Easy Compost

21st-Century Gardening

by Niall Dunne (Editor), Beth Hanson (Editor)

Composting is green gardening at its it helps protect plants from diseases and pests, creates especially rich soil, and releases its nutrients slowly as plants need them. Now completely updated and redesigned, Brooklyn Botanic Gardens essential, bestselling guide contains the latest information on modern composting techniques, from what to put in the pile to how best to use your compost in the garden. An expanded resource section features special advice for urban gardeners.
 

Genres: Nonfiction

120 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2008

Reviews

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative. Simple enough for beginner composers, but also goes into scientific detail. Great place to start research into composting.

[Aprilleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very impressive coverage for a short book. It covers both traditional bin composting and vermicomposting and has information for people in a variety of situations, including city dwellers (the book came from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden).

After a short discussion of the reasons for and benefits of composting, there's a section is devoted to explaining how it works. There are about 20 pages of densely packed information about how to compost, including useful lists of what you should and shouldn't compost. The book explains what should be considered when selecting a site, the various options for bins (including plans for two wooden bins you can build yourself in an afternoon: a basic two-bin composter with a screened top, and a clever bench bin).

There are two sections on vermicomposting, including one about using vermicomposting in the classroom for science enrichment. What an awesome idea!

The book closes with sections on using compost in the garden (apparently it makes a good mulch) and how to choose commercial compost, a section on compost tea, and a section specifically for composting in the city that addresses many of the associated challenges, from sourcing sufficient materials to overcoming the NIMBY (not in my back yard) phenomenon. Also included is a short glossary and few pages of resources and further reading.

I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to get started on their own compost project without getting overwhelmed with all the information and different methods presented in other volumes.

[Raoum Bani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very detailed and explains different ways of composting. I've wanted to start composting for two years but was lost and I know that the internet is full of information but it's also full of myths. This book contains everything you'll need to know about composting in a simple and organized way. Love it!

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of essays on the topic; a good introduction.

[Kylie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very general overview of composting.