the journal # Notes from the beds Guides and stories on soil, worms and growing, written by the people who work with them. _Illustration: A field-notes desk: three notes pinned to the wall behind it, one with a sketch of a potted plant, one with a worm and one with a row of pots, and on the desk an open notebook, a pencil, a mug of tea and the narrator earthworm reading_ ## All articles [_Illustration: A cut through soil: cow dung and plant scraps on the surface, an earthworm below them, fine castings falling from its tail into a dark mound that a seedling's roots reach into_ComparedVermicompost vs compost vs cow dung manure: which is better?What each one is, what the published Indian nutrient figures say, and which to use for pots, vegetables and orchards.8 October 2026 · 6 min read](https://thecomposta.com/journal/vermicompost-vs-compost-vs-cow-dung-manure)[_Illustration: A terracotta pot with a plant on a potting bench, a can, a scoop and a trowel resting beside it; the scoop tips castings in, the trowel mixes them into the top and the can waters, one at a time, and a wall calendar marks the monthly feed_GuideHow much vermicompost to use: per pot, per square metre and per acreRates from ICAR, TNAU and Kerala Agricultural University, turned into amounts you can measure out.8 October 2026 · 6 min read](https://thecomposta.com/journal/how-much-vermicompost-to-use)[_Illustration: A balcony: a railing against the sky, a row of planters in front of it with a chilli plant, marigolds, a herb and a fern, and a hanging basket above_GuideThe best organic fertiliser for a terrace or balcony garden in IndiaA clear way to feed pots on a roof: the potting mix, how much vermicompost, how often, and what to check before you load a terrace.8 October 2026 · 6 min read](https://thecomposta.com/journal/best-organic-fertiliser-terrace-garden-india)[_Illustration: A balcony ledge with a window box being watered, a tall planter and a hanging basket, a bee visiting_GuideVermicompost for tomato, chilli, roses, lawns, mango and bananaWhat the Indian schedules say for each crop, and where they say nothing, so you know which numbers are firm.8 October 2026 · 6 min read](https://thecomposta.com/journal/vermicompost-for-plants-crop-wise-guide)[_Illustration: A wooden frame sieve tilted on its legs, shaking, with a few coarse lumps left on the mesh while fine castings fall through into a wheelbarrow beneath its low edge and pile up_GuideHow to store vermicompost and tell good from badWhat the Fertiliser Control Order asks for, how to judge a bag by eye, nose and hand, and how to keep it until you use it.8 October 2026 · 6 min read](https://thecomposta.com/journal/how-to-store-vermicompost-and-check-quality)[_Illustration: A desk with a report sheet and a clipboard, a rubber stamp landing beside them, and the open doors of a shipping container behind_For importersImporting vermicompost from India: HS code, documents and what to confirmA buyer's checklist: how the product is classified, the documents that usually matter, and the questions to put to any exporter.8 October 2026 · 7 min read](https://thecomposta.com/journal/import-vermicompost-from-india)[_Illustration: A terracotta pot with a young plant on a sunny windowsill in front of an open-shuttered window, a scoop tipping a handful of castings into it and an earthworm waving beside it_How toVermicompost in potting mix and seed starting: how much to useThe shares that extension services recommend, why they are capped, and a few cautions on salts and acidity.8 October 2026 · 5 min read](https://thecomposta.com/journal/vermicompost-potting-mix-seed-starting)[_Illustration: A lab bench under a desk lamp: two report sheets, a rubber stamp that comes down and leaves a ticked impression, and a labelled sample jar of castings_SafetyIs vermicompost really odourless and safe?What the standards and research say about smell, pathogens, weed seeds and heavy metals, and why sieving and curing matter.8 October 2026 · 6 min read](https://thecomposta.com/journal/is-vermicompost-odourless-and-safe)[_Illustration: A small terrace with a turmeric sky and a sun: a striped awning shading a window box of flowers and a fern bowl, herbs in the sun, a tall chilli plant in a big pot cut open to show the mix and its roots, a pouch of castings with a scoop tipping a handful on top, and a watering can_GuideA terrace garden starter guidePots, soil, light and feeding: how to get a small terrace growing without overthinking it.18 March 2026 · 6 min read](https://thecomposta.com/journal/terrace-garden-starter-guide)[_Illustration: A cutaway of soil in three layers: scraps on the surface being taken down by one worm, a magnified bubble of microbes, a second worm leaving a trail of castings, and a heap of castings with a seedling rooted in it_Behind the bedsWhy earthworms make better compost than machinesWhat happens inside a worm, and why it leaves behind something no mixer can copy.3 February 2026 · 5 min read](https://thecomposta.com/journal/why-earthworms-make-better-compost)[_Illustration: A potting table against a cream wall: an old pot tipped on its side with its soil spilling, a plant being moved into a larger terracotta pot, a heap of mix with a trowel and a scoop, gardening gloves, and an earthworm watering the plant with a can_How toHow to repot a plant with vermicompostA five-minute method for fresher soil, stronger roots and fewer repotting shocks.12 January 2026 · 4 min read](https://thecomposta.com/journal/how-to-repot-with-vermicompost) --- Source: https://thecomposta.com/journal The Composta is a brand of Nutrify Private Limited, 1st Floor, Plot No. B & B1, Vanijya Nikunj, Enkay Centre, Udyog Vihar Phase 5, Gurugram, Haryana 122016, India. Contact: contact@thecomposta.com, +91 90535 19734 (also WhatsApp). Quotes: sales@thecomposta.com. Importers and bulk buyers: export@thecomposta.com. More for agents: https://thecomposta.com/llms.txt