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How to Build, Maintain, and Use a Compost System: Secrets and Techniques You Need to Know to Grow the Best Vegetables (Back-To-Basics)
Some of the best fertilizer on the planet can be made with your very own garbage. Starting with something as simple as coffee grounds a top composting product and including all of your old banana peels, bread crusts, and leftover meals, you can start creating a garden with your food waste from scratch, using the age old secret of composting to build a healthy, happy garden. Knowing the necessary steps to building and cultivating a compost bin will help anyone with a garden no matter its size cut down on waste, save money on fertilizer, and have fun learning more about the cycle all biodegradable matter goes through. This book provides a detailed outline of how anyone with a little extra space and a garden can start composting today to build their garden from scratch into a thriving jungle of roots, herbs, and vegetables. You will learn about all of the different ways that composting can be helpful to you, as well as the different reasons why people choose to compost and what you and your vegetables might best benefit from when you decide to make the leap and start composting yourself. You will learn how decomposition works and what the ideal conditions are for decomposition. You will learn which compostable materials are around you right now, from the coffee grounds in your coffee maker to the old fruit in your crisper. Learn about the different kinds of activators and how they get the process started as well as the different composting materials used by home gardeners and professional composters alike dozens of which have been interviewed for this book. You will be walked through the process of recognizing and using the end product as effectively as possible. You will be walked through how you can effectively take your end product and start using it for various different vegetable types in your garden. Finally, you will be walked through the process of recognizing and using the end product as effectively as possible. For anyone who has ever considered composting as a viable means by which to feed their gardens, this book is for you.
- GenresGardeningNonfiction
288 pages, Paperback
First published August 31, 2010
16 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Kelly M. Smith
2 books9 followersI am author of Open Your Heart with Quilting (Dreamtime 2008) and How to Build, Maintain, and Use a Compost System (Atlantic, 2010).
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 13, 2012
The Back to Basics Growing series is published by Atlantic Publishing Group. One of the titles in this series is “How to Build, Maintain and Use a Compost System: Secrets and Techniques You Need to Know to Grow the Best Vegetables” and it is written by Kelly Smith. Ms. Smith’s previous books have dealt with quilting, so I was intrigued on how much knowledge she would impart on composting, which is nothing like quilting. She definitely showed that she does know a thing or two about composting!
She starts off by explaining what composting is and why people do it. In Chapter 1 she includes some “Common Myths About Composting,” such as: composting is difficult, it smells bad, isn’t for people who live in a city, you can use any type of worm if vermicomposting, etc., and then proceeds to debunk these myths. She moves on to discuss the different types of composting. Who knew there were so many?! There are compost bins, holes, trenches, cone digester systems, rotating barrels, stationary bins and indoor systems. Going into detail about each type, it makes it easier for the person who is new to composting to figure out which type would work best for them. She even includes a table that shows at a glance what type of system works in what type of living situation (e.g. rural, suburban, city, condo, and apartment). She also details about what can and cannot be composted and what type of substances can be added to help the composting process. As with the other Back to Basic books, this book also includes many case studies throughout where individuals share their stories about composting. I like the personal touch that the case studies add. In Chapter 4, there are instructions on how to make your own composting bins. These can be made out of many things: cardboard box, chicken wire, trash cans, trenches, concrete blocks, and more. There are instructions for those with experience in building on how to build a tumbling barrel composter which is covered in about 14 pages including pictures and diagrams. Building a composting system doesn’t have to cost much and is much more economical then purchasing one.
The author covers how to use compost and about vermicomposting, which is composting using worms. In the back she includes the web address for each state’s Cooperative Extension System (these sites include agricultural information specific to your state) and information about companies who sell composters.
Ms. Smith definitely has done her research and this book is a good one to keep on hand when deciding to compost. With it, the reader can make a determination of what type of composting would work best for them and cost effective ways to start and maintain a composting system.
