as the compost is totally contained. It is easy to handle and maintain as compared to open composters where you have to turn pile physically using shovel or pitchfork. In case of tumbler, you just need to turn the handle provided on tumbler several times.
If the mixture is turned 2-3 times and there is enough moisture content in the compost, it generally takes 14 days to produce compost which much quicker to that produced through a regular compost bin or pile. One more advantage of using it is drastic reduction in the pests as in case of open composting rodents as well as insects etc get attracted towards compost.
Composting Worms
Aug1
This article discusses types of worms used as composting worms. Probably the most common variety is that of Red Wigglers (Latin name Eisenia foetida). For it status as a species that thrives in rotting vegetation, compost and manure, it is an epigeic worm. It prefers conditions where other worms cannot survive. It belongs to the lumbicidae family.
Lumbricus rubellus is also well known as a species of composting worm – and like Eisenia foetida it prefers conditions where other worms are unable to survive. Other worms on the market include Lumbricus hortensis, Lumbicus terristris, Eudrilus engeniae, Eisenia andrei, and Perionyx excavatus.
Earthworms in general belong to a class of creatures called “annelids”, with the distinguishing trait of a cylindrical body, segmented both outside and inside. Of the approximately 4500 listed species of worms in the world, about 2500 are earthworm species.
Red worms are sexually mature at eight to ten weeks. They are a hermaphrodite species that mate at any time of year.
When worms do mate, the new worms are born from cocoons; the cocoons turn red when the new worms are about to emerge, and they are about the size of a grape seed. It takes about three weeks for a worm to develop within a cocoon once it is produced.
Although a cocoon can hold as many as ten eggs, in the most common scenario only three or four worms will be seen to emerge from one. West Country Worms is one company that sells composting worms.
Mushroom Compost
Aug0
Mushroom Compost is basically a growing medium which is the outcome of mushroom growing process and it is commonly called as Spent Mushroom Substrate (SMS). It is used for commercial harvesting of mushrooms. It comprises of agriculture materials which include hay, straw, straw horse bedding, cocoa shells, gypsum which is a calcium sulfate and many more.
Mushroom Compost is rich in nutrient holding capacity and has high water level content. It acts as a fertilizer for farming and it inhibits artillery fungus. It assists in growth of plants in case of corn, pumpkin, tomato etc.
Mushrooms have a long history and it has been alluring and motivating the human soul for ages. It was acclaimed as a god in Vedic times while Egyptians regard mushroom as a plant of immortality. The first commercially harvested mushrooms were performed in the city of Paris and they used the mix of available soil with horse manure which is the same kind of compost as used for growing melons.
Shri S.S. Jain, a plant pathologist and mycologist from India rediscovered Mushroom compost when he found mushrooms growing on top of rotten apple branches, cow manure, wheat etc while helping farmers in their apple orchards.
There is a commercial and controlled process of preparing Mushroom Compost in today’s world. Mushroom farmers pasteurize the compost in order to keep the aerobic microorganisms alive that help in eliminating other type of fungi, use it for a small and after harvesting, it is available for selling it as fertilizer for gardens as SMS.
Organic Compost
Aug0
With so many talking about the activity of composting on the odd occasion, and with so many doing it or proceeding to it every single day, it seems almost instinctive to expect a discussion on the final product of it all.
This product may be formally named “organic compost”. Organic compost can be divided loosely into two types: green and brown.
Green compost is made by collecting left-over food items, from vegetable and fruit peelings to tea bags to coffee grinds to egg shells (…the list goes on and on) and assimilating it in a single place before “letting nature take its course” (i.e. just allowing the oxygen in the air to decompose the final pile of it all, over a period of several months.
Brown compost comes in the form of paper and other wood properties that has been allowed to decay by wholly natural means in the same way.
Research has made it possible for some non-biodegradable materials to take forms which are “more biodegradable” – polythene is the most well known example of this.
Organic compost is proof that so many materials can avoid ending up in landfill sites – anaerobic decomposition results in greenhouse gases.
A soil additive, like coir or peat, organic compost works as a tilth improver, supplying humus and nutrients to the soil it is made to come into contact with, much to the health of any and all plant and tree life residing in such a body of soil.
Worm Compost
Aug0
Worm compost is perhaps better known as vermicast, worm castings, worm humus or worm manure; it is the output of earthworms’ feeding on dead cell matter. Worm compost, well-known as a widely used horticultural product, is usually obtained from organic waste like raw and cooked vegetables, fruit, teabags, eggshells, coffee grounds and small amounts of cardboard.
