The Compost Coach by Kate Flood

I give this book 9 out of 10 acorns. I hate wasting things so I love composting. But I wasn't expecting a book about composting to be a fun read. Kate's book is both informative AND fun! The colourful pages and the pictures really make the whole book very approachable. Not only are the different methods of composting covered thoroughly, Kate includes guidance on which system is best for which type of garden waste/food scraps. I also enjoyed the Q&A sections with some well-known gardeners. I especially liked the QR codes that lead to short video clips. The interactivity caters to all learning styles and makes for a more engaging read. This is 'one of mom's books' that even children would pick up.

I give this book 9 out of 10 acorns.

The Compost Coach is a really excellent resource for anyone interested in composting (at all levels) in a beautifully put-together book. As someone who has been composting for a while, I wasn’t sure how useful I’d find it, the answer is: extremely useful!

For the novice, there is easy-to-follow, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic coaching for all sorts of compost methods in all kinds of homes -  cold/easy composting, hot, sheet, bokashi, lasagne, in-ground, worm, insulated, and more - for compost enthusiasts with land, without land and everywhere in-between.   The book also covers making your own bins or bays, and discusses the pros and cons of different vessels for anyone starting out or looking to improve their system. It’s a truly inclusive, essential guide that also delves into much more, though, for when you’re ready to dabble further.

For the more advanced composter, these sorts of things are also discussed: recipes for things like fermented plant juice and bokashi flakes; talking about dynamic accumulators, green manures, and more; building a fungi dominant bin from garden materials, and hugelkultur beds and other relevant builds; using humanure, pet poo, and urine; community composting, soil tests, nutrient cycling, compost teas, and extracts; going beyond the greens and browns to include the whites, greys and black, and so much more!

I love love love everything about how this book looks and feels. It’s a pleasure to leaf through with a wonderful use of colour and illustrations for interest, highlights, and ease of information.  I also appreciate the formatting techniques using info boxes, bullet points, numbered lists, tables, and other methods to convey detailed info into digestible, clear, and succinct chunks.  This kind of stuff really makes the book a very useful item that I think I’ll be reaching for frequently.  

The standout Q and A sections scattered throughout the book with other gardening experts (think Charles Dowding and Hannah Moloney etc) who talk about and show how they work with compost on their property are also a lovely highlight. I really enjoyed these, especially the Costa Georgiadis section about community composting and street gardening, for those with limited space themselves.

Kate’s obvious enthusiasm and experience are really infectious and I highly recommend this book to all fellow composters and those keen to give it a try :)

I'm very excited to be here answering everyone's deliciously dirty composting questions this week.

Kate

I am in the process of gaining more knowledge on composting elements, amongst many other permie parts..

These threads, indicating a wonderful book on composting, have come at a perfect time for me

Thanks to all, for highlighting it, and thanks to Kate for putting it together

Tony Grguric wrote:I am in the process of gaining more knowledge on composting elements, amongst many other permie parts..

These threads, indicating a wonderful book on composting, have come at a perfect time for me

Thanks to all, for highlighting it, and thanks to Kate for putting it together

It's a really great book (if I may say so myself) so I hope you get a chance to read it Tony.

Kate