The Rodale Book of Composting: Easy Methods for Every Gardener (Paperback)

~ Grace Gershuny (Editor), (Editor) "Composting is, in broadest terms, the biological reduction of organic wastes to humus..." (more)
Key Phrases: shredding chamber, compost organisms, sheet composting, United States, New York, Sir Albert Howard (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This is an update of Jerry Minnich and others' The Rodale Guide to Composting ( LJ 5/1/79), which itself updated J.L. Rodale's Complete Book of Composting (Rodale Pr., 1960. o.p.). The broad spectrum of information given will be useful from backyard urban gardening on up to industrial, municipal, and farm recycling. The first quarter of the book gives you all you ever wanted to know on the science of composting--and more--along with some history. A discussion of materials, methods, structures, equipment, and uses is followed by a brief look at large-scale composting. The writing is an uneven mix of scientific detail and the anecdotal. Chemical reactions are described in exquisite detail, and yet most quotes, while attributed, are neither dated nor their source given. Stu Campbell and Kathleen Bond Borie's Let It Rot: The Gardener's Guide to Composting ( LJ 1/91) is more readable and inviting for the individual gardener. While useful for its in-depth, detailed coverage, Rodale's almost-textbook is recommended only for comprehensive gardening collections.
- Sharon Levin, Univ. of Vermont Lib., Burlington
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Lovers of compost. . .will be able to polish their techniques, and beginners will experience a whole new adventure."--Eddie Albert, Award-winning actor and avid gardener
-- Review

Composting kitchen and yard wastes should and can be an everyday habit. The Rodale Book of Composting makes it easy for anyone, beginner or pro, to incorporate composting into her lifestyle. The book features alternative ways of composting; if you live in an apartment, you can even compost in a bag. It also covers everything from manure to earthworms, garbage can compost bins to underground compost pits, and compost materials for soil enrichment and materials to avoid. Composting helps build soil structure, guard against soil erosion and drought, grow healthier gardens, and create a safer environment; your plants will love you for it. Just think about the landfill space you can save. -- From The WomanSource Catalog & Review: Tools for Connecting the Community for Women; review by SH

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Product Details

• Paperback: 278 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Books; Revised edition (January 15, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878579915
• ISBN-13: 978-0878579914
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #129,234 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth its weight in manure :-), June 5, 2003

By	Robert Huffstedtler (Cary, NC United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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Although the bulk of the material contained in this book could be found online, it's still a worthwhile purchase. Indeed, it is a must have. The purchase price of the book will be quickly regained in the money you will save making your own compost rather than purchasing bagged compost or synthetic fertiliser.

A few of the chapters are more interesting than useful to the home gardener. For instance, one of the early chapters discusses the history of composting beginning with the ancient Akkadians. The final chapter discusses managing large scale compost operations (by large scale, I mean tens and hundreds of tons of waste) on the farm or as part of a municipal waste management strategy.

The core of the book, however, is very directly useful. A chapter is provided describing the chemistry of what goes on in composting, and what goes on as plants attempt to take nutrients from the soil. Another chapter describes the various types of life from microbes to insects and worms (including lovely line drawings) that inhabit a compost pile during the various phases of its lifecycle.

By far the most useful chapter is chapter 6, which provides a list of potential ingredients for your pile and suggestions on how to obtain them. Numerous charts are provided that indicate on balance whether an item should be considered a "green" or a "brown", and (should you desire more specifics) the actual NPK content of various ingredients. This is fully a fifth of the book.

The next most useful chapter is chapter 10, which gives suggestions for various sorts of compost bins you can buy or build. Another chapter describes tools like chippers and shredders that might be useful to you if you plan to make a fair amount of compost. Alternatives are suggested for the folks who don't need quite that much labour saving help.

I can't think of anything that is not in this book that I wish it had. Nor for that matter, can I think of anything that needs to be cut from it. It strikes the perfect balance between comprehensiveness and brevity.

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book about composting!, December 31, 1999

By	Will Nance "Conservative Thinker" (Paducah, KY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This was the first book I ever read about composting, a subject I was minimally interested in. After one reading I was hooked on composting! I bought the book about six months ago and have since read it over and over, always seeming to learn something new every time I read it. In the meantime I have read everything I can find about composting. This book seems to cover everything. The other things I read are generally just a different way of saying the very things that are in this book.

I believe the Rodale Book of Composting should be called the bible of composting for the everyday person.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent guide for anyone interested in composting, July 26, 2000

By A Customer

This guide is really an excellent introduction to composting but an experienced composter will also find much useful, detailed, and interesting information here. Unfortunately, it's a terribly dry read, especially some sections near the front of the book. Do not despair, Dear Reader! If it gets too dry and technical skip ahead and it will get better.

A beginner will gain a complete understanding of the compost process, a guide to selecting an appropriate method for their own needs, and guidelines to buy or build their own composters. An experienced composter will gain greater understanding into why some batches are more successful than others and how to improve the quality of their compost, along with incredibly extensive lists on exactly what material can be used in composting and why. This book addresses the needs of the urban and suburban gardener, along with the needs of the homesteader, organic farmer, and family farmer.