She starts off by explaining what composting is and why people do it. In Chapter 1 she includes some “Common Myths About Composting,” such as: composting is difficult, it smells bad, isn’t for people who live in a city, you can use any type of worm if vermicomposting, etc., and then proceeds to debunk these myths. She moves on to discuss the different types of composting. Who knew there were so many?! There are compost bins, holes, trenches, cone digester systems, rotating barrels, stationary bins and indoor systems. Going into detail about each type, it makes it easier for the person who is new to composting to figure out which type would work best for them. She even includes a table that shows at a glance what type of system works in what type of living situation (e.g. rural, suburban, city, condo, and apartment). She also details about what can and cannot be composted and what type of substances can be added to help the composting process. As with the other Back to Basic books, this book also includes many case studies throughout where individuals share their stories about composting. I like the personal touch that the case studies add. In Chapter 4, there are instructions on how to make your own composting bins. These can be made out of many things: cardboard box, chicken wire, trash cans, trenches, concrete blocks, and more. There are instructions for those with experience in building on how to build a tumbling barrel composter which is covered in about 14 pages including pictures and diagrams. Building a composting system doesn’t have to cost much and is much more economical then purchasing one.
The author covers how to use compost and about vermicomposting, which is composting using worms. In the back she includes the web address for each state’s Cooperative Extension System (these sites include agricultural information specific to your state) and information about companies who sell composters.
Ms. Smith definitely has done her research and this book is a good one to keep on hand when deciding to compost. With it, the reader can make a determination of what type of composting would work best for them and cost effective ways to start and maintain a composting system.
August 30, 2011
As the ‘green’ movement moves to mainstream life, many people ask the question, ‘What more can I do to reduce my carbon footprint and help the environment?’ Enter composting! Author Kelly Smith gives the ‘whys’, ‘hows’, and ‘wheres’ in her new book (which is printed on recycled paper), “How to Build, Maintain, and Use a Compost System: Secrets and Techniques You Need to Know to Grow the Best Vegetables”.
“How to Build, Maintain, and Use a Compost System” is an organized and comprehensive discussion on all things compostable. Smith begins by introducing the beginner to the subject with vivid descriptions and lots of possibilities. The benefits as well as potential issues are also discussed as well as myths and answers to a myriad of questions. She also gives plenty of options that range from the inexpensive set ups to store bought systems. Sidebar articles from people who compost regularly are also included to give readers various viewpoints on the subject. Further, the extensive appendices offer helpful sources for additional reading, finding others in your community that also compost, a glossary of terms, and places to purchase composting items.
I found the book to be exceptionally thorough on what goes into composting. There was probably more than I’ve ever thought I’d want to know but reading from the perspective of someone with no background or knowledge on the subject, it was a perfect introduction. Smith’s clear descriptions as well as her pictures assisted greatly in understanding what exactly she was trying to convey while her obvious passion got me excited about starting a compost pile of my own. I especially liked the included building plans for an enclosed system; I think this is something many people - who wouldn’t otherwise want an open pile of decaying matter in their yard - would be extremely interested in having. She not only takes the concept of ‘living green’ into account but aesthetics as well.
Good for the environment, less garbage trucked to landfills, readymade fertilizer for your garden – these are all benefits from the simple act of composting. Large yard or small plot and even no yard at all, “How to Build, Maintain, and Use a Compost System: Secrets and Techniques You Need to Know to Grow the Best Vegetables” gives you the down and dirty on how to get started and do your part!
Reviewed by Vicki Landes, author of “Europe for the Senses – A Photographic Journal”
“How to Build, Maintain, and Use a Compost System” is an organized and comprehensive discussion on all things compostable. Smith begins by introducing the beginner to the subject with vivid descriptions and lots of possibilities. The benefits as well as potential issues are also discussed as well as myths and answers to a myriad of questions. She also gives plenty of options that range from the inexpensive set ups to store bought systems. Sidebar articles from people who compost regularly are also included to give readers various viewpoints on the subject. Further, the extensive appendices offer helpful sources for additional reading, finding others in your community that also compost, a glossary of terms, and places to purchase composting items.
