Garden Book Reviews

Nicki Scott released the second edition of Composting For All in 2004; obviously this is a popular publication within the UK, and it is certainly affordable. Here is one booklet that practices what it preaches – the cover is printed on 80% recycled material and the inside pages are printed on 100% recycled paper. I thought the front cover’s image of mom, dad and young girl happily tending to a compost bin near their bountiful garden and lush yard was quite cute.

Thirty-two pages and seventeen chapters (including the introduction and resource sections) are filled with sketches and illustrations by Bob Gale. This short booklet explains what composting involves in a simple way and terms like vermiculture and aerobic bacteria become less confusing. Learn how to begin composting safely wit little hassle. Discover old and new composting methods from hot and cold composts, fermentation methods and vermiculture. He even discusses compost activators (those that increase decomposition process) and how to reuse an old chest freezer to make a worm bin. The booklet closes with a very small reference section for readers to contact eleven associations and publications to further their journey in waste reduction.

I enjoyed his discussion about the amazing array of life forms are supported by composting activities, and the final product that encourages healthier green spaces, gardens, balcony and roof gardens and flowerboxes in our communities. This results in a wonderful bio-support system to help the other critters that share our world, and healthy plants that clean our air.

The suggestion that most appealed to me was substituting leaf compost for peat requirements in our gardens. I had no idea that many commercially bagged compost actually contain peat. Environmentalists will tell you how important it is to avoid using peat-based products, and alternatives such as ground coconut husk have been around for some time.

Cities concerned with stressed landfills offer compost bins or worm bins to help people handle organic waste. Unfortunately the training available for citizens to use is not always readily available. This is what makes books like these so valuable to our society.

Nicki Scott has authored two booklets, one book and a video on composting and other methods we can all employ reduce waste. He has served as the chairperson for the Community Compost Network in the UK.

Author: Nicki Scott
Illustrator: Bob Gale
Publisher: Green books (UK)
ISBN: 1-903998-23-9

Nicky Scott, Chairperson for the Community Composting Network in the UK, is the author of three small books (roughly 4 x 6 inches) dealing with waste reduction and has appeared in two videos about composting. His book, Composting – An Easy Household Guide, was originally published in 2005 and the second edition was released in 2006. The cover and all ninety-six pages are printed on 100% recycled paper.

This book is slightly more advanced than his smaller booklet, Composting For All. Both books discuss why compost is such an important factor in reducing stress on landfills. But here, Nicky shows how this one simple action can benefit everyone in the community and can actually affect global conditions as well. Nicky tells readers that approximately one-quarter of UK’s methane gas emissions (one of the gases that contributes to global warming) are due to organic waste in landfills, which are decomposing improperly. When composts are given aerobic conditions there is very little gas production.
Nicky shows other advantages such as less odor in garbage cans and less volume for curb-side pick-up services to deal with – therefore garbage will be put out on the curb less often.

Nicky demonstrates how to get the right mix in the compost for optimal decomposition conditions. He then explains some of the different composting bins sold commercially. There is the perfect bin available for different situations from apartment dwellers to individuals, situations involving pest issues (rats, etc) and communal composting. His book covers Dalek-type bins, tumblers, digesters, green cones, green Johanna’s, fermentation methods, worm bins and more.

Much of the information can be applied globally, though the stats and information in Composting- and Easy Household Guide is from the UK. Terms such as “fly tipping” have no definition in North America. The resource section is four pages long and provides information on seven organizations and lists three books and videos for readers to refer to.

Author: Nicky Scott
Illustrator: Roy Chadwick
Publisher: Green books (UK)
ISBN: 1-903998-78-6

Worm composting is fun, easy and educational. It even has a fancy scientific name that you can throw out at your next party: vermicomposting. The acknowledged bible of vermicomposting is Mary Appelhof’s Worms Eat My Garbage.

The basic idea of worm composting is that you set up a bin of some kind in which you place your daily garbage and some worms. The worms eat the garbage, turning it into rich dark castings which can then be used as a natural fertilizer for your plants.

There’s more to it than that, of course. Some types of bins are better than others, you have to use the right kind of worms, and not all garbage is good for vermicomposting–for example, meat scraps are a no-no. Worms Eat My Garbage will set the beginning worm composter on the right track regarding all of these issues and more.

We’ve been vermicomposting in our household for several years now. One of the neat things about it is how the worms in our bin multiply so rapidly, making it a self-perpetuating system. Even my young daughter likes to go out and watch our wriggly little “pets” burrowing through crumbly worm-soil that started out weeks earlier as lettuce leaves, egg shells and coffee grounds.

Worms Eat My Garbage answers all of the important questions about composting with worms. Among these questions are: Where should you put the worm bin? What kind and size of container should you use? What kind of worms should you get? How many worms to you need? How do you take care of your worms?

Vermicomposting is receiving growing attention and interest, and it is quite likely that there is someone down at the local county extension office or 4H club who is knowledgeable about it and can demonstrate how to set up a worm bin for anyone who wants to get started. You might also be able to find free handouts that give the rudiments of starting a worm composting bin.

There is no substitute, though, for having a comprehensive manual on worm composting near to hand if worm composting sounds like something you want to try. Worms Eat My Garbage is that manual.

Worms Eat My Garbage is published by Flower Press of Kalamazoo, Michigan; ISBN # 0-942256-03-4.