Your favorite book on composting

Hello, I am new to composting. I would like to get a book to help me out on the subject. I went to the bookworm section of DG to see what composting book everyone liked the best. I was a little dissappointed because there were very few people that commented. Some books only got 1 comment. I would think that many of you have books on composting.

What are your favorite books about composting? Why is it your favorite?

One book that I have been looking at is the Rodale book of composting. it has a good rating on Amazon, but I would just like to see what everyone else on DG thinks.

Thanks so much for your time.

Lissy

I have booth of rodale's composting books.I look through them a lot,when I have idol moments,and find new things regulary.I think my favorite,is the complete book on composting,and it is very old.Things that were tried years ago,have come back into being the latest.The main thing about composting is achieve a good balance,and you will learn a lot here.The carbon / nitrogen raito is still imporant,and I'm of the belief that is not compost with out it.Idealy mow and catch your grass clippings,50%, then run your mower over dry leaves,50% and add your kitchen scrapes,(no animal products),and turn the pile until it generates a heat,you can cover the pile with dirt,or tarp,and it generates better heat.You will need to repeate this process until the pile is cooled down,and the heap has gone down.do this each time you mow,and add it to the first pile,and try to encourage worms to occupy the more finished pile,and they will do the rest.You gotta love it.Mike

I've read far too many books about compost to be classified as a well-rounded individual, and the most strait-forward one I have read (cheap, right size, etc) Is "Compost" by Clare Foster, ISBN 1844034054.
http://www.powells.com/biblio?show=FLEXIBLE:SALE:030436231X:8.98
http://www.bestwebbuys.com/Compost-ISBN_1844034054.html?isrc=b-search
I had such fun, I read the silly thing in one sitting.
It describes not only the classic ways to compost, but how they work and variations on them. I think it even had "real life" stories that describe folks and their methods, so as how to relate gardening style and needs to a type of composting.

I remember how she writes that she doesn't always "feel very glamourous" as she rides her bike with a load of compostable trash to her allotment.
Hope this helps,
Kenton

Thanks for the help! I appreciate it. I will put those books on my list.

Lissy

I recently purchased "Let it Rot" by Campbell. http://davesgarden.com/gbw/c/231/

It seems like a good basic resource and is an easy read. I was a bit disappointed that it was very similar to the composting section in another book I've had for years, "The Big Book of Gardening Skills" from Garden Way Publishing. http://davesgarden.com/gbw/c/1778/

Still, it's inexpensive, particularly if you get it used from Amazon or even better, from the library.

I have always enjoyed the book "Composting mistakes and miracles". It actually is not written down yet because it is still in my head. I enjoy learning the basics and then get outside the box. Compost everything you have and see what works the best. One thing about composting is it eventually dissapears and you need to start over. By then you should have your compost better. Every mistake I have made was never repeated cause that chapter was written in bold print.

secrets of the soil by thompkins

I was able to find Clare Foster's title, Compost, on eBay Books for less than $10 US after shipping.

I just read the book "Compost" and really liked it. Thanks so much for the suggestion JamesCO.

I am now reading the book "Rodale Book of Composting" So far so good. Thanks a lot Mike for helping me out on that one.

I want to still get the "Composting mistakes and miracles" and "Secrets of the Soil."

Thanks to all of you who have responded. I am learing a lot from the books and also from the forum. I started my first pile about a week ago and I am excited to see how it all works out. So far I just have an open pile but want to build a compost bin.

When I went out today to check the pile it was HOT!!!! Funny how that can make your day. I got a huge grin on my face. LOL. I must be doing something right. I will have to let you know how it goes.

Lissy

Looking for a great way to produce plant loving compost? [HYPERLINK@paulgadawg.turnwill2.hop.clickbank.net]

lilburnjoe, I'm starting to find this advertising tedious. It's bad enough it appears at the bottom of every one of your posts (that I've seen so far), but when there's nothing but the advertising, it crosses the line, IMNSHO.

