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The Complete Compost Gardening Guide: Banner Batches, Grow Heaps, Comforter Compost, and Other Amazing Techniques for Saving Time and Money, and Producing the Most Flavorful, Nutritious Vegetables Ever
Develop mature compost right in your garden. Barbara Pleasant and Deborah Martin explain their six-way compost gardening system in this informative guide that will have you rethinking how you create and use your compost. With your plants and compost living together from the beginning, your garden will become a nourishing and organic environment that encourages growth and sustainability. You’ll also find that the enriched soil requires less tending, weeding, and mulching, so you can do less back-breaking work for the same lush, beautiful results.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
March 29, 2018
I went through it once, just sort of skimming it. I plan on getting it again from the library when I start actually composting. Is it crazy that I'm excited to compost?! Lol.
October 14, 2016
The Complete Composting Gardening Guide is indeed a comprehensive book on composting and organic gardening in general. The are creative names that they give to different type of composting: Pits of Plenty, Hot Hospital, Layered Craters and Catch-and-Release Vermicomposting just to name a few. Besides all of the catchy names, the author(s) get down to the nitty-gritty details on different compost systems, manures, things to avoid, compost fodder crops and just about anything else you can think of.
In addition to the key topics, the book is loaded with ideas on ways to compost and build your garden around that idea (e.g. compost gardens). This is one of those books while I'm reading some of the different ideas I'm also thinking: "I wonder if that would work in that specific place in MY garden." Another example has to do with vermicomposting. Based on earlier book that I read, I didn't think vermicomposting would be practical for the climate where I live. Then I read about Catch-and-Release Vermicomposting. This is where I would dig up worms out of my garden and put them in a vermicomposting tray in the winter when it is cool. Here the worms could overwinter in my garage creating the great earthworm castings. When it gets too hot to keep them out of the ground, I just put them back in the ground with all the new additions and castings! There are underground vermicomposting systems that can be created as well. I have already implemented a variation on their design called "worm towers." Worm towers are essentially plastic buckets with holes drilled into them and buried in the garden. The bucket is filled with same food and material as a tray system. The worms aren't captive though they can come and go as they please spreading castings throughout the garden.
One of the fundamental concepts of compost gardening is to spend as little money as possible to do the composting. This idea encourages the gardener to use and recycle organic matter in the yard and around the home. This reduces the overall carbon foot print by not getting outside "stuff" by getting in car or by ordering online as well as reducing the amount "garbage" that goes to the landfill. However, while I support this whole idea, one of the major motivators for me to get into composting is cost. I spend about $1500 a year buying, what the authors called, "designer dirt." Designer Dirt is a $500 million industry in the United States. The stuff the big box stores sell is also not very good anyway so there is not a great return for the money spent. The book had a chapter specifically dedicated to making my own compost, potting soils and mulches with a minimum of cost. I might occasionally might have to buy a bag of soil from a retailer. This is one of my goals to convert my garden to where I make my own dirt.
They take the concept one step farther by building a compost heap and plant your garden right on the compost heap itself! Certain food plants are more adaptable than others for this purpose. Tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and melons are among the better candidates. One step further yet, let the seeds stay in the compost heap and you have next season's garden. It will be awhile before I get to that point. There are other plants, legumes for example, that return nitrogen to the soil where they grow thus building the soil for edible and flowering plants.
Other topics related to this have to do with saving seeds from heirloom versus hybrid variety of vegetables. Hybrid seeds will not necessary produce the same fruit of the parent plant. So that tasty tomato that came from the parent plant, it's seeds will likely not produce the same tomato or even taste the same. Heirlooms are openly pollinated and have been producing the same tomato for years. Fortunately, they don't go into these topics in great detail. It's more for the gardener to be aware what varieties of plants to plant especially in the self-seeding gardens.
Overall, the book is very readable and interesting. The layout has pictures, charts, illustrations and inserts from "Barb's Journal" or "Deb's Diary." The book is very well thought out and even sort of fun to read. Just garden-geek enough to be informative but doesn't dive off into minutiae that loses the reader. This is a great gardener's book and I highly recommend it to those who like to get their hand dirty in the garden. (P.S. If you have a organic gardener on your Holiday giving list, this would make a great present!)
