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The world of compost and how it relates to healthy soil is a fascinating, complex story. Compost helps to create and maintain healthy soil - the foundation of growing organically. It is also cost-saving, easy and fun, and a fantastic way to learn and connect with nature. Most importantly, composting is really beneficial for the environment as it massively reduces the amount of noxious methane gas generated from burying food waste in landfill.
In
How to Make and Use Compost, composting expert Nicky Scott reveals why making compost is so important for healthy soil and the environment, how it works and how to make your own compost. He provides clear guidance on the most appropriate system for your site, whether you're composting in a garden or a kitchen, and explains how different composting systems work, including cold composting, wormeries, bokashi and hot boxes.
This practical book features an A-Z guide to what you can and cannot compost, composting techniques, common problems and their solutions - from Activators to fertilise the soil with microbial food sources, to Z for Zoo poo if you're lucky enough to live near a wildlife sanctuary! It also details how to compost food waste on a large scale for hotels, restaurants, cafés and other establishments, and shows you how to plan a school or community compost scheme. An extensive list of resources, including websites, organisations, books and where to buy equipment, is also included.
Beautifully illustrated with photographs throughout, this handy guide is ideal for gardeners as well as those who want to become more sustainable.
List of contents
Introduction
PART ONE 1. Why make compost?
2. How does it work?
3. Making successful compost
4. Choosing the right composting system
5. Composting with worms
6. Using your compost
7. Community composting
PART TWO8. A-Z Guide
PART THREE9. Composting food waste on a large scale
10. Composting in schools
Resources
About the author
Nicky Scott is the author of several books on composting and recycling. He advises schools, local authorities and businesses on composting kitchen waste and helps set up community composting groups. The 'hot box' composter he developed is widely used for composting food waste.
Summary
The ultimate guide to composting. Find out how to compost in different ways for the home or community, what to compost and why it is such a good idea.
