DIY Builds
DIY Builds
Photo: Julia Volk
sun Should my compost pile be in the sun or in the shade? You can put your compost pile in the sun or in the shade, but putting it in the sun will hasten the composting process. Sun helps increase the temperature, so the bacteria and fungi work faster.
A shed can even help to increase your asking price when you decide it's time to sell. In fact, some professionals estimate that a new shed could...
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Thus, long lengths of wire will cause a larger voltage drop than shorter lengths. Also, the voltage drop is more pronounced in active sensors...
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These are! They guide you every step of the way to complete your dream shed.
Learn More »For many gardeners, there isn’t anything more rewarding than turning garbage into gold. That’s what composting does: transforms discarded organic matter into nutrient-rich compost or “black gold.” Besides being a natural fertilizer, compost is also an amazing soil-building material that helps retain moisture and reduce erosion. This incredible process is a great way to recycle and transform organic materials into free fertilizer. The process couldn’t be easier. Yet for those of us who have never composted before, the very idea of it can seem intimidating. Recently, I’ve had several opportunities to answer questions from gardeners while teaching them how to compost. Here are answers to the questions I’ve heard most often. Will my compost smell? The odor of compost is a common concern, but it shouldn’t be. Good compost has an earthy aroma to it. If it has an offensive smell like ammonia or sulfur, it is not “cooking” properly. In order for compost to cook properly, you need a good mix of heat, moisture, and oxygen in your pile so that bacteria and microorganisms can do their job. Bacteria begin the composting process. Aerobic bacteria need air to live, while anaerobic bacteria can survive without it. Both aid in the decay of organic material, but the aerobic bacteria are particularly helpful because they work faster than their anaerobic cousins and do not produce an odor while working. If your compost pile begins to smell, that usually means that your aerobic friends are not getting enough oxygen. The solution? Get a pitchfork and turn your pile. Can I compost in winter? Yes, you can compost throughout winter. Of course, with lower temperatures, the process will significantly slow down. During mild winter days, the microorganisms in compost will continue to eat. Just like us, though, they move a little slower on really cold days. What types of things can I put in my compost pile? Almost anything organic will break down into compost. Grass clippings, leaves, farm animal manure, kitchen peelings, coffee grounds, and eggshells are among the usual suspects found in a compost pile. However, many people overlook other everyday items. One evening after a potluck dinner, I mentioned to a friend that I would put the leftover cabbage into my compost pile. She looked shocked and exclaimed, “But it’s cooked!” I replied, “Well, it may be cooked but it’s organic vegetable matter, and the bacteria and earthworms will not know the difference.” Other items to include that may not be so obvious are newspaper, sawdust, bread, cooked pasta, and weeds (before they go to seed). Wood and wood products like paper or sawdust take longer to break down, but they eventually decompose. Also, most newspapers have moved to a vegetable-based ink, so there are no concerns about composting newsprint. What types of things should I avoid putting in my compost pile? There are a few items that should never go into a compost pile. Diseased plants (dead or alive) shouldn’t be composted because they can spread the disease further. If you have applied chemicals like herbicides or pesticides to your lawn, those grass clippings shouldn’t be composted either. Perennial weeds, like dandelions, should be discarded as well.
Does Walmart give free pallets? Walmart does not sell or donate its own pallets, but recycles or reuses them. However, Walmart does sell recovered...
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To sleep in a shed or garden room, it must comply with Building Regulations. These control the quality of the building's structure and ensure it is...
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Does it matter in what order I add organic materials? Most gardeners have heard about layering their compost: a layer of dry ingredients (usually leaves), then a layer of moist ingredients (grass clippings or kitchen peelings), and so on. In an ideal world, gardeners would layer their compost because they would have the time and the energy. Truth be told, Mother Nature and her workers have composted for millennia, and they have never layered. Admittedly, though, the process is faster if your ingredients are layered. Should my compost pile be in the sun or in the shade? You can put your compost pile in the sun or in the shade, but putting it in the sun will hasten the composting process. Sun helps increase the temperature, so the bacteria and fungi work faster. This also means that your pile will dry out faster, especially in warm southern climates. If you do place your pile in full sun, just remember to keep it moist as it heats up. Do I have to turn the compost pile? I once told a neighbor who asked me this question that she had to turn her compost pile. I learned later that she decided not to compost at all that season because she didn’t have time to turn it. I’ve since clarified that statement by adding that you have to turn your pile if you want to have compost fairly quickly; turning hastens the process. But you don’t have to do it. It’s possible that, without turning, the compost will begin to smell as the anaerobic bacteria start to do their thing.
Natural insulation boards and insulation batts – such as woodfibre insulation – can also make insulating a shed greener. The sustainable wood...
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Always use pressure treated lumber when constructing things that will need to stand up to the elements. As for the sheds' floor deck, use ¾-in. or...
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Anchoring in the middle of the ocean is not possible due to the depth. In order to maintain good holding, you want at least 7 times more line out...
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Balsa wood Balsa wood: the lightweight among the wood species With a density of 0.1 to 0.2 g / cm³, balsa is the softest wood in the world. Jul 30,...
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