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The Compost Coach: Make compost, build soil and grow a regenerative garden - wherever you live!
The Compost Coach is a colourful, comprehensive and accessible guide to creating the very best compost AKA garden gold. Kate is on a mission to empower readers to understand the small steps they can take every day to look after the environment and live more sustainability.
The book is pitched at the home composter, including people who live in apartments and houses with or without gardens (yes, you can compost without a garden!). Kate helps the reader to rethink their waste management and teaches them how easy it is to divert food scraps and household carbon away from landfill. She unravels the technicalities of soil science, talks through the building blocks of a robust compost system and busts a few myths along the way. Charming illustrations, how-to photos, and Kate's warm, entertaining voice complete the package.
The book is pitched at the home composter, including people who live in apartments and houses with or without gardens (yes, you can compost without a garden!). Kate helps the reader to rethink their waste management and teaches them how easy it is to divert food scraps and household carbon away from landfill. She unravels the technicalities of soil science, talks through the building blocks of a robust compost system and busts a few myths along the way. Charming illustrations, how-to photos, and Kate's warm, entertaining voice complete the package.
- GenresGardeningNonfiction
264 pages, Paperback
Published August 22, 2023
33 people are currently reading
195 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
October 9, 2023
I didn’t go out and intentionally buy ‘The Compost Coach’
I was on holiday & wandered into a country town bookshop. After chatting with the book shop owner about veggie garden’s & permaculture she pulled it off the shelf & highly recommended it.
I couldn’t put the book down….Great read & actually one of those life changing moments.
For the last few years I’ve been paying to have my garden waste removed from my property on a monthly basis.
With over 30 trees on my property I couldn’t keep up with disposal, maintenance, let alone fire prevention.
After reading about ‘Hot Composting’ I have now set up four compost bins accelerating the composting process, feeding vegetable beds, rejuvenating the soil, fire prevention, saving money and most importantly leaving a lighter footprint on the environment.
The author Kate Flood is very knowledgeable and made the science behind the different composting methods easy to understand & apply. All house holds should be composting to reduce landfill & save the planet. I will be lending this book out to educate friends & family.
I was on holiday & wandered into a country town bookshop. After chatting with the book shop owner about veggie garden’s & permaculture she pulled it off the shelf & highly recommended it.
I couldn’t put the book down….Great read & actually one of those life changing moments.
For the last few years I’ve been paying to have my garden waste removed from my property on a monthly basis.
With over 30 trees on my property I couldn’t keep up with disposal, maintenance, let alone fire prevention.
After reading about ‘Hot Composting’ I have now set up four compost bins accelerating the composting process, feeding vegetable beds, rejuvenating the soil, fire prevention, saving money and most importantly leaving a lighter footprint on the environment.
The author Kate Flood is very knowledgeable and made the science behind the different composting methods easy to understand & apply. All house holds should be composting to reduce landfill & save the planet. I will be lending this book out to educate friends & family.
December 27, 2023
This is such a great comprehensive resource book about compost! It’s allowed me to completely nerd out, and given me ideas about science experiments to do with the kids.
April 17, 2024
Wow! What a gem this book is! Couldn’t recommend this highly enough.
Clear, comprehensive and informative instructions on a huge variety of composting techniques. Plus all the soil science you need to understand the whole compost gig but not in a boring way🤪
Easy to read chatty style, beautiful book design and great photos.
If you are a beginner composter or a long time composter needing a bit of a pep talk (that’s me totally) this book doesn’t disappoint. Her enthusiasm jumps off the page and is so infectious that within 24 hours of receiving my copy in the post I had resurrected my worm farm, collected a leaf litter pile AND made a hot compost pile. I tell ya, everyone I know is getting this for Xmas😊
Clear, comprehensive and informative instructions on a huge variety of composting techniques. Plus all the soil science you need to understand the whole compost gig but not in a boring way🤪
Easy to read chatty style, beautiful book design and great photos.
If you are a beginner composter or a long time composter needing a bit of a pep talk (that’s me totally) this book doesn’t disappoint. Her enthusiasm jumps off the page and is so infectious that within 24 hours of receiving my copy in the post I had resurrected my worm farm, collected a leaf litter pile AND made a hot compost pile. I tell ya, everyone I know is getting this for Xmas😊
November 16, 2024
Absolutely chock full of fantastic information!
May 30, 2024
Picked this up on a whim because it was on display at the library and I want to start doing a large compost on the farm. It was so useful I ended up buying it! Such a great layout of information and made an intimidating topic so fun and cheeky.
