At a glance: Well-written by someone who knows what they are talking about, but perhaps tries to cover too much in one book. Best suited to people trying to choose a composting system, but will still provide everything you need to get started.
After reading a series of underwhelming books on composting, I was relieved to come across Nicky Scott’s How to Make and Use Compost: The Ultimate Guide, which was actually pretty well written.
That said, it may not be the best option for everyone. To help you decide if it’s the right book for you, we’ll look at what’s covered in the book, weigh its pros and cons, and compare it to other composting books available.
What’s in the book?
Part 1: How to make compost, why you’d want to and how to use compost. There’s a particulary useful section on choosing the right systems, with tips on how to make your own.
Part 2: An A-Z of composting, which includes both definitions and further guidance.
Part 3: How to compost at scale, as well as composting in schools.
What’s to like?
Experience tells. Nicky Scott’s been working with compost for over 40 years – and in fact her first ever job was working for a compost company. This shows in the nuanced advice she gives. For example, in contrast to some other guides, Nicky argues that it’s possible to feed worms (small amounts) of meat and dairy products.
The book is also a good option for someone trying to choose a composting system, with many systems covered for both large and small scale composting, along with the pros and cons of each one.
Finally, I really like how succinct the writing is – I feel Scott has been able to get key information needed to start composting without overwhelming the reader with realms of text, which makes a great contrast to sometimes overwhelming books like the Rodale Book of Composting.
What’s not to like?
Chances are, if you buy a guide to composting, you are looking for a guide to get started. This book does contain everything you need to do this, but at the same time be aware that this section is only the first 100 pages. Perhaps because of that, some lesser-known methods of composting, such as keyhole gardening, are not covered.
The A-Z section is actually useful, but the format makes it hard to read through all of it. I would have preferred to see this at the end of the book, with some topics (such as the one on manure) incorporated into other parts of the book.
While there are some instructions on how to make DIY compost systems, these are limited compared to those in Michelle Blaz’s book Composting for a New Generation, which also includes better-illustrated instructions.
Verdict
How to Make and Use Compost provides a succinct introduction to composting, and you could certainly start composting with the information provided, but it’s not quite an ultimate guide. In fact, it may have done itself a disservice in some ways in trying to be something to everyone.
If you really want to compost at a large scale, the chapter on large-scale systems isn’t going to be enough. By leaving this out, Nicky could have provided a more comprehensive guide to general composting.
That said, I think this book would be a good option for a person who wants to explore different composting options, especially if they are considering larger scale, community or school composting.
However, if you just want to get started composting, and especially if you are interested in different composting projects, I’d recommend Composting for a New Generation instead. If you’re purely interested in vermicomposting I’d suggest reading Worms Eat My Garbage.
At the other end of the scale, if you’re looking for a really comprehensive book on composting, with multiple methods, history, science and more, I’d suggest the Rodale Book of Composting, perhaps paired with The Humanure Handbook.