Let It Rot!: The Gardener's Guide to Composting (Third Edition) (Storey's Down-To-Earth Guides)

Let me begin by saying that I am new to composting, I have only read a few online articles about composting and how to build composting bins, but they still left me with unanswered questions. I have to admit that this book got me hooked and that I read through it about four days and almost all my questions about composting got answered in just the right amount of details where it wasn't extremely scientific nor was it overly simplistic.I mainly bought this book because I am interested in building my own composting bin because I just don't have the space to build huge piles of compost... and I don't think my neighbors would think much of that as well. After reading through the entire book, I went back and got a piece of paper and jotted down all the key points within the book from pile composition, compostable material, building composting piles and bins, turning piles, and carbon and nitrogen content. I now have everything I need to go out and get the materials necessary to start my own composting bin... and should my efforts turn out to be a success, I will try my best to convince as many people as possible to build their own.Even though I am only, currently, interested in building a composting bin (maybe even two), the book generally discusses dimensions and other details relating to compost piles and less for bin composters.The Author generally uses simple and understandable language that even the new gardener can understand and apply. For anyone who is considering following the composting steps in the book, rest assured that most, if not all, the materials required are easily attainable almost anywhere.Overall a great and straightforward guide to composting taking you through everything that you will need to know to start you own composting pile or bin.02 Sept 2011 Update:--------------------I have already created my very own composting bin out of a plastic bin which I drilled holes into for better air flow and raised it on three cider blocks as suggested in the book and I have to say that the results after about 5 - 6 weeks have been very pleasing! The only problem I have now is that I bought too big a bin and the amount of kitchen waste is not enough to fill it anytime soon!!I have found that composting is even simpler than I had initially imagined and the smell everyone was warning me about is actually not that bad even when I open the bin!

Really great information for someone with no background on composting. Easy to read, it's a great read, and it was really informative

Has some good information, not as much as I was hoping for, light & easy read.

Composting, in case you aren't terribly familiar with it yet, is simply the practice of allowing waste matter to rot and decompose until it's fit to be tilled right into the soil. However, while the basic concept is as old as mother nature and often very easy to execute, it also helps to know more about it. What materials should you compost, and which should you avoid? Do you have to worry about animals or flies in your compost? How do you make sure your compost will turn into dirt and not a slimy, stinky sludge?While nearly every gardening book these days has a section on composting and most of these are enough to get you by, Stu Campbell's Let It Rot! is an entertaining, folksy and in-depth take on the art that will see you through nearly any foreseeable difficulty. I was certainly able to successfully compost with the simpler directions in other books, but there's information in here I wish I'd had back when I first started. For instance, now I know the cobweb-like stuff that I feared was mold was the natural activity of Actinomycetes, a part-bacteria, part-fungus organism that aids decomposition in certain parts of a compost pile.Mr. Campbell's book also introduces a great many different types of compost piles and composters that you can use, depending on what you're trying to accomplish, what area you have to work with, or what you're trying to decompose. He also suggests many ways to use compost in and around your garden, and how to get the most out of it. I'm glad I picked up Mr. Campbell's book, because I learned an incredible amount of new material!

A must have if you don't know how to gardening.

The problem with this book is that it's old-school to the point where you can tell it's seen multiple modest revisions over the years. That aside, it really is a composting for dummies kind of thing in that you'll likely get more out of the humor than the actual science of it. If you're anything like me, you're approaching this book with some research already under your belt. Also, if you're buying a tumbling composter or using something other than a simple pile in your backyard, the instructions that came with your unit likely provide all of the instruction needed.Seriously, composting is simple. No meats, no dairy, keep the brown to green ratio in the non-stinky zone, and wait.

I haven't even finished yet (30 pages left), but when I logged in and saw I could review this book, I had to say Something.Most of the gardening books I have been reading lately (Square Foot Gardening in particular) have been Extremely boring, lacking detail and repeating the same things over and over, as if most gardeners have a deficient IQ.This book is actually packed with Tons of useful information, and it is Concise, so you aren't reading tons and tons of 'filler' material to make the book 500 pages long.There is a section dedicated to different types of compost bins and the pros/cons of each. There is even one complete instruction set if you were so inclined to follow it. But the rest were high level designs, leaving the details to be determined by the reader (which is perfect because no compost bin will be one-size-fits-all).Stu covered more ways to Activate (heat up) your compost pile that I ever anticipated. Even comparing the benefits and drawbacks of every type of manure you will likely be able to find.I will buy any other book by Stu Campbell, and will certainly consider any book published by Storey's, as they get directly into the material and don't make the reader suffer through repeated information.Fantastic presentation. I would give 6 stars if I could.

Learning about composting, and many good tips and sound advice

Simple and easy to understand

Much to my wife's dismay I found a book solely devoted to compost a very good, informative read - well written and does a very good job of explaining the basics to the complex world of composting - would recommend to any gardeners out there!

コンポストが今一　上手く行かず原理を勉強する積もりでこの本を購入しましたが　今までちまたでコメントされている様な方法ではちゃんとしたコンポスティングは不可能という事が良く解りました。コンポストがちゃんと出来ている人はどのくらい居るのでしょうか？　　　　ここで理解出来たプロセスを元にコンポスト再挑戦です。

Good