At a glance: Compost and Worm Farming has the advantage of being essentially two books in one. However, it’s let down by a lack of images and illustrated plans. While it is more than enough to get you started, there’s better options out there.
One of my aims this year is to add more book reviews, to help composters get started. It’s been a frustrating start so far, as several of the books I’ve read have struggled to match the quality I’ve been hoping for.
Composting and Worm Farming: All You Need to Know About Creating an Organic Compost, Vermiculture, Vermicomposting, and Making Worm Bins by Diane Ross is one example, and while it might be worth getting if you have Kindle Unlimited, there are better options available if you are going to pay for a book.
What’s to like?
Most composting books deal with regular composting or vermicomposting. If a regular composting book does cover worms, the vermicomposting section is usually pretty short.
With Compost and Worm Farming, you essentially get two books in one – the first dealing with how to compost in the garden, and the second with vermicomposting.
While the book doesn’t cover every possible permutation of composting, it’s still fairly comprehensive, delivering everything from a grounding in compost science to the process of making it. As I mention below, there is the odd piece of advice I disagree with, but otherwise the book is generally accurate, and following the instructions will get you composting without a problem.
What’s not to like?
One of the biggest flaws with this book is the lack of images. The occasional image, mostly sourced from free stock photo sites, are just insufficient. While the book could do with more pictures throughout, the shortcoming is most noticeable when it comes to DIY instructions.
I also had the odd quibble with the information the book presented. For example, I completely disagree with the statement that an electric composter can make compost in two weeks – there is no system available which can produce matured, ready-to-use compost in this time frame.
Occasionally, the writer makes the composting process more difficult than it needs to be. In one part, she states that for a hot composting system you need to turn the compost every 3-5 days. For comparison, I turn my compost once, despite following a hot composting system. (Bulking agents, which are not covered in-depth, are key to this.)
A final annoyance was occasional repetition. For example, vermicomposting is given a small section in the first part of the book, despite the fact that the whole of the second half is dedicated to it, while for some reason compost tumblers reappear in the vermicomposting section. (Compost tumblers, by the way, are first called the most effective way to compost, while later on a study is cited saying that they take longer than regular composting.)
Verdict
I feel like I’ve been fairly harsh with this book. The truth is, despite its imperfections, you could easily get started with composting (or vermicomposting) with this book alone.
However, there are simply better books out there. Nicky Scott’s Composting for a New Generation is the best all-round resource, Worms Eat My Garbage is a better option for people interested in vermicomposting and the Roedale Book of Compost is a good option for people who want to get a bit deeper into composting.