Composting promises rich, dark soil that plants love, but when the pile refuses to heat up, frustration sets in fast. That cold, sluggish mound looks innocent, but beneath the surface, decomposition ...

Compost is a natural process, and you can help it along in your own backyard, Cindy Watter, a UC Master Gardener of Napa County, writes.

I began composting several years ago, mostly as an homage to my grandmother's garden, which she always nourished with compost. My mom bought me a compost pail for food scraps that I carry to my ...

Old hands at gardening know the magic of compost -- it leavens the soil and increases yields, whether flowers or vegetables. And the price is right: if you create it yourself, it is virtually free. A ...