- Paperback: 112 pages
- Publisher: Collins; illustrated edition edition (5 Nov 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0007267274
- ISBN-13: 978-0007267279
- Product Dimensions: 14.6 x 11 x 1.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
220,483 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #18 in Books > Science & Nature > Earth Sciences & Geography > Geology > Soil Science
- #55 in Books > Home & Garden > Gardening > Professional Horticulture > Soil Science
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Product Description
The Observer Magazine, December 2nd 2007
"The Little Book of Compost intends to do big things for rotting. It demystifies composting and offers easy-to-follow recipes."
Review
The Observer Magazine, December 2nd 2007 - "The Little Book of Compost intends to do big things for rotting. It demystifies composting and offers easy-to-follow recipes."
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
Of the composting books I've read, The Little Book of Compost is the most intriguing. It's a small book, published by Collins and the Centre for Alternative Technology. It's written by Allan Shepherd, a man who loves compost so much that he blogs about it.
It's printed in two colours - black and a natty shade of orange. There are no glossy pictures here to distract you from the important work of composting, but that doesn't mean that this is a stuffy read.
In fact, the whole book is laid out like a recipe plan for a party. The first page shows the menu; Starter, Main Course, Side Dishes, Dessert and Drinks are all laid out for you. Once you've chosen the compost `dish' you want to make then you just turn to the relevant chapter.
The point of all this tomfoolery is that you can invite composting organisms into your garden, and once they arrive you can make sure they're well fed and happy - as any good host would do.
For beginners there's a recap of the golden rule of composting (the all important browns to greens ratio), a rundown of who is likely to come to your party and how to insure you cater to their needs.
Then you're straight into the recipes: composting in a bag, the full story on CAT cold composting, Bokashi, worm composting, hot heaps, green manures and homemade liquid feeds.
It's a wonder they managed to pack it all in to such a small space. If you're new to composting, or you want all your information in one place then this is definitely a composting book to shortlist.
It's printed in two colours - black and a natty shade of orange. There are no glossy pictures here to distract you from the important work of composting, but that doesn't mean that this is a stuffy read.
In fact, the whole book is laid out like a recipe plan for a party. The first page shows the menu; Starter, Main Course, Side Dishes, Dessert and Drinks are all laid out for you. Once you've chosen the compost `dish' you want to make then you just turn to the relevant chapter.
The point of all this tomfoolery is that you can invite composting organisms into your garden, and once they arrive you can make sure they're well fed and happy - as any good host would do.
For beginners there's a recap of the golden rule of composting (the all important browns to greens ratio), a rundown of who is likely to come to your party and how to insure you cater to their needs.
Then you're straight into the recipes: composting in a bag, the full story on CAT cold composting, Bokashi, worm composting, hot heaps, green manures and homemade liquid feeds.
It's a wonder they managed to pack it all in to such a small space. If you're new to composting, or you want all your information in one place then this is definitely a composting book to shortlist.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
Little in size only; covers all methods of composting.
11 July 2011
Format:Paperback
Allan Shepherd writes a real winner here. It is true that it is filled with UK links, but they are both of the marketing nature (where to get things) and information, the latter being pertinent no matter where you live and the former a good starting point of where and what to look for where ever you may live (like me in the USA or elsewhere). The real thing about this Little Book is that it is has literally everything about composting, compost teas and green manures that you could imagine. I had been contemplating wormeries and bokashing. Mr Shepherd has convinced that the latter, bokashi, won't work for me because 1) it is for heavy meat lovers without a dog. I am not a heavy meat eater but I do have a dog, and so what I would put in the bokashi I normally split up and give to Ryder (a chocolate Labrador retriever), Remy (a German shepherd) and Gustave (a Borzoi puppy); so that's out. Next was the wormery which stunned me to find that required special worms -- my worms from my garden won't work, well at least for long and that I would have to buy special worms for this. That kinda sorta turned me off, at least for now.
The book is well setup. First Mr Shepherd tells us how to make compost (2 parts green to 1 part brown) and what are "green" and what is "brown" and what you can use (here the Britishisms step in when he tells us "loo rolls" instead of toilet paper rolls in the US but to be honest I think most US readers would know that one) and what you can't use for the typical compost bin (bokashi and wormeries have their own rules which he explains in their sections). Mr Shepherd gave me some ideas on the "browns" which I appreciated as that is something I never seem to have enough. From there he moves on to tell us who who love this, how manual it is, how long it takes. I looked at many methods, some that I have, (the ditch, the turnover (well I used to use that one), the tumbler, the plastic bag (used that for years) and some that I used I found his information accurate and very informative. In many cases, like the Bokashi, I learned a few things that were quite interesting (like making and how long to use compost tea).
This little book is complete with a good index, a web listing of sites to read up and learn more (like his comfrey cordial method), new books that have come out and old favorites that he admits you will have to scour for. He generously recommends Amazon.co.uk for searching and tons of ideas. I really recommend this book for anyone contemplating any type of composting. If you start with this book, you definitely have a good idea of where and what to get next. Highly recommended.
The book is well setup. First Mr Shepherd tells us how to make compost (2 parts green to 1 part brown) and what are "green" and what is "brown" and what you can use (here the Britishisms step in when he tells us "loo rolls" instead of toilet paper rolls in the US but to be honest I think most US readers would know that one) and what you can't use for the typical compost bin (bokashi and wormeries have their own rules which he explains in their sections). Mr Shepherd gave me some ideas on the "browns" which I appreciated as that is something I never seem to have enough. From there he moves on to tell us who who love this, how manual it is, how long it takes. I looked at many methods, some that I have, (the ditch, the turnover (well I used to use that one), the tumbler, the plastic bag (used that for years) and some that I used I found his information accurate and very informative. In many cases, like the Bokashi, I learned a few things that were quite interesting (like making and how long to use compost tea).
This little book is complete with a good index, a web listing of sites to read up and learn more (like his comfrey cordial method), new books that have come out and old favorites that he admits you will have to scour for. He generously recommends Amazon.co.uk for searching and tons of ideas. I really recommend this book for anyone contemplating any type of composting. If you start with this book, you definitely have a good idea of where and what to get next. Highly recommended.
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