In addition to the key topics, the book is loaded with ideas on ways to compost and build your garden around that idea (e.g. compost gardens). This is one of those books while I'm reading some of the different ideas I'm also thinking: "I wonder if that would work in that specific place in MY garden." Another example has to do with vermicomposting. Based on earlier book that I read, I didn't think vermicomposting would be practical for the climate where I live. Then I read about Catch-and-Release Vermicomposting. This is where I would dig up worms out of my garden and put them in a vermicomposting tray in the winter when it is cool. Here the worms could overwinter in my garage creating the great earthworm castings. When it gets too hot to keep them out of the ground, I just put them back in the ground with all the new additions and castings! There are underground vermicomposting systems that can be created as well. I have already implemented a variation on their design called "worm towers." Worm towers are essentially plastic buckets with holes drilled into them and buried in the garden. The bucket is filled with same food and material as a tray system. The worms aren't captive though they can come and go as they please spreading castings throughout the garden.
One of the fundamental concepts of compost gardening is to spend as little money as possible to do the composting. This idea encourages the gardener to use and recycle organic matter in the yard and around the home. This reduces the overall carbon foot print by not getting outside "stuff" by getting in car or by ordering online as well as reducing the amount "garbage" that goes to the landfill. However, while I support this whole idea, one of the major motivators for me to get into composting is cost. I spend about $1500 a year buying, what the authors called, "designer dirt." Designer Dirt is a $500 million industry in the United States. The stuff the big box stores sell is also not very good anyway so there is not a great return for the money spent. The book had a chapter specifically dedicated to making my own compost, potting soils and mulches with a minimum of cost. I might occasionally might have to buy a bag of soil from a retailer. This is one of my goals to convert my garden to where I make my own dirt.
They take the concept one step farther by building a compost heap and plant your garden right on the compost heap itself! Certain food plants are more adaptable than others for this purpose. Tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and melons are among the better candidates. One step further yet, let the seeds stay in the compost heap and you have next season's garden. It will be awhile before I get to that point. There are other plants, legumes for example, that return nitrogen to the soil where they grow thus building the soil for edible and flowering plants.
Other topics related to this have to do with saving seeds from heirloom versus hybrid variety of vegetables. Hybrid seeds will not necessary produce the same fruit of the parent plant. So that tasty tomato that came from the parent plant, it's seeds will likely not produce the same tomato or even taste the same. Heirlooms are openly pollinated and have been producing the same tomato for years. Fortunately, they don't go into these topics in great detail. It's more for the gardener to be aware what varieties of plants to plant especially in the self-seeding gardens.
Overall, the book is very readable and interesting. The layout has pictures, charts, illustrations and inserts from "Barb's Journal" or "Deb's Diary." The book is very well thought out and even sort of fun to read. Just garden-geek enough to be informative but doesn't dive off into minutiae that loses the reader. This is a great gardener's book and I highly recommend it to those who like to get their hand dirty in the garden. (P.S. If you have a organic gardener on your Holiday giving list, this would make a great present!)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2011
This book suffered greatly from the way in which the information was presented, which was too bad because there is a lot of good information in it. It seemed like every single page referred me to yet another page in the book. A few times of flipping from page 27 to page 188 to see what they are taking about seems acceptable, but after the first few times I think there's an indication that your book is suffering from layout issues, or perhaps your information needs to be categorized in a different way.
May 27, 2019
This book is over the top in compost information! I've read several books by Barbara Pleasant and was eager to get to this one. I've composted in many different forms for several decades and I found this book very repetitive, and the cutesy names of the slightly varied composting styles (Comforter Compost, Honey Holes, Pits-of-Plenty) were a bit confusing after a while. I did copy down the DIY soilless potting mix and the recipes for special soils. Lots of great basic information that's kinda buried under (ha!) lots of often unneeded detail that might scare away anyone new to composting.
November 28, 2013
I'll be back to revisit this book as a valuable and balanced resource. I like that it not only addresses the composting needs of the vegetable gardener, but also composting for sustainability.
Shredded paper is not as good as dead leaves, but not really problematic. Avoid composting wax impregnated paper and magazines, and pick out the plastic windows before you shred or compost.
Shredded paper is not as good as dead leaves, but not really problematic. Avoid composting wax impregnated paper and magazines, and pick out the plastic windows before you shred or compost.
