Diary of a Compost Hotline Operator: Edible Essays on City Farming

by Spring Gillard

What do you do with Doggy-Doo? Can I put corks in my compost bin? Do worms have lungs? Why is my compost full of thousands of tiny white flies? Vital questions such as these are the lot of a Compost Hotline Operator, as Spring Gillard knows only too well. That really is her job description, and she fields calls like this all day long. She also meets a cast of characters curiously crazed by the gardening bug, like Ellen, who wears worm earrings and belts out the "Compost Rap" to unsuspecting participants in her vermicomposting class. Or Laurel, worm bin mural artist, West Coast Wes the Scarecrow, Scissor-happy Sally, and Mike their fearless leader, prone to tai-chi fits . . . The Diary of a Compost Hotline Operator began in 1996 as a series of entries on the website of City Farmer, Vancouver's nonprofit urban agriculture group that has been thriving for twenty-five years. It is packed with barely credible real-life tales from the trenches of the urban horticulture avant-garde, dealing with all manner of gardening lore-such
the essentials of composting
alternatives to pesticides
organic and edible landscapes
garden tours and compost teas
green buildings and drug-free lawns
rainwater harvesting, and even
urban ag in New York and Cuba. It is also a mine of useful resources-perfect reading for garden fanatics, gift-givers, ag-academics and environmentalists, and all who like to laugh while they learn. Spring Gillard abandoned a successful advertising career twelve years ago, and stumbled into City Farmer's garden in Vancouver. She never left. Her diary entries have been published widely, and-as editor of the Compost Hotline News -she does widespread research into urban agriculture worldwide. An avid storyteller, she believes in the power of humor to convey serious messages.

Genres: Gardening

208 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2003

Reviews

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short book and quick read, this is a good pick for the gardener or gardener wann-a-be offering both practical tips and recipes to typical garden and compost questions and larger abstractions on the purpose and results of urban farming. I found it to be strikingly realistic and down to earth. If you are interested in urban farming, gardening, or more specific issues like how to compost properly, how to keep pests out of the garden, and how to preserve water, you'll find this book a handy guide. Also included at the conclusion of each chapter are contact lists to find out more information about the subjects mentioned.

[Jen G · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a light but entertaining read that taught me quite a bit about what I've been doing wrong with my compost! I also learned quite a bit about City Farmer and I will go visit this wonderful place next time I'm in Vancouver.

[Lorlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read about saving the earth

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved this book, and then it got a little too punny and cutesy for my taste and I started to lose interest. Still, I learned a lot about City Farmer, a Vancouver based urban agriculture project, thanks to reading this book. I'm going to have to visit City Farm the next time I got to Vancouver.

Also, there was great information on urban agriculture, composting and general gardening tips. I'd really recommend this for a West Coaster.

[Jeph · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title was a bit misleading...yes, there were topics about composting, and the calls a "compost hotline operator" might get, but there were many issues more about worldwide concerns, sustainability, etc. Don't get me wrong, those are things I would read about as well...but that's not why I got this book.

[Erica · Rating 2 out of 5]

"...urban agriculture is political horticulture" (3). This is the best phrase from this otherwise very cutesy book. A nice details about Cuban organiponicos and useful if you want a slice-of-life (but jokey) of City Farmer in Vancouver. Little here about actual composting, but there are good resources listed.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun idea, but the book is repetitive and doesn't hold my attention as well as I'd like. I'll eventually finish reading it though. There's a lot of good information and some funny stories sprinkled throughout.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great for budding gardeners and seasoned green-thumbs looking for charming anecdotes. Though not especially in depth, it does contain a great deal of information about organic urban farming.

[Ms. · Rating 5 out of 5]

the title says it all!