How to Make and Use Compost

by Nicky Scott

How to Make & Use Compost features an A-Z guide, which includes a comprehensive list of what you can and can’t compost, concepts and techniques, compost systems, and common problems and solutions. It includes how to:- Easy to use A-Z format. - Compost your food waste safely. - Get the best out of a Dalek-type plastic composter. - Make your own seed, plant and cuttings compost. - Create liquid feed for your plants with a wormery. - Make compost in your flat or on your balcony. - Learn about school and community composting. By making your own compost you can feed your plants, increase the fertility of your soil, and help reduce the amount of waste going to landfill at the same time.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction

200 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[H. Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scott's guide to composting is very well written and covers a lot of ground -- from balcony composting to full-on commercial composting. For someone like me who is new to medium-scale composting, the book is filled with plenty of accessible science (although Scott reminds us he's not a scientist, he, like a farmer, has a better, more practical grasp of nature than folk who spend their time in Monsanto labs). I measure books like this based on the number of "wow, that makes sense, but I never would have thought of that" moments I experience while reading. Who knew that diluted urine was a great compost activator? Or that removing the lid for a bit so that predatory beetles can enter helps control small flies?

Once read, you memorize all the information. Not necessary to own, but it's a great library book to have available.

[Amelia Stefanac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative book on composting, covers many methods and vessels. I enjoyed the focus on community composting initiatives as well as school-based projects. Plenty of resources provided for further reading and online learning.
I wished the author had provided more citations throughout the story. Also to note for American readers, the writer is based in the UK I believe so many of the products he mentions and compares may not be available for sale.

[Heidi Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative, engaging and practical. Lots of info, some is read before but enough new to be worth while. A lot on commercial systems but not sure how much applies out of the UK. Wish all the photo were color and that it had a little more organization/less redundancy. Good addition to the gardening library.