February 7, 2024
Informative and accessible. Very well written. I love Compostable Kate. Even though I'm still a poor compost maker because I'm a bit lazy about it - I, at least, know what I'm supposed to be doing!! And now all my food waste goes back into my garden.
May 21, 2025
Kate is a wealth of knowledge on all things composting. This book makes all the various types of composting accessible and easy to learn!
July 28, 2023
After going through this book, I have to say I love The Compost Coach. The book goes into just about everything you would want to know about composting in an approachable, easy to understand format. The book is filled with fantastic informational graphics and pictures useful for anyone learning about composting.
Along with the basics of composting, it also went into details I had never even considered, such as composting with chickens and being cautious with these natural composters. It also goes through various types of composting, helping you pick the proper method for you and your situation. Honestly, I consider The Compost Coach the best reference book when it comes to composting I have seen, making it a must for anyone who is farming, homesteading, or just wants to be more environmentally friendly.
Along with the basics of composting, it also went into details I had never even considered, such as composting with chickens and being cautious with these natural composters. It also goes through various types of composting, helping you pick the proper method for you and your situation. Honestly, I consider The Compost Coach the best reference book when it comes to composting I have seen, making it a must for anyone who is farming, homesteading, or just wants to be more environmentally friendly.
October 18, 2023
Compostable Kate has already revolutionised the way that my family think about food waste and compost just through her (excellently curated and highly accessible) Instagram. This book is comprehensive, beautifully laid out, accessibly and kindly written and contains literally all of the information that you need to ensure that your household food waste doesn't go to landfill and your garden and community benefits from the result - in a way that is never judgemental, and appreciates that family life is busy. Definitely one of my best books of the year, and I know I'll be referencing it for years to come. Note to husband: Can I have a Bokashi Bin set up for my Christmas present?
May 3, 2024
I’ve been following Kate Flood on Instagram from a while because of my gardening interests and quest to incorporate more ways to be sustainable! Her book - The Compost Coast - is a delightful and insightful read that turns the seemingly mundane task of composting into an engaging and environmentally significant activity.
What I love most about this book is its ability to cater to a wide audience, there is a compost solution for everyone, without compromising on the depth of information. It is a colourful and inspiring book that even includes a flow chart to help you decide which types of composting will suit your lifestyle and resources.
What I love most about this book is its ability to cater to a wide audience, there is a compost solution for everyone, without compromising on the depth of information. It is a colourful and inspiring book that even includes a flow chart to help you decide which types of composting will suit your lifestyle and resources.
September 24, 2024
I follow Kate on instagram and was so excited to finally get her book. I’ve had a vermicompost system, but really wanted to expand and try my hand at a true compost pile but thought it would be too difficult in a residential setting. Kate’s book so beautifully walks you through the steps in a way that makes it not only easy to read but easy to apply in practice. More importantly the book, and Kate’s overall message, is to just get out and try and that any little step towards conservation, regeneration, increasing your knowledge about nature and soil is a step in the right direction. Thanks Kate!
April 1, 2024
This is a great all inclusive guide about Composting, I felt like no rock was left unturned - just like a hot compost pile.
I've followed Kate on Instagram for a few years and its amazing how many minds she has changed through social media and now to see this book out in the world. I feel so inspired.
IT is very dense with information but is a good book to fall back on to fix issues with your compost, as well as trying nee methods that didn't work before. Recommend this for all gardeners!
I've followed Kate on Instagram for a few years and its amazing how many minds she has changed through social media and now to see this book out in the world. I feel so inspired.
IT is very dense with information but is a good book to fall back on to fix issues with your compost, as well as trying nee methods that didn't work before. Recommend this for all gardeners!
April 6, 2025
This book was so helpful and enjoyable to read! I checked out many gardening/compost books, and there are many good ones, but this was the book I ended up finishing first because it was so easy to follow, with really helpful pictures and graphics. The authors style is very fun/whimsical and also informative. Detailed enough to get all the info you need for composting and a variety of other tips on regenerative practices for your own backyard. I started a bokashi bin for the first time after reading how to, and it’s been a wonderful source of natural fertilizer for my whole yard this spring!
January 5, 2024
This fantastic book was given to me for Christmas (been long on my wishlist) and Oh My Word!
This book, even with flicking through it and reading bits and pieces, is my new oracle for everything compost(ing)! It’s got the science, the biology and stats and terms and do’s & don’t do’s and even recipes for making your own bokashi bran 🤯 how to take care of your worms and soil health.
The whole book is written in easy to understand instructions and information, bite sized in places so you don’t feel you have to read a whole chapter to get the point.
