Compost-ology: The Science & Fun of Composting & Vermicomposting

by The City of Euless, Nancie McCormish (Illustrator)

Composting is nature's way of recycling organic materials.

All living things are organic and will naturally decompose. In natural systems, dead plants and animals fall to the ground and are decomposed by bacteria, fungi and other organisms. When people manage this process to turn organic materials into soil amendments, it is called composting.Compost is the dark, loose, earthy-smelling material found on the forest floor, under the grass in a meadow and under a pile of old leaves in your garden.

Compost includes both stabilized organic material and the living organisms which continually recycle nutrients from dead plants and animals. The finished compost and the organisms that make it are each vital to the health of plants, soil and entire ecosystems.

28 pages, ebook

Published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a straightforward and simple primer on composting. I found it useful since it is put out by a city in Texas so some of the common pitfalls were more pertinent to my composting in the same state. If you are looking for a quick and free resource, this a good place to start.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The booklet is a brief introduction to composting, and it's free to download. The companion Web site from the City of Euless covers the same material.