Compost Science for Gardeners

1. Introduction
What Is Compost?
Why Should Everyone Compost
Myths About Composting
Definitions

2. The Role of Compost in Soil
Benefits of Composting
The Microorganism Myth
What Is Soil Health?
What Is Soil?
Plant Nutrients
Tilling
Mulching

3. The Science of Composting
The Reality of Composting
The Hot Composting Process
Understanding Microbes
The Role of Macroorganisms
What Role Do Worms Play?
Heat Kills Pathogens
Heat Kills Weed Seeds
How Long Does It Take?
The Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio
Cold vs Medium vs Hot
Chemical Properties of Compost
Loss of Plant Nutrients
Humus
When Is Compost Ready?

4. Compostable Material
Good Composting Material
Controversial Composting Material
Bad Composting Material

5. Managing the Composting Process
Location
Storing Input Ingredients
Air
Water
Turning
Shred Input Material
The Curing Stage
Using Activators
Nitrogen Sources
Winter Time
Two Is Better than One
Speeding Up the Process
Keep Animals Out
Keep Out Insects
Troubleshooting
Selecting the Right Composting System

6. Piles, Bins, and Tumblers
Simple Piles
Bins and Boxes
Wire Cage
Plastic Garden Composter
Tumblers and Rotating Drums (Barrels)
Food Waste Digester
Windrow Composting
Sheet Composting

7. Easy Composting
Cut and Drop Method
Leaf Mold
Pit and Trench Composting
Keyhole Composting
Electric Composters (Food Digesters)

8. Vermicomposting
Understanding Worms
What Is Vermicompost?
Selecting the Right Worms
Worm Bins
Worm Food
Bedding Material
Caring for Your Pets
Troubleshooting
Harvest Castings
Using Vermicompost
Vermicompost Tea
Is Vermicompost Special?

9. Bokashi Composting
The Fermentation Process
Fermentation vs Composting
The Bokashi Method
The Power of Effective Microbes (EM)
Brew Your Own EM Microbes
Making Bokashi Bran
Using Bokashi Leachate (Tea)
Using Bokashi Ferment
Soil Factory Using Bokashi Ferment
Pros and Cons of Bokashi

10. Eco-enzyme (Garbage Enzymes)
What is Eco-enzyme?
Making Eco-enzyme
Using Eco-enzyme Tea
Using Eco-enzyme Ferment

11. Buying Compost
Municipal Compost
Biosolids (Sewage Sludge)
Mushroom Compost

12. Compost Tea
Types of Compost
Claimed Benefits of Compost Tea
What Does the Science Say

13. Selecting the Best Composting Method
Environmental Concerns
Mixing Composting Methods

14. Using Compost
When Is Compost Finished?
Should You Sift Compost?
Mulching vs Burying
Beware of High Carbon Compost
Is Compost Safe for Vegetables?
Amending Potting Soil
Can You Use Too Much Compost?
Storing Compost
When Is the Best Time to Use Compost?
Can Compost Make You Sick?

Epilogue: Beware of Garden Myths

Endnotes
Index
About the Author
Also by the Author
About New Society Publishers