Unless you garden in a temperate or tropical zone you may be one of those unfortunates who simply can’t get enough of gardening. The calender may state exactly when spring, summer, autumn and winter begin but we know that don’t mean Jack! Spring time in the Carolinas, Texas and Kansas is quite a bit different than it is in Montana, Maine and Michigan. Only the Northerner can explain the horror of a blizzard dropping an incredible 8-12 inches of snow on the first day of spring. Good-bye, Crocus! We’ll see you when the snow melts.

The short growing season is the culprit and a sad business it is indeed, a nasty thorn in our sides, in fact. Because of it we northern gardeners will do just about anything to extend it. Therefore, we shall discuss the many ways the sufferers of the short growing season have discovered, invented and created to lengthen the way-too-short growing season.

Before you will start with composting, you need to select which compost bin to use. Your choice must be based on what kind of compost to make such as newspapers, grass clippings, food leftovers, or perhaps a mixture of all.

Your choice of a compost bin will also be dependent on where you are planning to compost, either indoor or outdoor and also on what purpose why you make a compost, is it only for a hobby or for any full sized garden? To support you with these factors, below are the five items to follow.

First, get a measuring tape and get the width, height and length of the place where you plan to make the compost bin. You've got to take into account the height particularly if you are going for an expandable style of tumbler.

Vermiculture or vermicomposting comes from the Latin term vermis, meaning worms. Vermicomposting employs earthworms to change organic waste material into high quality compost. Vermicomposting changes many types of different kitchen waste into a into a nutrient-rich fertilizer for your garden.

Vermicompost, or vermiculture, most often uses two species of worms, red wigglers or red earthworms, which are rarely found in soil and are adapted to the special conditions in rotting vegetation, compost and manure piles.

Some of the benefits of Vermicomposting include:

The colder weather is upon us and the question being asked is, "What should I do with my organic garden in the winter." "How do I keep my organic garden in shape during the winter months"? "Growing a Vegetable Garden in Winter?" Follow along to find out your winter organic gardening questions with the Friday's Organic Gardening Around The Web segment.

"There are two things that determine your success as an organic gardener - soil and weather. You can change soil; you cannot change weather.

How cold it gets in Winter and how hot it gets in Summer can help you predict whether a particular plant struggles or thrives in your garden... Weather Basics for Organic Gardeners.

Don't you just love that lovely soft blanket of white that undulates over your lawn and garden plots? Doesn't it just bring winter joy to your soul?

Okay, maybe not. Maybe you're one of the people who sees winter as a long season before the only real important season comes along. You call the good season "Growing Season."

In either case, there is plenty you can do for your garden now, in the winter conditions many of us find ourselves in, that will help your garden get a head start in the Spring.

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