Composting refers to the biological reduction of organic waste to humus. During the natural process of composting, whenever a plant or an animal dies, the remains are attacked by microorganisms and larger fauna, such as worms, insects or other animals, in the environment and in the soil, and eventually the remains are reduced to an earthlike substance that adds benefit to the soil and a healthy growing environment for the roots of plants. This occurs with or without human intervention. When people are involved in it, the term refers to the process through which we transform organic wastes into a soil-building substance for farm, orchard, or garden use. On a small scale, yard, garden or kitchen waste can be converted into a stable granular material that is used to improve the soil structure and enrich its nutrient content through a variety of composting methods. On a large scale, any biodegradable household or commercial waste product can be composted. Composting methods may include the use of air, moisture, the right carbon to nitrogen ratio, warmth, critical mass, inoculation, or through the use of worms, which is known as vermiculture. The focus of this category is on the science, methods, and application of composting.
Recommended Resources
Focusing on worm composting, the business came about in 1989, selling worms and customized worm composting systems throughout North America. Over the years, product lines have changed and improved. Offering a variety of options in worm composting systems, live worms, and accessories, the site also offers a selection of gardening products and informational articles.
http://www.allthingsorganic.com/
Bluewater Recycling Association: Organic Hub
Owned by the municipalities that use the company’s services, the non-profit association offers plastics recycling services and processing, as well as recycling education programs, including information and tips on organics, with details on composting and specific types of compost equipment, and drop-off sites for yard, brush and leaf waste.
http://www.bra.org/organic/
City Farmer is a Vancouver, Canada organization that teaches people how to grow food in the city, to compost their waste, and take care of their home landscape responsibly, City Farmer News is a collection of stories, instruction on tips on gardening, choosing garden equipment and supplies, and learning the advantages and disadvantages between different types of composting, including commercial compost, institutional composting, and worm composting.
http://www.cityfarmer.info/
The service began in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada in 2005, and offers services to subscribers in Greater Victoria, Nanaimo, Parksville, and Qualicum Beach. Its services, maps and schedules are posted, along with information about the benefits of composting, the use of compost, and the value of both personal and community composting.
http://www.communitycomposting.ca/
Offering tips for home composting, the site includes general information about composting, a guide to composting without a lot of effort, composting waste from a lawn mower, or composting in a trash can, as well as several do-it-yourself compost bin designs, with instructions and photographs. Comparisons of commercially available compost bins are also offered.
http://compostguide.com/
Offering compost tips, composting articles, compost bins reviews, and other resources relating to composting, the site features a beginner’s guide to composting, a guide to setting up a compost system, general information about composting, a comparison of various commercial and homemade compost bins, worm composting, and books on the subject. Links to additional resources are also included.
http://www.compost-info-guide.com/
Promoting composting, the site offers a full guide, including information about the benefits of composting, the uses of compost in and around the garden, and its role in environmental sustainability, as well as the conditions that are necessary for successful composting, and how to get started, and to maintain a successful compost operation. Comments on articles are allowed.
http://www.compost-it.org.uk/
The CCC is a national, non-profit, membership organization chartered to advocate and advance organics residuals recycling and compost use in Canada, and to be a resource and network for the Canadian compost industry. Available in English and French, the site offers instruction on composting, an introduction to the organics recycling industries in Canada, and information on training and certification.
http://www.compost.org/
The page offers a guide to composting, including a discussion of the quantity and composition of the raw material necessary, composting leaves, a mixture of grass clippings and woody materials, a mixture of leaves, grass and pruning wastes, and animal manures. The necessary carbon/nitrogen ratios are given, as well as tips on the blending of materials, shredding of refuse, and environmental factors.
http://www.cyber-north.com/gardening/compost.html
Managed by the sustainable waste management team at Garden Organic, which conducts research into composting, this site offers advice on composting as a sustainable solution to organic waste management. Educational material is presented on home composting, including its master composter program, and other resources, such as its programs for schools and certification programs.
http://www.homecomposting.org.uk/
The publishers of an illustrated guide to home composting offer step-by-step instructions, products and resources for backyard composting, covering topics such as the benefits of composting, the uses for finished compost, and the relationship between good compost and nutrition, as well as setting up a compost system. Its printed guide may be purchased through the site.
