The Compost Coach: Make Compost, Build Soil and Grow a Regenerative Garden—Wherever You Live!

Sustainability educator Flood explains in her comprehensive debut guide to composting that the practice “introduces beneficial microbes” that extract minerals from soil and make it more fertile for plants. Expounding on what equipment to use, Flood suggests that Bokashi bins (small, airtight containers) are ideal for apartment-dwellers while wooden bays, or “boxes,” are best for those with large gardens that generate lots of organic waste. She outlines the pros and cons of “slow” vs. “hot” composting, noting that the former, which involves leaving waste to decay over time, is hands-off, but can take up to a year to decompose food scraps, whereas the latter, which involves piling on large amounts of waste at once and then turning over the contents to keep them aerated, requires more work but can produce soil in around six weeks. Accessible explanations of the science illuminate the composting process, as when Flood notes that adding worms to one’s pile helps the composting process because their digestive systems break down food matter into “luscious poo” that attracts bacteria, which help with further decomposition. There’s an abundance of useful tips (proper drainage reduces the smell from compost containers) and the exhaustive list of compostable materials is a boon (citrus slows decomposition, but hair is okay to add). This has everything readers need to get started on their compost pile. (Aug.)