I picked this book up for pocket change at one of my favorite thrift shops, knowing that I'd be able to send it off to an incarcerated person requesting ecological how-to books from the group with which I volunteer, Books Through Bars NYC. Being a lifelong "earth nerd" who keeps his organic waste in a container in the fridge to I can bring it to the farmer's market every Sunday for composting, I tore through it myself first.
As someone mentioned in a previous review, it is a bit outdated, but is a great primer for some of the various setups and assorted approaches to composting, based on available space and particular needs. I can't wait for the day that I have a piece of yard and garden so that I can get my own compost tumbler and oversee the entire process myself! If you're someone just curious about the topic, or thinking about starting your own home compost set up, it'll be a handy and quick read!
My biggest and best takeaway from this book is “compost happens”. This book gives a brief history of composting and discusses different options and resources as well as simple tips for tackling common problems. This is my first summer in my own home and I now have a vast expanse of yard to do with what I please- I started composting simply first in cardboard boxes and now in an old broken dresser… it’s all good/ compost happens!
I’ve solved the problems I had- flies and smells… and am happy with the level of recycle composting in at right now.
This was a great primer into making backyard composting as simple as possible. The concept of health beginning in the soil food is grown in being incorporated into the "why" of why composting is important was a great addition. As well as giving many different ideas as to how anyone can begin composting no matter where they live.
Loved this book. It was short and made things very clear on how to compost and improve your soil. there are some very practical ideas where you don't even need a compost bin and can still compost your grass clippings and fruit/veggie waste. It gets me really excited to have a yard and see how I can improve my garden soil and then in turn my plants.
I read this little book today, and found out that I just need to be patient. For the smell, I can add more "brown" components (leaves, dried grass, straw), and as the book says several times..."compost happens"
Thus is a good little booklet. We have been composting for a number of years now but this book added some insight into how we can burn hotter and get a faster compost. Simple to read and full of useful tips and techniques.
Great quick read on the importance of composting and need for good topsoil as well as excellent references for building compost piles/bins and the importance of good green/brown mix.