http://www.homecompostingmadeeasy.com/
The compost resource offers general and specific information about composting, including an overview of decomposition, the factors involved in the composting process, carbon to nitrogen ratios, optimum surface areas, aeration, moisture and temperature, as well as a comparison of backyard versus large-scale composting, vermicomposting and food digesters, and other data.
http://www.howtocompost.org/
The publishers of the Humanure Handbook and manufacturers of furniture grade, earth-friendly compost toilets, suitable for households, camps, shops, garages, bedrooms, and other situations, not requiring electricity, venting, pipes, drains, plumbing, urine separation, or water. The site includes information about composting human wastes, offers its book and toilet, as well as other products, for sale online.
http://www.humanurehandbook.com/
Maintained by NC Extension, an outreach program at North Carolina University, based in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the site offers a guide to home and backyard composting, large-scale composting, vermicomposting, and recycling and solid waste reduction. Tips on choosing earthworms and worm bins is put forth, including information on potential markets for vermiculture and vermicomposting operations.
https://composting.ces.ncsu.edu/
The informational site offers facts, tips, and a guide to composting with red worms, from getting started in vermicomposting, such as creating a vermicomposting system and choosing the worms, buying and raising worms. Worms, worm bins and other supplies may be purchased through the site, and there are also plans for doing it yourself. A course on vermicomposting is also available.
https://www.redwormcomposting.com/
Offering several photographs, description, and answers to questions, the forum thread discusses a method of composting all compostable household and yard waste, including shredded paper and cardboard, food scraps, leaves and grass clippings, and even pet litter, without having to turn the pile over or aerate it, using full boxes of compostable materials, which provide oxygen to the internal portions of the pile, and vermicomposting. Alternatives are also discussed.
http://www.seniorsonly.club/threads/composting.2038/
Sustainable Agricultural Technologies, Inc.
Specializing in the manufacture and sale of vermicomposting worm bins and compost tea brewers, the company also carries a full line of biological soil amendments for soil remediation and enhancement. Its products include the Worm Wigwam, as well as large-scale worm composting bins and institutional composting bins, which are highlighted here, with specifications, pricing, and online sales.
http://www.wormwigwam.com/
Produced by ORBIS Corporation, the Earth Machine is a compost system designed for easy, passive composting. Its site includes specifications, descriptions, photographs, and promotional material, including a section for municipal officials interested in participating in a community composting campaign, as well as a section for individuals who are interested in the product. General information on the benefits and techniques of composting are included.
http://www.earthmachine.com/
Specializing in the sale of live red worms for composting purposes, the business offers red composting worms, European nigh crawlers, and meal worms, as well as other composting products such as indoor and outdoor compost bins, worm kits, organic fertilizer and compost, composting books, heirloom seeds, organic pest control supplies, gardening supplies, and promotional apparel.
https://unclejimswormfarm.com/
The USCC provides support for generators of organic residues, compost producers, policy makers, regulators, professionals, and users of compost products for the purpose of advancing the industry. Membership information, a schedule of conferences and shows, and an overview of its consumer compost use program, compost logo project, advocacy programs, and educational resources are featured.
http://compostingcouncil.org/
Vermicomposting refers to composting with worms, specifically earthworms, which have the ability to turn waste into organically valuable worm castings which, when combined with partially processed organic matter, form vermicompost, a natural organic fertilizer. This guide to composting with worms gives tips on choosing a compost bin, setting up a compost system, and strategies for raising worms.
http://www.vermicompost.net/
Offering a great deal of information on worm composting, the site’s topics include an introduction to vermicomposting, a comparison of tumble composting bins and worm compost bins, and instructions on making a worm compost bin. Facts about worms are presented, including the benefits of worm composting, with tips on what not to feed compost worms, what types of worms to use, and creating your own worm farm.
http://vermicomposting.com/
The retail worm farm offers a variety of compost worms, red worms, including the larger European worms and Canadian nighcrawlers, as well as mealworms, wax worms, and other types of worms, fruit flies, butterflies, and even roaches. Informational articles are included, such as setting up a worm bin, troubleshooting worm bins, and harvesting worm castings.
http://www.wormman.com/
