It takes time to make compost. Organic matter requires about two to three months to break down in hot compost piles, and up to a year or more in cold composting systems. But if you add a compost ...

Understanding the Context

Yahoo: Composting in Winter: 10 Simple Tips for Keeping Your Pile Active Gardeners often assume outdoor compost piles stop working in cold weather, but beneficial microbes can continue to break down compost all winter. The problem is that composting takes much longer in ... Caitlin Havener on MSN: 7 secrets to composting that won't make your backyard smell funky The San Bernardino Sun: How to make the most of your compost in the garden Q. How do I start and maintain a compost pile/bin?

Key Insights

Is there a certain type of composter you recommend? I love composting because it’s a way you can take something that would normally be waste and turn ... Maggots are a common sight in compost piles and bins, but what do they do? What kind of maggots should you expect to find in your compost bin? How can you get rid of maggots if they become a problem?

Final Thoughts

Composting is one of those things that sounds wonderful in theory, but the moment something goes wrong, your whole backyard pays the price. That rotten egg cloud drifting toward the neighbor's fence.