Put simply, this is a composting bible.

The Rodale Book of Composting, which grew out of The Complete Book of Composting has provided an authoritative resource on the subject since the 1970‘s. I came to this book because I have recently moved onto a property with very bad soil. In my search of books on how to grow anything on bad soil, one thing got emphasized over and over again....compost. I was no expert on the subject, and this book was highly recommended on the internet, and has a long list of professional contributors. I thought I would do well with it, and I did.

The benefits of composting, as this book pointed out to me, are more complex than simply giving me better tomatoes....since everything we put into the earth becomes part of the ecosystem in which we live the compost maker is also a recycler, an encourager of pollinators, and thereby assists all gardens not only his or her own. The compost maker reduces soil erosion, brings drought protection, and is a lover of all things vermicular. Pretty good going for just chucking your banana peels into a wooden box instead of a plastic trash bag, eh?

This book also explains just how greatly a compost heap is a living thing. Composting is the acceleration of the standard practices of mother nature. A compost heap is a conflagration of consumption and decomposition. Wow! We are introduced to all the usual inhabitants of a compost heap, and the chain of processing that turns your carrot tops back into the good earth. There are many diagrams, both of individual items requiring illustration such a different types of composters, and of such complex two page diagrams of the compost food web (lots and lots of creepy crawlies...but don’t worry, its your compost they want, they don’t want to get in your hair or bed.)

Chances are, regardless of the degree of your altruism and good feeling from helping all them worms, you are actually doing this for your plants. A long chapter covers the many benefits to plant health of composting. There are actually an incredible array of benefits....every part of the plant from tip to toe (or stamen to root) benefits, and just how the compost helps in each case is thoroughly explained. Variations of compost that can help with certain pathogens, or certain known soil deficits in different soils are discussed and recommendations given.

Throughout the book, despite the authoritative tone, no references are almost ever given to the source of the data being used. I have always felt, certainly in my own work as a nurse, that it is good to give good advice but it is infinitely better to qualify that advice by providing the source of this acquired wisdom. I feel this book, whilst excellent, would benefit from providing references of this kind. To take an entire book on trust is simply not my style, generally speaking.

So what exactly can I throw into my compost heap? My socks certainly smell like they would be good compost....and should I erm, you know, build a toilet seat on top? There is a long and detailed chapter on this subject. All of the common things from your kitchen and household that might end up in your compost heap are discussed for better or worse. What they add to the nutrient blend and how much of them is a good thing is covered. What should not go in a compost heap is also covered, a good thing to know. Tables show the nutrient content of all kinds of different fallen leaves, so you can decide which of your neighbors Halloween decorations to plunder early in November. Percentage composition tables show us the nitrogen, phosphorous and potash content for many many common composting materials. This is like learning to read the nutrition labels on food, only this is food for a compost heap. I told you it was a living thing! The point to all of this is to help you blend the perfect compost.

There is a whole chapter dedicated to different types of manure. The benefits of all kinds you might easily get your rubber-gloved hands on are discussed here. There is even a recipe for manure tea. I am an Englishman. Naturally, I have visited many establishments in my new homeland serving manure tea. This particular variety is actually referring to liquid fertilizer. Do not store this near the property line between yourself and anyone you like.

Naturally, at some stage one would hope that we would step away from all this theory and put it into practice. Reassuringly, the chapter on the methods of composting is about the longest in the whole book. Here many different techniques for composting are given, each with its own adherents, applications and rationales. There are composting techniques for people with time on their hands, people in a hurry, city dwellers who need to keep the smell and critters down, and country bumpkins like me. There are methods for chaps who are willing to build elaborate wood and brick structures, and methods for chaps who just want to throw a tarp over the whole mess and say “See you next fall.” Something for everyone here.

Something for everyone is a central theme for this book, and a good and valuable thing it is too, and greatly strengthens my recommendation of it.

Another long chapter is dedicated to the building projects associated with this fine art. There are instructions given for building a variety of different composters using a variety of different materials. For each project the step by step instructions are easy to follow, there is a full list of materials and tools needed and exact dimensions of each piece. Projects range from the most basic circle of chicken wire to elaborate three stage brick contraptions, to garbage cans with holes drilled in them. Again, like I said, something for everybody.

I began this review by qualifying myself as a composting virgin. With this in mind, I was delighted to see that this book does not fail people like me, and includes a lengthy chapter on how to actually use the stuff once you have it! The best times of year for application, the best blends to use to raise particular kinds of crop or flower, all this is covered here.

Appendices cover suppliers of composters and shredders, in addition to a recommended reading list which covers both books and periodicals. There is an excellent index.

I was very happy with what I got from this book, It is not the only compost book I read, but it was by far the most complete. If you need one book on composing, this is it.

Recommended: Yes