Many, if not all, veggie gardening books will have a section on composting which covers the basics and gives you an idea of what composting is all about, but if you want to enquire a bit deeper it used to be difficult to find whole books on the subject. Below are some books that I have been able to acquire over the years that may be able to provide deeper insight.
Composting for a New Generation – Michelle Balz – Cool Spring Press (US) 2018 ISBN 978 1 59186 692 3 – The book has eight sections or chapters, most being 20 to 30 pages long. The first chapter talks about the benefits of composting like saving money, improving the soil and environmental benefits. The second chapter discusses the science of composting including macro-and micro-organisms, aerobic vs anaerobic decomposition and compost chemistry. Chapter three covers composting basics like what can and can’t be composted, balancing browns and greens and tools for composting. Chapter four covers maintaining the compost bin, including location, air and water and compost activators. Chapter five covers in-vessel composting and chapter six covers integrated composting including pit or trench composting, keyhole gardens and hugelkulture. Chapter seven covers the process of vermicomposting chapter eight covers harvesting and using the finished compost. He book has lots of colour photos and coloured line drawings.
The Urban/Suburban Composter – Mark Cullen & Lorraine Johnson – St Martins Press (US) 1992 ISBN 0 312 10530 4 – This is a small book , but with lots of info. Chapter one talks about composting theory and what happens in the heat, chapter two talks about different composting methods and includes mulching and cover crops, vermicomposting, anaerobic and pit composting. Chapter three discusses whether it is better to build or buy a composter and illustrates several home buildable and commercial composters. Chapter four covers starting out and chapter five covers caring for your compost, chapter six covers recipes for a healthy heap and chapter seven covers troubleshooting your compost. Chapter eight covers using your compost, chapter nine covers working with worms and chapter ten covers composting with kids. The book has lots of line drawings.
Compost City – Rebecca Louie – Roost Books (US) 2015 ISBN 978 1 61180 220 7 – Another book of modest size but good info. Chapter one is an encourage to compost – that anyone can. Chapter two covers the basics: anaerobic vs aerobic, keeping things wet, browns and greens and putting it all together. Chapter three covers types of composting systems and how to choose the right one for you. Chapters four to seven discusses various types of composting systems in detail such as; outdoor composting, underground and above ground, indoor vermicomposting and bokashi. Chapter eight discusses composting animal dung. Chapter nine discusses community composting and chapter ten talks about composting parties with your friends! (No, really!!!). The book has a few line drawings.
Bokashi Composting – Adam Footer – New Society Publishers (CAN) 2014 ISBN 978 0 86571 752 7 – This book delves fairly deeply into what bokashi is and how it works. Chapter one discusses the advantages of bokashi over more traditional methods, chapter two covers the history of how bokashi was developed and chapter three discusses the science behind bokashi composting. Chapter four covers making your own bokashi bran, the material that contains the EM (effective microorganisms that do the job, but you will need to buy in your stock of EM to inoculate the bran. Chapter five covers how to make your own bokashi bin (fermentation vessel) and chapter six covers the process of bokashi composting. Chaper seven covers using the bokashi compost and chapter eight covers using the liquid material that drains from your bokashi compost (leachate). The book has quite a few B&W photos.
Compost – Charlie Ryrie – Gaia Books (UK) 2001 ISBN 1 85675 117 1 – This one is a small and fairly basic book, good if you are just starting out. The book is divided into three sections. The first section is an introduction, discussing why composing is worthwhile doing. The second section is an explanation of what composting is all about including what happens during composting, how composting feed the soil, what you can compost, how to compost your own, compost activators and what compost needs. Section three talks about how to get started with composting including choosing your compost system and where to locate it, various composting methods such as hot and cool composting, buried composting, vermicomposting, cage and metal bins, and plastic bins and tumblers. The book has quite a number of colour photos.
Green Home Recycling – Allan Windust – Allscape Publishers (AUS) 2000 ISBN 978 0 95861 631 7 – his one is a booklet rather than a true book. Most subjects only cover a page or two. The first pages cover an introduction, why compost, what is compost etc. The booklet then moves on to types of composting such as anaerobic, aerobic, tumblers, sheet composting, trench composting and worm composting. This is followed by discussion of commercial and DIY composters, haybale systems, using chickens to compost, then methods of using compost. The booklet has lots of line drawings.
Previous compost books in the library can be accessed here
