this post was submitted on 10 Mar 2026
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Gardening Australia

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We were doing everything wrong. But it’s not too late for you. You can learn from our mistakes.

Making compost is a cornerstone of sustainable gardening, yet few of us understand the great science behind it.

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[–] Bubs@lemmy.zip 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Some decent tips, but they're kinda compost 101 in my experience.

  1. If you have a compost heap, ensure it is wide, long and low (which ensures a high surface area to volume ratio), and introduce air by dragging a hoe or rake through it.
  2. If you use a compost tumbler or container, then rotate or stir it often.
  3. Keep the compost moist (but not wet) over the dry summer months.
  4. Keep your compost warm over colder months by ensuring it gets some winter sunlight.
  5. Add some “browns”, such as dry leaves, or shredded cardboard or paper; the carbon-rich browns, added to the high-nitrogen green waste, gives a better carbon to nitrogen ratio and results in better compost.
[–] SaneMartigan@aussie.zone 0 points 2 months ago

The "according to science" is kinda weak too. It's mostly a comparison of aerobic vs anaerobic decomposition, rather than someone testing a bunch of different composting methods.