In this episode, Paul chats with Kate Flood, aka The Compost Coach, about breaking down the biggest composting myths and making composting feel simple, achievable, and rewarding.

Kate is passionate about helping households and communities turn waste into living soil. She explains how composting is both art and science, and why it doesn’t need to feel complicated. From busting myths about citrus, onions, and paper to exploring hot composting, cold composting, and Bokashi, this conversation will equip you with practical tools to build confidence in your own composting journey.

🧠 What You’ll Learn

• Why compost isn’t complicated (and how to keep it simple)
  
  

• The four universal ingredients of compost: carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and water
  
  

• Why cold, slow composting can be just as valuable as hot composting
  
  

• The role of compost activators like manure, comfrey, coffee grounds and Bokashi
  
  

• How Bokashi works, and why it’s a great way to process “compost no-nos” like meat and citrus
  
  

• Aeration hacks (compost lungs, wood chips, and garden stakes) that save you from heavy turning
  
  

• The truth about paper, inks, and PFAS in food packaging
  
  

• Common compost myths—and why they shouldn’t stop you from getting started
  
  

🧰 Resources & Tools Mentioned

• Compost activators (coffee grounds, comfrey, manure, Bokashi)
  
  

• DIY Bokashi bucket setups
  
  

• Compost thermometers and the squeeze test
  
  

• Aeration hacks: compost lungs, aged wood chips, and garden stakes
  
  

🔥 Quotes from Kate
“Composting is a living system – billions of microbes are waiting to be fed.”
“Forget the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio – just remember the four essentials: carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and water.”
“If you’ve heard a compost myth that says ‘you can’t add X’, remember: it all breaks down in nature.”

📚 About Kate Flood
Kate Flood is The Compost Coach – an educator, author, and sustainability advocate. Through her workshops, writing, and hands-on community projects, she empowers people to turn food scraps and garden waste into living soil. Her book The Compost Coach is a practical guide to busting compost myths and building confidence at any scale. You can grab yourself a copy HERE

Follow Kate:
📸 Instagram – @compostable.kate

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🙏 Thanks to our Sponsors

This podcast is made possible thanks to our Local Government partners from across Australia and our friends at:

• Backyard Farmer
  
  

• Cyclone Tools
  
  

• Pope