I found the book to be exceptionally thorough on what goes into composting. There was probably more than I’ve ever thought I’d want to know but reading from the perspective of someone with no background or knowledge on the subject, it was a perfect introduction. Smith’s clear descriptions as well as her pictures assisted greatly in understanding what exactly she was trying to convey while her obvious passion got me excited about starting a compost pile of my own. I especially liked the included building plans for an enclosed system; I think this is something many people - who wouldn’t otherwise want an open pile of decaying matter in their yard - would be extremely interested in having. She not only takes the concept of ‘living green’ into account but aesthetics as well.
Good for the environment, less garbage trucked to landfills, readymade fertilizer for your garden – these are all benefits from the simple act of composting. Large yard or small plot and even no yard at all, “How to Build, Maintain, and Use a Compost System: Secrets and Techniques You Need to Know to Grow the Best Vegetables” gives you the down and dirty on how to get started and do your part!
Reviewed by Vicki Landes, author of “Europe for the Senses – A Photographic Journal”
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July 13, 2011Hi all!
My book came out in March 2011. If you read it, please let me know what you think of it! If you would like a review copy, just contact me and I'll hook you up!
Kelly
My book came out in March 2011. If you read it, please let me know what you think of it! If you would like a review copy, just contact me and I'll hook you up!
Kelly
February 25, 2017
A lot of repeated content in a weird order, but otherwise really helpful and useful.
March 19, 2021
It's hard to recommend this book for a beginner. It's chock-full of great information, but the level of detail is likely to scare off a beginner. On the plus side, it will make a great reference for any gardener wanting to up their composting game. In addition to all the usual information every composting book contains (the whys, whats, and hows), it has clear directions for a wide variety of DIY compost bins (the author also briefly discusses the three main types of commercial composting bins), different composting methods/speeds, and other useful things like a compost sifter, and compost tea (how did I not know about this?). Of particular value were the discussions and directions for slow, medium, and fast compost systems.
I would have liked to see some better visual organization of a few things. List of materials you can and can't compost for each method should be easily referenced to be most useful, but the author chose to do this only in paragraph format with each item discussed one after the other. This would have been fantastic if a simple list for quick reference had also been included. If a few blank pages for notes had been included at the end it could have been a simple matter to create such a list right at the back of the book.
There's also an entire chapter on vermicomposting (and an appendix with links for even more information), a shorter chapter on indoor and winter composting, and lists of both state-specific resources and nationwide online forums.
I'll never use all this information and just want a simple compost pile, but if you're more dedicated to composting than I am, this is a nice resource.
I would have liked to see some better visual organization of a few things. List of materials you can and can't compost for each method should be easily referenced to be most useful, but the author chose to do this only in paragraph format with each item discussed one after the other. This would have been fantastic if a simple list for quick reference had also been included. If a few blank pages for notes had been included at the end it could have been a simple matter to create such a list right at the back of the book.
There's also an entire chapter on vermicomposting (and an appendix with links for even more information), a shorter chapter on indoor and winter composting, and lists of both state-specific resources and nationwide online forums.
I'll never use all this information and just want a simple compost pile, but if you're more dedicated to composting than I am, this is a nice resource.
December 28, 2023
It does list every kind of compost "heap" one can build, and it does give a primer on what makes a good soil, but it is confusing, contradictory*, and at no time does it just give a simple formula for the proper ration of garden/forest waste. I don't want to buy a bunch of chemicals, I just want to compost organic material.
* Red wigglers are the best worms to use but red wigglers are destroying the environment in western forests.
* Red wigglers are the best worms to use but red wigglers are destroying the environment in western forests.
October 28, 2021
This was a good book on composting. I want to get out there and build a compost pile. But I guess I worry about the flies and how to get things started. There are some great articles by amateur composters that is making me think twice.
June 25, 2017
This little book is packed with information, tutorials, and examples. I'm new to gardening and composting and this was the perfect book for my experience level.
September 18, 2019
I didn't learn anything new
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May 30, 2014635.987 S6537 2011
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews