Professional composter Tony Ramsey of New Sharon says most home composters don’t have to worry about their compost getting too hot. “Small piles can get pretty hot without the potential to be ‘too hot’ during the composting process,” he says. “Big piles (8 feet or higher) can get too hot, and some piles constructed too […]

WHAT TO COMPOST (See related story on how to balance these materials for a successful compost.) Fruits and vegetables Eggshells Coffee grounds and filters Tea bags (no staples) Nut shells Shredded newspaper Cardboard Paper Yard trimmings Grass clippings Houseplants Hay and straw Leaves Sawdust Wood chips Cotton and wool rags Hair and fur Fireplace ashes […]

FOR SOIL TESTING: https://umaine.edu/soiltestinglab/ FOR COOPERATIVE EXTENSION GARDENING SUPPORT: https://extension.umaine.edu/gardening/ FOR COOPERATIVE EXTENSION VICTORY GARDEN VIDEO SERIES: https://extension.umaine.edu/gardening/victory-gardens-for-me/video-series/ FOR STARTING SEEDS AT HOME: https://umaine.edu/soiltestinglab/ FREE “BRILLIANT” GARDENING HACKS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vN5Mn_-5MM TIPS. TIPS, TIPS: https://tinyurl.com/Gardentipstipstips

Green beans Leafy greens such as kale, collards and Swiss chard Cucumbers Squash Radishes Turnips Cilantro Source: University of Maine Cooperative Extension

Members of the 24,900-member Facebook group Backyard Gardeners Maine offer advice to beginning growers: GOOD READS Lea Carver: “Use resources like the UMaine Extension Service, which has numerous free bulletins for home gardeners. Read books by author Eliot Coleman and especially the “Garden Primer” by Barbara Damrosch (they both live/grow in Maine). And perhaps most […]

Gardening starts with seeds, and Pinetree Garden Seeds in New Gloucester is one of a number of sources for seeds in central and western Maine. Pinetree specializes in seeds, and they’ve been busy since the beginning of the year, says spokesman Matthew Hall-Webb. The busy season starts during the holidays and continues through April. It’s […]