You read Part I, you have your bin, now what? Time to assemble! What you need to get started that was not in the box with your bin. Newspaper for shredding and lining the bin. Eggshells A cup of finished compost or worm castings. Water A big tub or bucket to mix things in. Two cups of kitchen…
I know you want to start a worm bin and compost much of what you are currently landfilling. Earth Day is coming up and everyone wants to save the planet, so why haven’t you done it already? The barriers to getting started come down to four things: Time: Taking less than thirty minutes in the safety…
I could barely sleep last night because of this. Manifesto alert, proceed at your own risk. Everything we post about here on Backyard Ecosystem. Everything underlying the movement toward greening our cites over the last several decades. The very title of the excellent book written by Erik and Kelly over at the blog formerly known as Homegrown…
The Problem: Fruit flies in your vermicompost bin or in your pre-composting container. The solution for both of these problems is super simple. If you are finding fruit flies in your worm bin simply stop feeding. Cover the exposed surface of the bin with coffee grounds. Then add a layer of fresh bedding. The easiest…
Compost myth: I can just dig up some worms for my vermicomposting bin right? Compost Answer: No. The worms in your yard or garden are earthworms. You cannot just dig up some worms from the soil outside for your worm bin unless you live on a working ranch or dairy farm and have a large…
The number one chunk of misinformation out there which needs to be shot down in flames is that you need to purchase worms for an outdoor compost bin. Worms are for indoor vermicomposting bins that are designed to process kitchen scraps. Indoor vermicomposting bins will turn out great fertilizer for house plants or limited outdoor…
We’ve all had them. And I really want to know. You compost now, but it might not be going so well. Or you know that composting is one of the easiest things you can do to save the world, but don’t know how to get started. Or You have been composting for years but you…
The spinning (sometimes called a barrel) or tumbler composter is a commercial gimmick to convince you that anyone, including small children or pets, can turn the whole pile at once in a few seconds. Most are too small to heat up properly, can’t be turned when full or nearly full, do not provide enough ventilation,…
1) Start a worm bin in order to covert a third of your waste stream into something that helps the planet. 2) Never, ever again use a disposable bag for carrying home something you purchase. 3) Walk or Bike somewhere everyday. It is not hard to save the planet, commit to it now, never look back. Saving…
One sunny afternoon three summers ago, Kevin and I were tidying up the backyard in preparation for our joint birthday party. We were both turning older than dirt that year and thought we would have a big soiree and invite all our friends to celebrate, check out the garden, and see my latest artwork. While…
Backyard Ecosystem began as an expression of my determination to make a difference in our own backyard. Literally and metaphorically making a difference at the micro level of my yard and to operate at macro level of treating the entire planet as something I am an integral part of and whose destiny is shaped everyday by what I do in my corner of the world.
Read More About Us