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| I have the Rodale Book of Composting, but I am thinking it will scare the hell out of the people I am trying to target.
Basically, I have a couple of my neighbors who have taken interest in my composting activities and I would like to encourage them. For Christmas I would like to give them a book . . . so what are your suggestions? |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| I've not seen a better book on composting than the Rodale book. Most all of the others that I have seen have too much misinformation. |
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- Posted by tiffy_z5_6_can 5/6 (My Page) on Fri, Sep 10, 10 at 8:07
| My suggestion would be to go into your local book store and grab a couple of composting books of the size you would like to give your neighbours. Check out the books and pick the one (s) you want. I know what you mean by 'scare the hell'. I have Rodale's as well but would not give it to someone who's interest is not cemented. There are a few books out there which are smaller and sometimes just as effective in providing the end result. I've given all of mine away over the years since I think they will do better things if not on a shelf collecting dust. Can't remember the names/authors though. So head to the bookstore on a rainy day. :O) |
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- Posted by nancyjane_gardener USDA 8ish No CA (My Page) on Fri, Sep 10, 10 at 23:28
| "Let it rot" . I don't know the author (lent it to my neighbor) It's easy to read and interesting. Very good for the beginner. |
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| I'm not sure what others thought was scary about the Rodale book on composting. Stephen King's "The Tommyknocker" was scary, but I've never thought of compost as scary. Well, if my neighbor had a compost heap and was also a serial killer, that might be a scary compost heap. I was going to look thorough copy to see what was scary about it, but I can't find it right now. I bought it when it first came out, which must have been nearly 20 years ago. They update their books regularly, so I'm sure it's still up to date, though I don't know if a lot has changed about rotting in the past 20 years. It has lots of information about about composting, including the history of using compost for sustainable and renewal agriculture. You don't have to memorize the entire book. It is broken down into chapters, so if you don't like worms, you can skip that chapter. If you aren't interested in large scale municipal composting, you can skip it. Although not many people are directly involved in large scale municipal composting, I think that chapter helped inform voters over the last 20 year, who have then encouraged their local governments to adopt composting programs for municipal green waste, rather than filling up their landfills with leaves and grass clippings. Chapter 3 might be a little scary if you misunderstood the title of the chapter, "Life inside a Compost Heap". As fond as I am of my compost heap, I would not want to live in it. My wife has sometime questioned how much time I spend with my compost heap. ;-) Joking aside, I was a biology major in college and grew up farming, so I was likely more fond of the Rodale book than some casual gardeners might be. I've never read the book "Let it Rot", but I looked through the preview on Google (link below), and it looks like a really good book for beginners. I'm going to get a copy of it to have to give converts. When it comes to green environmental concerns, I'm sort of like the Gideons, I like to have a few cheap used copies of my favorite green books to give away to new converts. When I was in high school during Vietnam/Cold War, I read Albert Howard's 1940's book An Agricultural Testament, which was one of the early great books on sustainable agriculture. I was also reading about Buddhism at that time, when much like now it seemed the world was going to sh**, ahh – umm - manure. Composting looked like one easy way to make the world a better place and reduce suffering in the world around us. The "Let is Rot" looks like a great place to start, sort of like "World Book Encylopedia" of compost, where the "The Rodale Book of Composting" is more like the "Encylopedia Britanica" of compost. For an example of what I mean, "The Rodale Book of Composting" has a chapter on Vermiculture, while "Let it Rot" has a paragraph about worms in a compost pile. If you are already composting and want to understand more about what is going on in the pile, then start with "The Rodale Book of Composting". It you are just starting and don't have a compost pile, you should start with "Let it Rot", and then move on to the Rodale book if you want to know more. The two links below to Google Books will allow you to read the first several pages of both books for free. From Amazon's used book partners, you can get the Rodale Composting books for $6 including shipping, and $8 for "Let is Rot". Both books for only $15 is a steal. =============================== Google Preview link: (more pages than Amazon's preview) =============================== The Rodale Book of Composting: Easy Methods for Every Gardener Google Preview Link: (more pages than Amazon's preview) ================================= |
Here is a link that might be useful: The Rodale Book of Composting: Easy Methods for Every Gardener
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| I would suggest reading a number of short articles on composting rather than trying to find a book to your liking. While I have found some (IMHO) mistakes in books, most of the problems seem to be with misplaced emphasis. For example, one type of composting system is encouraged, rather than a overview of how to select the best composting system in view of resources and needs.
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| RobertZ6, You're right. I tend to get a bit excited about compost, but many people may not want to read an entire book about it. Below are 3 different short PDF files from cooperative extension offices in different states. They all give you the basics in a 5 to 10 pages each. http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/pdf/ag-467.pdf http://cwmi.css.cornell.edu/compostbrochure.pdf http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/ho/ho75/ho75.pdf Greg |
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| "Easy Composting" by Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a good starter book. My paperback was about ten bucks as I remember. |
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- Posted by albert_135 (My Page) on Mon, Dec 13, 10 at 16:54
Oops. I see someone has already suggested Google books. I understand the caution about Rodale. I once bought a book from them and throughout the entire book "cation" and "anion" had been reversed. Every instance! |
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| This is my favorite. Now out of print but available at the link. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Organic Gardener's Composting by Steve Solomon
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- Posted by nygardener z6 New York (My Page) on Mon, Dec 13, 10 at 21:53
| I don't know whether Compost This Book is any good, but I like the title. |
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| I have this one: http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Compost-Gardening-Guide-techniques/dp/1 580177026/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292337902&sr=1-1 and I'm surprised to see it got such good reviews. It was lying around the house -- I don't know where it came from. I didn't have time/attention to sit down and read it cover to cover, but every time I wanted to look something up in it, I couldn't find it. It's very chipper and chatty, though, so it might be good for the curious neighbors if they aren't super analytical. It's got nice photos. |
Here is a link that might be useful: The Complete Compost Gardening Guide
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| I'd suggest hitting the library. Check out several books and see which you think are most appropriate. Karen |
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- Posted by joepyeweed (My Page) on Wed, Dec 15, 10 at 20:25
| I think the FAQ section at the top of this forum is pretty good basics for beginners. Print those sections out, make copies, staple and deliver... |
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- Posted by burra_maluca (My Page) on Fri, Dec 17, 10 at 5:59
| I picked up a copy of 'All About Compost' a few years ago in a charity shop for next to nothing. It's thin. It has colourful, pretty pictures. It has a high 'feel good' factor build into it. And it covers the basics pretty well. Great for kids and curious neighbours. |
Here is a link that might be useful: All About Compost
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| I agree that articles and pamphlets are more likely to help with generating initial interest and you won't be out much money if any. If a neighbor asks for more info after reading an article or pamphlet then you know that the process of conversion has begun. That said, I bought the Rodale book knowing next to nothing and having very minimal science education and found it to be an interesting and pleasant read and wasn't intimidated by it. The Complete Compost Guide is good for those who like photos and it makes composting look downright cute. Definitely do not start with the Humanure Handbook if you do not wish to scare the neighbors. |
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| All of the Great books of Gardening from Rodale Press, have something on composting. But the easy read is "...make compost in 14 days" from Rodale Press. Do not know if you can buy it. Mine came with a renewal of the magazine. Well, I gave 2 copies away, but use my copy to help anyone who will stand still & listen to my rant. You could just tell them what you did & help them set up a site for composting. Sorry, I am loosing my head, but really I love helping people get started in a compost pile. Even gave them some starter, so the bugs can get to work. Home schoolers love the project & Boy/girl scouts,too. |
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