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.