1. Introduction

What Is Compost?

Why Should Everyone Compost

Myths About Composting

Definitions

2. The Role of Compost in Soil

Benefits of Composting

The Microorganism Myth

What Is Soil Health?

What Is Soil?

Plant Nutrients

Tilling

Mulching

3. The Science of Composting

The Reality of Composting

The Hot Composting Process

Understanding Microbes

The Role of Macroorganisms

What Role Do Worms Play?

Heat Kills Pathogens

Heat Kills Weed Seeds

How Long Does It Take?

The Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio

Cold vs Medium vs Hot

Chemical Properties of Compost

Loss of Plant Nutrients

Humus

When Is Compost Ready?

4. Compostable Material

Good Composting Material

Controversial Composting Material

Bad Composting Material

5. Managing the Composting Process
Location

Storing Input Ingredients

Air

Water

Turning

Shred Input Material

The Curing Stage

Using Activators

Nitrogen Sources

Winter Time

Two Is Better than One

Speeding Up the Process

Keep Animals Out

Keep Out Insects

Troubleshooting

Selecting the Right Composting System

6. Piles, Bins, and Tumblers

Simple Piles

Bins and Boxes

Wire Cage

Plastic Garden Composter

Tumblers and Rotating Drums (Barrels)

Food Waste Digester

Windrow Composting

Sheet Composting

7. Easy Composting

Cut and Drop Method

Leaf Mold

Pit and Trench Composting

Keyhole Composting

Electric Composters (Food Digesters)

8. Vermicomposting

Understanding Worms

What Is Vermicompost?

Selecting the Right Worms

Worm Bins

Worm Food

Bedding Material

Caring for Your Pets

Troubleshooting

Harvest Castings

Using Vermicompost

Vermicompost Tea

Is Vermicompost Special?

9. Bokashi Composting

The Fermentation Process

Fermentation vs Composting

The Bokashi Method

The Power of Effective Microbes (EM)

Brew Your Own EM Microbes

Making Bokashi Bran

Using Bokashi Leachate (Tea)

Using Bokashi Ferment

Soil Factory Using Bokashi Ferment

Pros and Cons of Bokashi

10. Eco-enzyme (Garbage Enzymes)

What is Eco-enzyme?

Making Eco-enzyme

Using Eco-enzyme Tea

Using Eco-enzyme Ferment

11. Buying Compost

Municipal Compost

Biosolids (Sewage Sludge)

Mushroom Compost

12. Compost Tea

Types of Compost

Claimed Benefits of Compost Tea

What Does the Science Say

13. Selecting the Best Composting Method

Environmental Concerns

Mixing Composting Methods

14. Using Compost

When Is Compost Finished?

Should You Sift Compost?

Mulching vs Burying

Beware of High Carbon Compost

Is Compost Safe for Vegetables?

Amending Potting Soil

Can You Use Too Much Compost?

Storing Compost

When Is the Best Time to Use Compost?

Can Compost Make You Sick?

Epilogue: Beware of Garden Myths

Endnotes

Index

About the Author

Also by the Author

About New Society Publishers