Do you make compost at home? Do you delight in the experience? If your answer to either of those questions is no, this week’s guest is here to help.Delaina Arnold is the community programs manager with the Georgian Bay Mnidoo Gamii Biosphere, a UNESCO-designated “ecologically significant” landscape where people are striving to live in balance with nature. As part of that striving, the Biosphere launched a pilot project in 2025 to help people learn about home composting, to get started doing it themselves, and to troubleshoot any problems. Now we get to benefit from all that education, as Delaina answers Erin’s questions on the subject.We begin with the big question: why bother rotting our kitchen scraps at all? Then it’s on to busting common myths before entering a crash course on home composting: where to place your bin, what type to make or buy, and how not to hate the container you use for collecting scraps. We troubleshoot common problems like wildlife, smell, and slow decomposition, then get into a tangent on the truth about using urine in your compost. Of course we also cover how to decompose your garden trimmings safely and what to do with manure. Ready to make some black gold with us? Then dive in to the interview.Learn More“Do the Rot Thing” webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74UODcc3IZEAll the Biosphere’s short, downloadable gardening guides, including “Composting 101”: https://georgianbaybiosphere.com/gardens/The Biosphere’s community calendar: https://georgianbaybiosphere.com/events/ The Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve website: https://georgianbaybiosphere.com/CitationsUrine and Soil StudyRumeau, M., Pistocchi, C., Ait-Mouheb, N., Marsden, C., & Brunel, B. (2024). Unveiling the impact of human urine fertilization on soil bacterial communities: A path toward sustainable fertilization. Applied Soil Ecology, 201, 105471. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2024.105471Follow the Biosphere On Social MediaOn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gbtownship/ On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GBayBiosphere Comments? Feedback? Want your garden question to be featured in a future Q&A segment? Email us, reach out over social media, or get Q&A priority by supporting us on Patreon. Discord: https://discord.gg/K6wF9dY4Ja Bluesky: @plantsalwayswin.com TikTok: @plantsalwayswinpodcast YouTube: @plantsalwayswinpodcastWebsite: www.plantsalwayswin.com CreditsWebsite Design and Illustration by Sophia AlladinIntro and Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/when-my-ukulele-playsLicense code: GWOIMMBAS15FG6PHTimestamps00:12 Intro00:47 Meet Delaina Arnold of the Georgian Bay Biosphere01:50 What is the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve?05:08 Why Home Composting Matters: Landfills, Methane, and Soil09:09 The Seguin & Township of Georgian Bay Kitchen to Compost Pilot Project11:33 Myths about Home Composting: Wildlife, Stirring, and What to Add14:47 What if You Don't Turn Your Compost? Erin's Dirty, Little Secret16:35 Where to Locate Your Compost Bin: Sun, Drainage, and Access18:14 Choosing Your Compost Bin20:09 Pick a Cute Countertop Compost Container22:30 Composting Tips23:27 Composting Troubleshooting25:15 Wildlife Problems with Compost29:19 Fact Check: Adding Urine to Compost32:20 Brown Materials You Can Add34:05 Can You Add Garden Clippings to Your Compost Bin? 37:45 Resources and Contact for the Georgian Bay Biosphere39:30 Outro and Contact Us