However, meat, fish and dairy products should not form part of a body material that is to be made into worm compost.
In its status as a widely used horticultural product, there are many benefits attributed to worm compost: such as how it improves soil conditions and enriches it with micro-organisms by adding enzymes such as phosphatase and cellulose. (Water holding capacity is improved as well.)
This has its benefits for plants – technically, germination, plant growth and crop yield are enhanced; and it enables root growth and structure.
From an economic perspective, it means a lower waste flow to landfill sites and it creates low-skill, practical jobs in local areas. And it’s good for the environment in that it reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
There are a number of vermicomposting bins on sale, which can be made of old plastic containers, wood, Styrofoam or metal containers. However, there are types of wood which are avoided in worm bin construction: some cedars, Yellow cedar and redwood contain resinous oils that may harm worms – although Western Red Cedar has been seen to have excellent longevity in composting conditions.
Worm compost is recommended as fertilizer material.
Organic Gardening Compost
Aug0
Organic Gardening is one of the most environment friendly and healthy ways of gardening. It is beneficial to both your garden’s soil structure and plants.
Organic gardening compost is the integral part of organic gardening and is comprised of twigs, leaves, rotten fruit, manure and other natural wastes which after decay resulted into much needed nutrients for plants that can’t be even provided by best sandy loam soil.
Organic gardening compost is really vital for offsetting the soil by improving the soil structure, its ventilation and the ground water retention capacity. There should be a compost pit for preparing organic compost and you should be prepared with all garden tools to start digging. The size of the hold is matter of concern as it should be large enough to contain natural waste.
Organic gardening compost can also be prepared above the ground but it is avoided most of the times due to presence of microorganisms, insects and the smell which are hazardous for health.
When it comes to turn over the compost or carry the material to plants, composting equipments like a shovel or a pitchfork could prove to be handy. You need to ensure, while deciding about the location of compost pit, that you pay attention to the creatures like earthworms dwelling in soil which break down the organic matters and thus discharges the nutrients needed by the plants.
You may add coffee or tea grounds, eggshells, and cow’s manure to organic gardening compost in order to make ideal ground for gardening. You should keep your compost pile always away from bones, animal fat and trimmings infected with plant diseases as they may pollute the final compost product and may prove to be unfavorable for gardening.
How to make compost
Aug0
With composting being such a common activity, and with its product having such a large number of listed uses, and given that composting is an environmentally friendly action, let the answer to the hypothetical question “how do you make compost?” be outlined!
It is very straightforward and does not require any real thinking. One continues to find “compost bins” on sale throughout the world, but it is easy enough to allocate a space in your front or back garden to create there a compost heap.
In either case, making compost is simply a matter of gathering a body of biodegradable material(s) in a single place, or adding to an existing one, before just leaving it for a period of between six months and two years to create the compost product.
Given that composting cannot take place without oxygen, for the needed oxidization process, it is always wise to consider having your compost gathering spot in a well ventilated area. In practice, this means that large trees and shrubs, and the sides of buildings etc., may obfuscate the access of wind via gusts; those wanting compost in a short a period of time as possible would be wise not to overlook this.
And even though bins cost money whereas a self-made compost heap doesn’t, a pile of compost located in the former is a lot more mobile, and for this reason it can be a lot more easily relocated as and when deemed appropriate. Also, aim for moist areas.
Organic Gardening
Aug0
So many manufacture compost but not quite as many people use it. However, even those new to composting will remember as one of the first facts about it that it’s most common use lies in organic gardening: indeed, improving soil conditions and nurturing plants with the nutrients of dead cell matter carry positive implications for us all.
With this being the case, gardeners and horticultural experts are always among the first to use it to best effect. In the UK, there is even a national charity dedicated to organic growing – Garden Organic, http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk
In all reality, “organic gardening” is merely defined any kind of gardening without the use any chemical means, such as artificial fertilizer. As such, this document might as well, at least in part, be considered a document of advice on “traditional gardening”.
Let’s start with techniques. Get to know your lawn-mower from your spade, and your shears from your rake. And be careful of back strain if you’re going to be doing it for an extended period of time.
Then there’s the notion of pest control. Organic gardening is not about breaking out the fly spray. There are certain plants you can grow in your garden that work against pests (and this is not limited to the Venus fly trap!).
If you want to know more about organic gardening, suggestions include visiting the website of Garden Organic or buying the publication Organic Gardening. Show-offs can talk to celebrity gardener Alan Titchmarsh.
