Book Reviews
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Basic COMPOSTING
Eric Ebeling, Editor
Stackpole Books
Copyright 2003
ISBN 0-8117-2647-9
If you are looking for a beginner’s book on composting, this is it; although, there are a lot of good designs and plans for more experienced composters as well. There are about 500 full color photographs and illustrations not to mention easy to read charts and tables in this 87 page book. (If a picture is worth 1000 words, this book without photos would have been about a half a million words longer.) Each topic is covered in easy step-by-step instructions. For each step of a process whether it is creating your compost pile, building a compost screen, or making compost tea, the photos show you exactly how it is done—from a picture of all the tools and equipment you might need, through the complete construction process, to harvesting and using the finished compost.
The “science” behind composting is presented in layman’s terms, but is accurate and well researched. Again easy to understand charts and tables make it easily understandable.
The pictures allow you to quickly flip through the book to find topics that will be of interest to you, or you can begin at the beginning and have a short course on composting following a straight forward outline. This is also a good book to use if you are explaining compost to a neighbor or small group. You can quickly flip to different styles of compost structures from those made from pallets, concrete blocks, or wire cages. A variety of bought bins are also included.
There are 10 chapters in the book covering the following topics:
- Introduction to Composting
- Determining Your Needs
- Composting Equipment
- What to Compost
- Bins
- Building the Compost Pile
- Compost Screener
- Uses for Finished Compost
- Compost Tea
- Worm Composting
NOTE: This page includes book summaries/reviews from composters. You don't have to be a member of the HMCA to submit a book summary. Just send your review to the webmaster@hotmastercomposters.com. Would someone who took the composter class this Spring please send a review on the Rodale book and Worms Eat My Garbage?