July 5, 2012
Everything you could ever ask or want to know about composting! Aside from the slightly too-cutesy names for the various composting methods ("Honey Hole"? Really?) this book is a wealth of information for the gardener just trying to start a composting practice. I really appreciated the fact that they covered many different methods and discussed when to use each one. I felt liberated after reading the book and a more free to just "try it and see what works", especially when armed with all the information I got.
NOTE: This book is much more effective as a paper copy than in an e-reader format! There are many tables, boxes, and sidebars that will make the e-reader format difficult to navigate.
NOTE: This book is much more effective as a paper copy than in an e-reader format! There are many tables, boxes, and sidebars that will make the e-reader format difficult to navigate.
June 19, 2010
I can't wait to start composting! This book has been really great in helping me figure out where I should put a compost pile and what can go in the pile. I also now have a ton of ideas (maybe too many) for different kinds of composting I can do so I'll have to explore some to figure out what will work best for our yard. I found the last section, which details the popular items that a gardener would plant and good fodder crops, to be very useful.
August 1, 2021
This book explains so much in detail of hot or cold composting in the garden. TBH I feel little overwhelmed about all the good/harmful bacteria, unwanted weeds, or infected plant debris. However, I am a believer in starting with a small compost station and keeping the ingredients very simple. I have applied several useful information from this book like keeping my garden tools clean after pruning (prevent spreading infections) and being more mindful of how I dispose of yard waste and …etc.
July 7, 2008
This is the most complete book on composting I've yet seen. It's thorough, and a good reference guide to have.
December 12, 2017
I haven't been able to find too many books dedicated to composting and comprehensive gardening books have been too skimpy on composting for me. So while I am excited enough to buy this book, I am only comparing it to one other.
This book is quite comprehensive covering several types of composting (including an excellent guide to vermicomposting), composting ingredients, compost use and the like.
This book is quite comprehensive covering several types of composting (including an excellent guide to vermicomposting), composting ingredients, compost use and the like.
September 23, 2022
I wanted to truly love this book — the author is full of whimsy and the information is substantial; however, the most glaring issue is that the proposed ideas of different compost methods at the heart of the work are extremely vague and slightly perplexing. The book must be read in a strange order and it could do with a total reworking from an organizational standpoint. I’m not sure if I walked away with much more knowledge than when I started.
March 15, 2023
This is a good book, but it’s so comprehensive that newbies to the composting arena can quickly get overwhelmed with all the info. At least, I did. So first go watch a how-to on YouTube ( https://youtu.be/nxTzuasQLFo ) or read one online ( https://homesteadingfamily.com/how-to... ). Once you’ve actually started, check back in with this book and it’ll be a terrific resource.
October 8, 2017
The three stars reflects my reading experience more than the quality of the information. I checked out the ebook version through my library but didn't finish it before it was due. When I rechecked it, the download had 2 or 3 blank pages between 2 or 3 pages of text. Needless to say the last half of the book was sketchy.
May 31, 2020
Been gardening & composting for over 30 years. Found some useful info in this book. Surprised the authors’ website was no longer available. This year people turning to gardening and composting is astounding. Self sufficiency is good for moral and we sure need that right now.
August 8, 2017
Lots of great info and photos
October 27, 2017
Nothing new but still a solid compilation of information on composting.
September 4, 2018
Very thorough guide to everything you need to know about composting. Really enjoyed this book would like to own it one day when I have some ground of my own.
September 9, 2018
Clear and useful information for getting your own compost heap going, be it fast and contained or slow and right where you need it.
September 30, 2018
This is a great resource!
Check this one out again as we start composting.
Check this one out again as we start composting.
April 11, 2019
This was so informative! I loved the author's style and I will definitely reference this book many times in the future.
September 13, 2019
I find it a fascinating reminder about why I garden. Just bought 2 copies to give to friends
April 1, 2020
By far, the most thorough book on composting.
April 18, 2020
Over my head! I was hoping for a Compost primer, but it wasn't helpful to me.
May 11, 2022
Great book with lots of ideas about how to make composting easier, cheaper, and more fun!
February 27, 2024
Who doesn’t love a hot, steamy novel to get those fertilizer juices flowing! This doesn’t disappoint!