I’m not brand new to composting, I’ve got a hotbin and it has had some success, but overall I feel overwhelmed and don't feel like I know what I’m doing at all. I honestly can’t wait to dig into proper compost making and starting my new and improved composting thanks to Kate sharing this wealth of information. I would love to add a worm farm and a bokashi bin (or two) to my process and with Kate's invaluable knowledge on all the subjects, I feel confident to start my new & improved journey to enrich my garden and make a smaller environmental impact in the process.
I’m a few chapters deep into Kates book and am LOVING it!! So full of ideas, it’s 🤯🤩 Go get it if you want to compost and not know where to start - or get it when you know what you’re doing and want to learn more 🪱
This book, even with flicking through it and reading bits and pieces, is my new oracle for everything compost(ing)! It’s got the science, the biology and stats and terms and do’s & don’t do’s and even recipes for making your own bokashi bran 🤯 how to take care of your worms and soil health.
The whole book is written in easy to understand instructions and information, bite sized in places so you don’t feel you have to read a whole chapter to get the point.
I’m not brand new to composting, I’ve got a hotbin and it has had some success, but overall I feel overwhelmed and don't feel like I know what I’m doing at all. I honestly can’t wait to dig into proper compost making and starting my new and improved composting thanks to Kate sharing this wealth of information. I would love to add a worm farm and a bokashi bin (or two) to my process and with Kate's invaluable knowledge on all the subjects, I feel confident to start my new & improved journey to enrich my garden and make a smaller environmental impact in the process.
I’m a few chapters deep into Kates book and am LOVING it!! So full of ideas, it’s 🤯🤩 Go get it if you want to compost and not know where to start - or get it when you know what you’re doing and want to learn more 🪱
January 5, 2024
I LOVED this book. I am a keen composter but found I learnt so much more. Highly recommend. Busted a few compost myths and helped me to understand healthier and climate friendly methods of composting. So clearly explained too. There is something for everyone in this book and lots of positive climate solutions.
January 7, 2024
This is a must read for any serious gardener. I have read many garden books over my 48 years of gardening. Several books on composting but never feeling confident as I am now. She definitely explains methods very clear, that you can understand all areas of composting. She also covers other areas in gardening. Looking forward to her next book she is gifted at making gardening achievable.
April 13, 2025
I just love understanding soil health and its role in a sustainable future 💗 I found this such a positive book and it is great because it keeps things feeling achievable, simplifying the science of compost so that anyone can follow along, a must read for anyone who is invested in a healthy garden and soil
February 16, 2024
This book is one of the best, most comprehensive non fiction books I've ever read. It's easy to navigate, but also enjoyable to read cover to cover. I absolutely recommend it to any gardener, or anyone interested in sustainability.
April 25, 2025
One of my favorite garden related books, accessible, informative, thorough and dare I say fun. I love how the book was structured the technical details are delivered and a perfect level to educate without being boring, and the practical tips and recipes are all great.
May 9, 2025
A really brilliant, human scale and accessible guide to something we can all do which just might help to save the world. Beautifully written, great step by steps and all round a great book and one that we should all own.
July 30, 2025
I normally struggle to properly read and fully finish non-fiction books such as this, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I wanted to keep reading this book each night! Relatable and options for all gardeners and spaces, it makes you feel everyone can play their part.
October 26, 2025
Loved this! Really enjoyed reading thoroughly, so informative and our values really aligned. As a flower farmer who wants to be sustainable and kind to the earth, I took a lot out of this book and put many things to practice right away. Also visually beautiful!
November 2, 2025
The Compost Coach is full of all the information you need to start composting and even plenty of information for experienced composters. Kate has a wealth of practical knowledge that can set anyone up for success. Would recommend this book to anyone.
November 9, 2025
This book is like a mini-skirt: long enough to cover everything essential, but short enough to keep your interest. Highly recommend it! Everything you need to know about composting to get you started. Brilliant resource!
September 24, 2023
Very informative and easy to read. I can’t wait to start implementing it! I need a hard cover bc I will be referring back to this I have a feeling
January 4, 2024
The bible of compost
March 9, 2024
interesting and informative
I love the various ways of composting, explained clearly and easy to understand. Highly recommended for beginners and experts in composting.
I love the various ways of composting, explained clearly and easy to understand. Highly recommended for beginners and experts in composting.
March 20, 2024
Super detailed, useful information. I wish it was a little less wordy so that key information could be easily referenced in the future, but overall a great book for any gardener.
June 25, 2024
Phenomenal book- extremely informative and helpful. Good for beginners to pros. Highly recommend.
September 20, 2024
I'm obsessed with compost and frankly this book is just amazing!!! 🤩
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews