Let it Rot The Gardeners Guide to Composting Third Edition Storeys Down to Earth Guides

Let it Rot The Gardeners Guide to Composting Third Edition Storeys Down to Earth Guides

A readable, quietly humorous introduction to composting, this covers reasons to compost; differing approaches; how decomposition works; various methods, ingredients, and containers; how to speed decomposition; and how to use the end result. Campbell is an experienced gardener, and the book goes into great detail, but the text remains clear and interesting. The simple black-and-white illustrations vary between decorative sketches and straightforward diagrams; they could have been more frequent and more informative. The bibliography lists 14 other books on composting; a list of sources of composting supplies is also given. An interesting treatment of a basic subject for general readers, this is recommended for all gardening collections needing material on compost heaps.
- Sharon Levin, Univ. of Vermont Medical Lib., Burlington
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

User Ratings and Reviews

3 Stars All about compost
This little book gives the reader all the information to get started on compost.

5 Stars The classic book!
I have never tried composting before, so I wanted the big picture. I researched online and this seems to be the undisputed classic book on the subject. It seems to tell ALL you need to know to manage your composting, and in as few words as possible.

5 Stars Beginning Composters (this is a must have!)
This book is a quick crash course on composting. I learned things about composting that I never new before. The other great thing, it is an easy to read book! Totally satisfied!

4 Stars Stinky subject good book!
I bought this for my husband as he went crazy on composting. I read it as well. And it provided more info. A must read for anyone wanting to start or even seasoned rotters. Good book to leave on the table gets lots of funny looks

5 Stars Creating the best garden ever starts at the bottom
Composting, in case you aren’t terribly familiar with it yet, is simply the practice of allowing waste matter to rot and decompose until it’s fit to be tilled right into the soil. However, while the basic concept is as old as mother nature and often very easy to execute, it also helps to know more about it. What materials should you compost, and which should you avoid? Do you have to worry about animals or flies in your compost? How do you make sure your compost will turn into dirt and not a slimy, stinky sludge?

While nearly every gardening book these days has a section on composting and most of these are enough to get you by, Stu Campbell’s Let It Rot! is an entertaining, folksy and in-depth take on the art that will see you through nearly any foreseeable difficulty. I was certainly able to successfully compost with the simpler directions in other books, but there’s information in here I wish I’d had back when I first started. For instance, now I know the cobweb-like stuff that I feared was mold was the natural activity of Actinomycetes, a part-bacteria, part-fungus organism that aids decomposition in certain parts of a compost pile.

Mr. Campbell’s book also introduces a great many different types of compost piles and composters that you can use, depending on what you’re trying to accomplish, what area you have to work with, or what you’re trying to decompose. He also suggests many ways to use compost in and around your garden, and how to get the most out of it. I’m glad I picked up Mr. Campbell’s book, because I learned an incredible amount of new material!

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Worms Eat My Garbage How to Set Up and Maintain a Worm Composting System

Worms Eat My Garbage How to Set Up and Maintain a Worm Composting System

“… people … will thank [Appelhof] for showing us … how we can eat better food by growing gardens with wormpower.” — Pete Seeger, folksinger, environmental activist

“You might say that Kalamazoo has become the epicenter of vermiculture (a fancy name for worm composting) …” — Anne Raver, The New York Times

“[This book] supplies everything you want to know about worm composting but didn’t know where to ask.” — Green Living Magazine

..”. the most thorough, easy-to-follow book we’ve seen on the worm bin idea.”

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars “The book” on the topic
This is one of the most referenced and most often quoted books on home vermiculture. It is clearly written, simple to read, and generally useful.

It is also out of date.

This book is based on the time it was written, when there were only a few options other than “build it yourself”, and build it yourself was big bins outside. If you are an apartment or small house dweller you will find this book less useful as it *mostly* assumes a larger scale operation than a small home can manage.

This book is going to be useful to the small scale composter, and inspirational, and educational, but will leave many questions unanswered, and will not answer a lot of the questions in managing a small plastic based bin.

5 Stars This book is a great resource for worm composting!
This book has everything you need to know about worm composting. great for beginners and those with experience that have troubleshooting issues.

5 Stars Great guide for beginners
I was very pleased with the wealth of information provided in this book. It is proving invaluable, as this is the first time I’ve ever attempted vermiculture.

3 Stars worms eat her garbage
This book is very detailed about vermicomposting, in fact, if there is nothing you would rather do than extoll the virtues of worms..this is the book for you. It is informative and useful, but maybe a little long for those who just want to be greener and reduce waste.

4 Stars Good read
This book explains alot since I am new to worm gardening. A good refrence book.

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The Humanure Handbook A Guide to Composting Human Manure Third Edition

The Humanure Handbook A Guide to Composting Human Manure Third Edition

“…outrageous humor and brilliant, diligent research.” “This is one book that could save the world!” — Permaculture Drylands Journal

“Almost certain to become a classic in its field.” — Countryside Journal

“Finally we have a comprehensive book on recycling human excrement without chemicals, high technology or pollution.” “Well-written, practical…thoroughly researched.” — Whole Earth Review

“Jenkins provides a convincing case that human waste can and should be a safe composting material.” — Mother Earth News

“almost certain to become a classic in its field.” “This book should be required reading, and not only for homesteaders.” — Countryside Journal

“ranks right up there with…Silent Spring as one of the most important environmental exposes of all time.” — HortIdeas

Almost certain to become a classic in its field. — Countryside Journal

We think The Humanure Handbook ranks right up there with Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring — HortIdeas

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Inspirational, practical, and revolutionary!
This is one of the best books I have read! It is well written, practical, and it gives you all of the philosophical and real explanations to defend your humanure in all aspects when confronted by rabid family, neighbors, and friends. After reading this book, I can’t imagine who would still want to use a water-based system.

5 Stars excellent
If you want to learn about how to design systems that will let you safely eat your poop, this book is for you! It’s the best book on the subject … very fun to read … mmmmmm

Highly, highly recommended!

5 Stars Humanure Handbook: Required Reading
I wish my parents had known about this so they could have taught me instead of me having to teach them. Shame on anyone that has discouraged this sort of creative thinking. Let the rigor with which Joseph Jenkins has researched this topic be a lesson to anyone who wants to make a claim about the validity of any of our social norms.

5 Stars poopalicious!
the true revolution is in our poop! its a great read and is a vital piece to the new sustainable culture we are growing. thanks joe!

5 Stars A true page turner!
Fascinating and intelligent book that holds the key to sustainable practices that will help protect our drinking water supply. Why use 1.5 -5 gallons of precious drinking water to wash our poop away? It’s a shameful and wasteful practice and this book provides the best solution to managing our excrement in a way that is healthy for us and for the planet.

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The Rodale Book of Composting Easy Methods for Every Gardener

The Rodale Book of Composting Easy Methods for Every Gardener

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.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Detailed and well presented
I leafed through this book while visiting my neighborhood bookstore and I knew it wasn’t all bull. The book explains that composting has many benefits aside from the cost saving factor of replacing chemical fertilizers. It how to identify when composted materials will work for you. It explains soil types (though that could have been more thorough), I had no idea my soil was so leached until I read the first chapter. To cut to the chase, unlike a previous reviewer, I do not see why it would not be workable in a small area (I live on a zero lot line plot in the ‘burbs, the only issue I could for see is if your yard was paved, has no direct sun light (which speeds the process of breakdown) or your neighbors complained (which there are ways around you tube has excellent ideas).

Great tips on what helps break down the elements the quickest (human urine is suggested but only if one is not on medications which would taint it)?

I bought extra copies for like minded friends. I think this book is a great value compared to all the information that I had already perused.

3 Stars Not the most interesting read.
I was looking for a basic “how to” book on composting, while still interesting enough to hold my attention. Sadly, this wasn’t it. The black and white pages read like a school book. And the information is pretty vague. I am new to gardening/composting, so this book could simply be too advanced for me.

3 Stars Not for the small-scale, backyard compost operation
If all you plan to do is improve your garden using kitchen scraps and some yard waste, this book is not for you. It is very technical, and best-suited to those with lots of space and time on their hands to manage large composting projects. Don’t let this be your first book on the subject, since it will probably (wrongly) convince you that you need a Masters in Agriculture or Ecology to do accomplish what will naturally happen if you get any of a number of inexpensive composting bins, toss in some banana peels, coffee grinds and dead leaves, mix in some dirt and let the microbes get to work.

5 Stars It really is the Bible of composting
This is the most thumbed-through book on composting I have. Easily 90% of anything you would want to know about composting is inside this book. A small amount of the material may not be useful to the typical gardener, but it is interesting none the less. An excellent guide for the beginner and a good reference for the advanced composter.

5 Stars Awesome book for any serious gardener
As a serious gardener I appreciate well written books that I can own and have in my book shelf for yearly reading. And Rodale is a well respected publisher of gardening books.The subtitle says it all ‘Easy methods for every gardener’.

This means even apartment dwellers with a porch or patio can have a small compost setup. The book covers numerous ways to construct a composter as well as the many types of organic or natural materials one can compost. Even cardboard in moderation, as well as the traditional eggshells, coffee grounds, banana peels, vegetable and fruit scraps.

The book also discusses year round composting and how and why composting works and the positive environmental impact of everyone have some type of a compost set up. This is one of those books every serious gardener should have or at least buy, read and donate to ones public library.

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Sustainable Landscaping For Dummies For Dummies Home and Garden

Sustainable Landscaping For Dummies For Dummies Home and Garden

Sustainable Landscaping For Dummies provides hands-on, how-to instruction for realizing the benefits of a sustainable landscape, from selecting sutainable hardscape materials to installing a rain-water catchment system to choosing native plants.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Practical Advice — Start to Finish
I recently bought this book in preparation for a number of landscaping projects around the house this spring and summer. I’ve found the guide to be extremely thorough and helpful. It has shown me how to take small steps that add up to making my yard more sustainable and healthy for the family. Included are a number of ready-to-be-implmented, professional quality landscape plans.

5 Stars Very Timely Advice
A much needed timely volume of practical advice for those on both professional and homeowner levels in the landscape development business. -A must have source for tips that we should all be implementing immediately to mitigate the climate crisis on our personal level!

5 Stars It’s About Time
Owen Dell is the individual most responsible for the way that I look at landscape, design and my footprint in general. Owen is an amazing speaker, part time tv geek and landscape guru. You can now add entertaing author to the resume. This is a book that will make you look at the art of landscaping in a way that keeps us in tune with dear ol’ mom. (Mother Earth that is) In simple easy to understand language, you can be a pro (Or just design like one) in no time. You will learn how to work with nature and our limited resources while having a positive impact on the environment. As with most ‘Dummies’ books, you can skip around to find areas of interest but I found it hard to put the book down once I started. Written with a true talent to entertain and keep the reader interested, I applaud Mr Dell and his commitment to the future of our natural resources.

5 Stars Zany, wacky, chock fulla’ good stuff!
I completely understand why the subject of sustainable landscaping isn’t splashed over the media. Unlike Madonna’s marital status or how much Paris Hilton’s new dog cost, it’s not something the general populace craves. No one is braving water cannons to protest people who wash down driveways. And who’s losing sleep over the out-of-control non-native plants that gradually displacing native vegetation in the wild?

Well, if there’s one person who ignites people’s passions about sustainable landscaping, it’s Owen Dell. [Required Disclosure - Owen and I are buddies and co-hosts of a sustainable landscaping TV show. We've also spent countless Wednesday nights in our "Billy and Owen Take Over The World" sessions, plotting how to proselytize the masses and convince them to come into the light of sustainable landscaping. So, I might be a bit prejudiced in this review. But he's a mensch and really does deserve the mounds of praise I'm about to bury him in.]

I think Owen’s book is very important. It needs to be read, embraced and acted upon by many, many people. Is there any better way to reach the knowledge-hungry masses than with one of those books with the black and yellow cover, and the iconic image of a strange guy with a buzz cut and triangular head? I’m talking about “Sustainable Landscaping for Dummies.”

What I’ve always liked about Dummies books is that they’re written by and for really smart people (or those who are about to be much smarter for having read the book). Their authors anticipate what a reader needs to know and gives it to them in a delightful package with all the fat trimmed off. That’s just what Owen did in this book.

The blurb at the publisher’s website (Wiley Publishing, Inc) briefly describes the content as a “hands-on, how-to instruction for realizing the benefits of a sustainable landscape, from selecting sustainable hardscape materials to installing a rain-water catchment system to choosing native plants.” I’m not sure this rather flat description alone will get people on their feet and into the street, so let me expand just a tad.

The book starts by making sure we know how the word “sustainable” fits with landscaping. It’s patently simple, Owen tells us–strive for a garden that acts as a natural system, needing little help from you once it’s up and running. By the time you’re done with this section of the book you’ll smack your forehead and mutter “of course” because he makes it seem so obvious.

Onward the author forges, praising the virtues of good design, working safely, and throwing in some tricks the pros use. There’s a strong emphasis on managing water, the most precious resource for me, located here in southern California. But climate change is demonstrating that water shortages aren’t just about the southwestern states, so all pay heed. Owen also tackles the complex subject of hardscape (all the stuff in a landscape that isn’t plants), showing how elegant spaces can be created with earth-friendly materials and by pulling discarded materials from waste stream and put it back to use.

Of course there’s lots of information about plants starting with the fundamental idea that plants aren’t just for decoration–they can DO something, like provide habitat for birds, reduce energy consumption and feed your family. The greenery section even zooms in on ways to make container gardening more sustainable.

I could go on, but I’m running out of space–just get the book.

Billy Goodnick

Landscape Architect

[...]

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