Easy Composters You Can Build [Paperback]

Nick Noyes (Author)

Book Description

Series: Storey Publishing Bulletin ; a-139 | Publication Date: January 10, 1995

Since 1973, Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletins have offered practical, hands-on instructions designed to help readers master dozens of country living skills quickly and easily. There are now more than 170 titles in this series, and their remarkable popularity reflects the common desire of country and city dwellers alike to cultivate personal independence in everyday life.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Since the 1973 publication of Storey's first Country Wisdom Bulletin, our commitment to preserving the arts, crafts, and skills of country life has never wavered. We now have more than 200 titles in this series of 32-page publications, and their remarkable popularity reflects the common desire of country and city dwellers alike to cultivate personal independence in everyday life.

Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletins contain practical, hands-on instructions designed to help you master dozens of country living skills quickly and easily. From traditional skills to the newest techniques, Storey's Bulletins provide a foundation of earth-friendly information for the way you want to live today.

About the Author

Nick Noyes is a contributor for Storey Books titles including: Easy Composters You Can Build. Storey Country Wisdom Bulletin A-139

Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC (January 10, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 088266350X
• ISBN-13: 978-0882663500
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #46,000 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Home & Garden > How-to & Home Improvements > Do-It-Yourself
  • #6 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Home & Garden > Gardening & Horticulture > General
  • #53 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Do-It-Yourself

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars You can get better ideas for free on the internet, April 15, 2009

By 

Wings42 (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Easy Composters You Can Build (Paperback)

I've been composting for three years now, using a commercial "Earth Machine". My "Earth Machine" is bulging and splitting at the sides to the point where the door on the bottom doesn't fit any more. That's why I'm looking for plans to build something stronger. The illustrated composters in the pamphlet are either open to the air, so they'd be too cool for the accelerated composting I need in my small urban lot, or they would be too weak to hold up to the great stress and weight a 20 or 30 cubic foot compost pile generates.

This is a pamphlet with just a few ideas of how to build a practical composter. I found the discussions of composting in general interesting, but most of the composter suggestions are more appropriate for a large lot or farm than a single family urban home. I am disappointed that there aren't plans or ideas for building composters of reasonable urban size (let's say about 15-20 cubic feet) out of wood.

The closest to a usable idea is a 30 - 45 gallon plastic trash can with a bunch of holes drilled in it, which wouldn't work very well because that much damp compost would weigh hundreds of pounds. You really need an access door on the bottom to remove compost as it forms. Also, I doubt any standard trash can would be strong enough to hold up to the weight and heat. I also doubt that the unmortored cinder block plan in the pamphlet would hold up for the same reason.

For urban home use, the composter should be near the kitchen so it will be used. A good compost pile is almost odor and fly free. I wouldn't put anything suggested in the pamphlet on my patio near the kitchen. The composters described just wouldn't be appropriate next to the house.

In summary, I didn't find anything useful and practical in the pamphlet that I didn't know already. If you want to build something for your patio to compost yard and kitchen waste, this pamphlet will not be of much help.

47 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not worth the money, September 9, 2005

By 

Daisy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Easy Composters You Can Build (Paperback)

Since I was in a hurry and did not read the description of this purchase I paid $3.95 for what I thought to be a book. This is a pamplet.

It really does not "show" you how to build composters with verbal descriptions instead of detail diagrams.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It works!, August 3, 2008

By 

Fletch (Mobile, AL USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Easy Composters You Can Build (Paperback)

Great little book that cuts through the crap:) and shows some very practical and workable designs. I use large scale open-front bins, made of wood, so that I can use the front bucket on my tractor. Our composted barn bedding, horse manure, chicken guts, and other "stuff", is like magic on our pastures and around our immature Live Oaks, etc. When we lived in the burbs I composted grass clippings and was kicking myself for not starting it years before. I just made a 4 cornered bin using t-posts and hardware cloth (wire). It was 4' square by 3' high. We put all our grass clippings and fall leaves in it and by early winter the pile was less than a foot high. This was from a half acre lot with a lot of trees, but the bin was in a fairly sunny spot. The only thing extra that I did was a couple of times I put a layer of twigs on top so that a little air could circulate after the next batch of stuff was added. Go ahead and go for it! You'll be glad you did! Good luck!