May 4, 2010
I have read about composting before in several gardening books. After being exposed to the topic over and over again, I still felt completely unprepared to start my own compost pile. But reading this book has changed everything (and has likely saved my pitiful garden as well).
This book is thorough. The author describes in detail how to build a compost pile, where to keep it, what goes in it, and what ratios you need to have a high-heat or low-heat compost pile. She also has several great ideas on how to incorporate garden and kitchen wastes, leaves, manure, and other compost materials into your garden without making a conventional compost pile: burying them, using them as a thick mulch, even growing plants in a compost pile that is sitting on and slowly preparing a garden bed for the following spring. She also covers vermicomposting, which is great for very cold climates or apartment dwellers who don't have room for typical compost bins but want some compost for their container plants. I am amazed at all of the ways our waste can be recycled into the garden and all of the benefits it provides to the soil and the plants that grow in it. The book is very detailed, full color, and includes many photos and illustrations. I can't wait to get out and start my own bin!
This book is thorough. The author describes in detail how to build a compost pile, where to keep it, what goes in it, and what ratios you need to have a high-heat or low-heat compost pile. She also has several great ideas on how to incorporate garden and kitchen wastes, leaves, manure, and other compost materials into your garden without making a conventional compost pile: burying them, using them as a thick mulch, even growing plants in a compost pile that is sitting on and slowly preparing a garden bed for the following spring. She also covers vermicomposting, which is great for very cold climates or apartment dwellers who don't have room for typical compost bins but want some compost for their container plants. I am amazed at all of the ways our waste can be recycled into the garden and all of the benefits it provides to the soil and the plants that grow in it. The book is very detailed, full color, and includes many photos and illustrations. I can't wait to get out and start my own bin!
July 25, 2012
One day, while working on the front yard of our house, Todd looked at me and said, "Did you ever thinking owning a home would involve so much poo?" No, no I didn't. I bought this book because I was thinking of starting a compost pile in our small backyard. It's an extensive and exhaustive book on composting and maintaining of edibles, and it's really good. My only problem was that it was really written for a reader who has a large backyard, somewhere where they can dedicate a good amount of space away from the house to compost. I don't have that. And long story short, because we have a limited amount of space in the yard, I decided against giving a big chunk of the yard to a smelly compost pile. But maybe someday I will use it. Until then I'll just buy bags of compost from the nursery and only have to deal with an occasionally smelly trunk.
October 22, 2012
Book 66 2012 Reading Challenge -- This book is like a composter's Bible. Over the top on details and different ideas. I felt completely overwhelmed and intimidated, since I am a novice vegetable gardener.
Still, I gathered some helpful ideas-- such as a growing heap inside the garden walls that is a compost pile but you grow, for example , summer squash out of it. Additives, ground covers, worm composting with and with special worm bins. Different styles of composting for different plants -- I got lost here.
LOTS of composting ideas here - lots of different styles of composting structural designs, compost tools--get ready to deeply immerse in details. Too many choices for me!
Still, I gathered some helpful ideas-- such as a growing heap inside the garden walls that is a compost pile but you grow, for example , summer squash out of it. Additives, ground covers, worm composting with and with special worm bins. Different styles of composting for different plants -- I got lost here.
LOTS of composting ideas here - lots of different styles of composting structural designs, compost tools--get ready to deeply immerse in details. Too many choices for me!
December 20, 2010
I found this book lying around the house and spent several weeks flipping through it. The author's tone is relentlessly cheery, to the point where I found it a bit annoying. There are many beautiful illustrations, and probably some good information in there somewhere, but every time I went looking for answers to a particular question I couldn't find what I needed. Basically, I didn't feel that it was organized in a useful way, but it might be good for someone wanting an overview and introduction without too much technical information.
February 17, 2011
This was a wonderful look at the very many ways to compost (worms, bins, tumblers, pit composting, etc). The very plentiful photographs were illuminating, the writing descriptive and encouraging, and the authors enthusiastic. It would be perfect for anyone new to composting. I however was hoping for a bit more technical information about ratios of browns and greens (this was just touched on) and more detail about compost trouble shooting, Ph levels, etc. Overall it was still a worthy read and I'm sure my heaps will appreciate it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews