Find The Complete Idiot's Guide To Composting Crafted By Chris McLaughlin Shown As E-Text

OK. Good info for beginners or those who haven't actively done composting in decades like me,
Still, it seemed padded with a lot of repetition and extraneous stuff in an effort to make it book length, As the author keeps reminding the reader, it's a simple enough process, They could have covered it all in aboutwidemargin pages if they'd tried, I've been reading a ton of gardening books, preparing for planting season, This was a fun, quick, informative read, Of theorcomposting books I read, I thought this taught the most and had a much more balanced approach, She also was the only one to recommend using a closed container for your kitchen waste as little rodents and big raccoons and skunks might be attracted to your garden and then your home.
I thought that made a lot of sense, And it's what my mom told me to do so that must mean she's right,

The book covers several different methods and the pros and cons of each, including worm farming, There is an extensive list of items you can compost many of which never appeared in other books,

Overall, it was a fascinating read, I kept telling my husband about this tidbit or that and he started responding with, "What You're reading a book about composting I had no idea.
" He might actually buy it for Mother's Day because it is seriously my new favorite book! Great introduction to composting that touches most of the basics.
Minus one star for not really diving into either camp well it never touches on how to compost things like meat and dairy, nor does it teach how to be a hobby composter with things like tumblers.
Funny, informative, cheerful, and encouraging, . . everything I want in a composting guide, Perfect for a complete idiot like me, Gave me the confidence to start composting, A must read for any aspiring gardener that shuns the chemical fertilisers and wants to get into organic farming methods instead, This book will teach you all the basics that are there to know about composting, A worthy read. Not in a million years did I think I would call a howto book about composting AMAZING, But it really inspired me to become a better gardener, I felt like this author was whispering "You can do it!" on every page and although I have no intention of raising worms or rabbits, I read the parts about how to harvest their poo because it was actually pretty interesting.


I already had a compost bin with some stuff in it, but I didn't know how to make it really great, This book makes it so simple, The basics, in case you don't want to read the whole book but you really, really should!:

Compost should be amix of greens grass clippings, vegetable peels, etc.
and browns paper, sticks, dead leaves, It should be moist so water it sometimes, And it needs some air, so turn it over with a pitchfork, And if you don't already have some old compost in there, add a starter like some old compost, dry dog food or human pee,

The best piles are the ones built all at once hot piles, but it's more convenient to just add things as you get them, which is called a warm pile and that's ok too.
Cold piles are ok, too, but that's just organic material you leave to rot for a long time, like a pile of wood or something.


I was also really keen on trying the "lasagna" method described, where you put cardboard, newspapers, grass clippings and dirt down directly on the ground for immediate planting gratification.
I'm trying it right now, It took a bit of work, but probably less work than removing all the weeds and I am patting myself on the back for a improving the soil and b using materials that would have been sent to the dump.


BTW, a friend of mine just spenton mulch this year, Think of the savings if you just use the grass, leaves, newspapers, kitchen scraps and cardboard packaging you already have!

It was great for beginners obviously, it IS an Idiot's Guide.
I did learn a few important tips for working with my red wigglers, and took some notes on how to start my larger composting piles when I get a house.
Overall, it's fairly easy read, and

NOT overly detailed, Composting isn't hard, and people shouldn't be made to feel that way, Chris McLaughlin does a great job giving the facts without overwhelming you with details, Good, solid information on something that's probably best learned as a handson experience, Felt a little padded out with all the alternative methods of composting worms, etc, but still a useful read, It's good. Tells you everything. It really is foolproof. I picked this up from the library when I realized that I had a compost bin in my backyard the previous owners were using it as a trashcan heathens.
This has a lot of good information in it, very downtoearth haha and not at all preachy or scary, I feel much wiser about what I'm throwing into the bin now and we'll see how it goes, Plus, what a great way to use up the quantities of dryer lint and coffee grounds that I always seem to be throwing in the trash!! There are some interesting things you can put in the pile that I never knew about.
It was very good. My compost is looking humusy, The book was good enough that it got me thinking about vermicomposting and getting chicken manure from a neighbor! This is written in easytounderstand terms, covering every aspect, and answering all of my questions before I even know what ones to ask! There is enough humor tossed in to make it enjoyable at the same time it is educating the reader.
Chris McLaughlin offers up several types of composting ideas and breaks them down into easy pieces, . . easy peasy, as I like to say!

My reasons for wanting to learn to compost late in life is partly due to my daughter's example of diligence in maintaining a compost bin, my finally realizing that it is our responsibility to care for our planet, the need to enrich the soil in our backyard, and my quest to "go greener.
" I knew the basic concept, but the details were very simply spelled out in this book, allowing me to at long last get my system in place.

The three chapters on vermicomposting using worms were very interesting and humorous at the same time, Not that I am fond of worms, but I can definitely see the benefits to having those critters munch up my kitchen waste in days, and creating rich castings for my plants.
Ms. McLaughlin even gives tips for overcoming the "Eek" factor by naming your worms, My kind of gal!

I recommend this book and this author to anyone wanting to learn in easytounderstand terms the art and benefits of composting, vermicomposting and mulching.
It could be the only book you would ever want on these subjects!

Disclosure of Material Connection: "I received this book for free from the author and publisher for this review".
I was not required to write a positive review, The opinions I have expressed are my own, Our Giveaways are in no way sponsored or promoted by Facebook, I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission'sCFR, Partlt, . . "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising, " Waste not, want not,

The Complete Idiot's Guider to Composting takes readers step by step through the process of selecting the right compost container, filling it with the right "ingredients," maintaining the mix at the right temperature and humidity, and using the end product.


A concise format, simplified approach, and thriftconscious price Chris McLaughlin

Author is a Master Gardener and an expert on all forms of composting

Gardening has risen greatly in popularity in the last few years, with an added boost from first lady Michelle Obama, and so has composting, which is cheap, effective, and environmentally friendly

Thousands of state, regional, and municipal programs have been developed to encourage composting and thus reduce landfill waste.