Composting Inside and Out

by Davies, Stephanie

• ISBN13: 9781440214059
• ISBN10: 1440214050
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-04-02
• Publisher: Krause Pubns Inc

Summary

Composting Inside and Outs is beneficial to anyone who grows houseplants, maintains a large garden, or participates in community gardening. This practical guide will teach readers why it's important to compost, the many methods of composting and the benefits of turning trash into soil nutrients, including:

Table of Contents

Preface: Inside and Out	p. 8
Introduction	p. 12
Our Trash	p. 14
How landfalls work
Biodegradable: An American myth
Watching our waste
Our Soil	p. 24
Not all soil is the same
Soil health
Humus: The key to soil health
ôIt's alive!ö
Nothing goes to waste
Soil testing
Becoming a Composter	p. 38
Compost rewards
The team approach
Begin at the beginning
The flow of your life
Steps to start
Beneficial Bacteria and Friends	p. 50
The cleaner, the faster, the better?
Diversity yields strength
Let the feast begin
Aerobic decomposition essentials
How the pile heats up
The Carbon: Nitrogen story
The creatures you see in your compost
Composting Outdoors	p. 66
To contain or not to contain?
Choosing a compost container
Outdoor composting options: Bins, tumblers, three-bin systems, digesters, and heaps
Do-it-yourself composters
Composting without equipment
Indoor Composting?	p. 96
Benefits of composting indoors
The nose knows
The perfect pairing
Indoor composting methods: NatureMill, Bokashi, and vermicomposting with worm bins
Worms and Our Soil	p. 114
Types of earthbound worms
Red wigglers inside and out
Worm castings: The black gold of vermiculture
Housing worms
Getting Started With Worms	p. 130
DIY vs. commercial worm bins
Migration bins
Make your own worm bin
Keeping your worms happy, and healthy
Harvesting your castings
Creatures and critters
Protecting your worms from pests
Time away
Sharing The Wealth	p. 150
Finished compost
Become a soil steward
Economy of compost
Enriching soil and plants
Brewing compost tea
Dechlorinated water
Derail the toxic train
Simple composting
Trobleshooting	p. 172
Common problems with outdoor composting
Common problems with simple composting
Common problems with indoor composting
Common problems in a worm bin
Conclusion: The Future Starts Today	p. 188
Resources	p. 190
Index	p. 191
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