Avoid Persistent Herbicides: Aminopyralid & Clopyralid in Compost
Learn to recognize and avoid persistent herbicides like aminopyralid and clopyralid in compost and manure. Protect your garden from contamination that can last for years.
US guides
Guides written for United States.
1121 guides written specifically for United States growers. Clear filter
Hot Composting Cow & Horse Manure for Better Soil
Learn hot composting techniques for cow and horse manure. Maintain 140°F to kill pathogens, improve soil, and boost garden health in USDA Zone 6. Avoid fresh manure risks.
Rabbit manure: cold fertilizer for high-yield gardens (USDA 3-9)
Rabbit manure works as a cold fertilizer for gardens in USDA zones 3-9. Apply directly for balanced nutrients, improved soil, and less labor.
Composting Chicken Manure: 30:1 C:N Ratio for Midwest Soil
Learn safe composting of chicken manure for fertile soil. Achieve the ideal 30:1 C:N ratio, monitor temperatures, and apply compost in your Midwest garden.
Sheet mulching: build 12 inches of soil in one season
Learn how to sheet mulch a garden bed with leaves & cardboard. This no-dig method builds rich soil, suppresses weeds, and conserves water, perfect for homesteaders.
Shredding leaves for soil: mowers & shredders
How shredding autumn leaves with a mower or shredder turns yard waste into nutrient-rich soil, reducing volume, improving soil structure, and boosting fertility in USDA Zone 6 gardens.
Speeding up leaf mold: shredding, moisture, bag method for soil
Learn how to speed up leaf mold production for your garden. Discover techniques like shredding, maintaining moisture, and the bag method to create rich soil amendment in USDA Zone 6.
Choosing mulch for your garden: soil moisture & fertility
How shredded leaves, wood chips, and straw improve soil moisture, suppress weeds, and boost fertility in a homestead garden.
Best US Trees for Leaf Mold: Avoid Black Walnut & Eucalyptus
Make rich leaf mold for your garden. Learn best US tree leaves (oak, maple) and avoid black walnut/eucalyptus to boost soil health, water retention & microbes.
Make Leaf Mold: Free Soil Conditioner
Learn to make leaf mold from fallen leaves. This free, fungal-dominated soil conditioner improves soil structure & water retention, reducing irrigation needs for your garden.
Biochar for raised beds, containers & compost
How to use biochar in raised beds, containers, and compost to improve water retention, nutrient cycling, and plant health in your garden.
DIY biochar: TLUD & cone kiln for soil
How to make biochar at home using top-lit updraft (TLUD) and cone-kiln methods, including quenching, charging with nutrients, and soil application in USDA Zone 6 gardens.
Biochar for Garden Beds: Boost Water Retention & Soil Health
Unlock healthier soil with biochar! Learn how to apply biochar to garden beds to increase water retention by up to 18%, improve soil structure, and boost plant growth for long-term benefits.
Biochar vs. charcoal: soil benefits
The differences between biochar and grilling charcoal for garden soil, including how biochar improves soil water retention and plant health in USDA Zone 6 while avoiding additives.
Charge Biochar with Compost Tea for Better Garden Yields
Learn how to charge biochar with compost tea or vermicompost leachate to boost soil health, water retention, and potentially increase crop yields by 10-20% in your garden.