Kurtwall,

Lilburnjoe has posted a number of posts that don't mention the e-book advertising site. Message threads in which lilburnjoe has participated without such ads are:

http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/599830/

http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/450974/

I have to admit I am curious about the "The World's Best Compost" book. [Be warned that this link is to what amounts to an infomercial for the e-book.]

http://www.worldsbestcompost.com/?hop=paulgadawg

Lilburnjoe, have you purchased and read the book? Do you have any comments about it?

MM
- edited to correct spelling of "infomercial"

This message was edited Jul 26, 2006 1:28 AM

Regardless of what proportion of lilburnjoe's posts contain the ads, they don't belong here.

Zeppy,

"...they don't belong here."

I can't agree with you on that. This is a thread on "Your favorite book on composting" and the link is to an e-book titled "The World's Best Compost". Seems "on topic" to me.

I do agree that the "World's Best Compost" website contains some questionable advertising methods.

But I haven't seen any evidence that Lilburnjoe is associated with the book or its publisher, so citing the book doesn't make Lilburnjoe guilty of advertising nor do Lilburnjoe's posts "contain" ads. Why don't we let "Dave" police the forum?

MM

Kurtwall,

"It's bad enough it appears at the bottom of every one of your posts ..."

Those posts don't "contain" ads. Unless you can prove that Lilburnjoe profits from sales of the book, it's not really advertising. In some cases, I think Lilburnjoe had good motives and was just trying to provide links that might be of interest. In others, the link was provided as a kind of irrelevant add-on that should have been omitted.

MM

This message was edited Jul 26, 2006 2:40 AM

I think limberjoe can explain his entries of that hyperlink in over 7 forums I have seen. If it is so fantastic please let us know you motive for posting in all of the forums you have visited. Other wise I too would not like to have to hyperlink everyone who wants to sell something. I enjoy not having to answer the telemarketer on DG site when I am here.

Soferdig,

"I think limberjoe can explain his entries of that hyperlink in over 7 forums I have seen."

Ignoring the fact that there is no member named "limberjoe", I do concede that lilburnjoe has left several links to paulgadawg.turnwill2.hop.clickbank.net that my count of 2 missed.

MM

This message was edited Jul 26, 2006 2:21 AM

MaineMan, I've neither reported lilburnjoe nor tried to "police" the forum. Everyone links sites to share at times. But I do feel that DG would be pretty tiresome if each member linked the same exclamation-point-ridden site in the majority of his or her postings. I hope you'll allow the possibility of that opinion, as well as the occasional typo or misspelling.

Zeppy,

"I hope you'll allow the possibility of that opinion, as well as the occasional typo or misspelling."

I certainly respect the rights of every forum participant to have their opinions, as well as the occasional typos.

MM

"Let it Rot" by someone whose name escapes me.

I downloaded the digital version of "Organic Gardener's Composting" by Steve Solomon which was available as an e-book for $1.99. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002YBE18/ref=ed_oe_d/102-8373145-3478555?ie=UTF8 If you go to the paperback version Amazon gives you a preview of the first few pages. Unfortunately there are no pictures or illustrations in it but the text & history are great. It also led me to a great digital library "Soil & Health Library" -- http://www.soilandhealth.org/ and I just found it there for free! :) http://www.soilandhealth.org/03sov/0302hsted/030202/03010200.html

Here's a great quote from it -- "Whenever I want to buy something it has become my habit first to ask myself if the desired object could possibly bring me as much pleasure as knowing that I don't have to get up and go to work the next morning. Usually I decide to save the money so I do not have to earn more. En extremis, I repeat the old Yankee marching chant like a mantra: Make do! Wear it out! When it is gone, do without! Bum, Bum! Bum bi Dum! Bum bi di Dum, Bum bi Dum!"

reubenT -- provided this link which is great: http://www.westonaprice.org/farming/nutrient-dense.html

I almost fell for the infomercial (above) but I sang Bum bi Dum! Bum bi di Dum. Anybody buy "World's greatest compost" yet?

I think there is a lot to his summation. I did not read all in detail but I aggree with the fact that PH and chemical availability are a prerequisite to successfull plant production. Also the sugar thing is also important because that carbohydrate is what brings the nutrition to the chlorphillic process that creates energy. IE the sugars pull the material up the in the phloem via osmosis so maybe this is a good Idea. I will read it when I have time to think but I agree with almost all of what he says.