The most practical book that all gardeners have been waiting for, this fun and informative guide shows how to make the best compost using ingredients that are easily found around the house.
| ||||||||||||
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Ken Thompson writes regular columns for organic gardening magazines, has published over a hundred articles and is the author of An Ear to the Ground: Gardens Science for Ordinary Mortals.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By S. Burton
Format:Hardcover
This may be the first nonfiction book I ever read all the way through.
It's not long, but it's very informative. And can I overemphasize? it's EASY, EASY, EASY.
The lady that said it was confusing, it's really not. It's true that he waffles a bit on woody waste, but that's where you have to make the most decisions about whether or not to use the waste and how much to use. He wants you to think before you act. The bottom line is, avoid using gobs of it in your compost but a little bit (especially shredded) is OK. If you have lots of it, make a separate pile for it. It will just take longer to break down.
What he does is take the MYSTERY of composting and simplify it so that anyone can do it. Patience is his motto. Eventually you'll get compost.
He tells you how to use crumpled paper and "green" waste (like kitchen scraps and lawn clippings) to make compost. No need to worry about turning the pile ever; no need to add stuff you have to buy at the nursery. He recommends some kind of bin, but even straight on the ground, eventually you'll get compost.
He also makes the subject fun to read about. Like the part about worm farms--for pet lovers only, he says. If you wouldn't want to raise hamsters or rabbits, don't raise worms.
I have always been deterred by complicated composting instructions before. I'm not an avid gardener, but the current economic situation is changing my mind and practices. Now I feel like I can start composting all this junk I used to cram into the trash can.
It's not long, but it's very informative. And can I overemphasize? it's EASY, EASY, EASY.
The lady that said it was confusing, it's really not. It's true that he waffles a bit on woody waste, but that's where you have to make the most decisions about whether or not to use the waste and how much to use. He wants you to think before you act. The bottom line is, avoid using gobs of it in your compost but a little bit (especially shredded) is OK. If you have lots of it, make a separate pile for it. It will just take longer to break down.
What he does is take the MYSTERY of composting and simplify it so that anyone can do it. Patience is his motto. Eventually you'll get compost.
He tells you how to use crumpled paper and "green" waste (like kitchen scraps and lawn clippings) to make compost. No need to worry about turning the pile ever; no need to add stuff you have to buy at the nursery. He recommends some kind of bin, but even straight on the ground, eventually you'll get compost.
He also makes the subject fun to read about. Like the part about worm farms--for pet lovers only, he says. If you wouldn't want to raise hamsters or rabbits, don't raise worms.
I have always been deterred by complicated composting instructions before. I'm not an avid gardener, but the current economic situation is changing my mind and practices. Now I feel like I can start composting all this junk I used to cram into the trash can.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
An under sized book that could have been more informative. I felt like the author had something to say but didn't have enough material for a full size book. I should have saved my money and purchased Let It Rot which I ultimately did.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book, overall the best overview book I've seen on the subject
January 15, 2008
Format:Hardcover
I was thoroughly excited when I received my copy of this book through the mail. Having not been able to find it in the local book stores, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. The design/layout and content exceeded my expectations. Previously, I hadn't been able to get through the huge books I had on the subject which looked like they were from the 80's. This book however, is thoroughly modern. The pictures and typography make it interesting and a quick read. My only complaint was that it seemed a bit disorganized, the author kept referring to things and would refer to them later in a different example and it was a bit confusing, if not contradictory. Perhaps we just organize our thoughts in different ways. For example, he repeatedly talks about woody waste, in about ten or fifteen different instances and can't seem to make up his mind on exactly how he feels. I understand that the decision to use this type of material is dependent on many other factors, which he explains, but it would have been more helpful to me, if he had said five pages on woody waste all at once rather than the one page he has specifically devoted to it and four others spread throughout the book. That said, it is probably the best organized and most user-friendly book available on the subject.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Long winded but informative
Im happy with my purchase as it certainly answers any and all questions you could possibly have about composting. Read more
Published 2 months ago by spike
3.0 out of 5 stars
Compost
SAME AS EVERY OTHER BOOK ON COMPOSTING, BUT WITH A DIFFERANT PRINTING AND PAPER FORMAT. THE IMAGES ARE JUST OK.
Published 4 months ago by Nicholas Ferrant
5.0 out of 5 stars
Easy to read, plenty of pictures and a great quick reference.
This is really easy to read and has plenty of useful information. It's great for reading with you kids since it has so many pictures. Read more
Published 17 months ago by J. J. Gonzalez
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect Balance of Research and Specific Advice
I love this book. It's short and easy to read, but is still based on a solid research foundation. The author presents the many ifs, ands, or buts of composting, but ends up with a... Read more
Published on December 11, 2010 by Steve McConnell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Quick, pleasant read.
This is a great book! Thompson is clever and writes with a touch of humor--for example, he talks about how you should let weeds dry out before you add them to the compost, but he... Read more
Published on October 12, 2010 by E. Kerby
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great quick overview of composting.
Just picked up this book yesterday afternoon and had it finished today. It's an easy quick read and a great introduction to composting. Read more
Published on June 3, 2008 by G. Lavender
5.0 out of 5 stars
Easy to follow with great visuals
After reading this book I had a simple plan to start my own compost pile. What was refreshing was a lack of endorsements for specific products, and the beautiful pictures provided. Read more
Published on April 29, 2008 by R. Neal
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Listmania!
|
|
