Let it Rot!. The Gardener's Guide to Composting Third Edition Storey's Down to Earth Guides

Customer Reviews

The classic book!

2008-05-31
I have never tried composting before, so I wanted the big picture. I researched online and this seems to be the undisputed classic book on the subject. It seems to tell ALL you need to know to manage your composting, and in as few words as possible.

Beginning Composters (this is a must have!)

2008-05-24
This book is a quick crash course on composting. I learned things about composting that I never new before. The other great thing, it is an easy to read book! Totally satisfied!

Stinky subject good book!

2008-05-19
I bought this for my husband as he went crazy on composting. I read it as well. And it provided more info. A must read for anyone wanting to start or even seasoned rotters. Good book to leave on the table gets lots of funny looks

Creating the best garden ever starts at the bottom

2008-02-11
Composting, in case you aren't terribly familiar with it yet, is simply the practice of allowing waste matter to rot and decompose until it's fit to be tilled right into the soil. However, while the basic concept is as old as mother nature and often very easy to execute, it also helps to know more about it. What materials should you compost, and which should you avoid? Do you have to worry about animals or flies in your compost? How do you make sure your compost will turn into dirt and not a slimy, stinky sludge?

While nearly every gardening book these days has a section on composting and most of these are enough to get you by, Stu Campbell's Let It Rot! is an entertaining, folksy and in-depth take on the art that will see you through nearly any foreseeable difficulty. I was certainly able to successfully compost with the simpler directions in other books, but there's information in here I wish I'd had back when I first started. For instance, now I know the cobweb-like stuff that I feared was mold was the natural activity of Actinomycetes, a part-bacteria, part-fungus organism that aids decomposition in certain parts of a compost pile.

Mr. Campbell's book also introduces a great many different types of compost piles and composters that you can use, depending on what you're trying to accomplish, what area you have to work with, or what you're trying to decompose. He also suggests many ways to use compost in and around your garden, and how to get the most out of it. I'm glad I picked up Mr. Campbell's book, because I learned an incredible amount of new material!

Let it Rot book

2008-01-07
Great book for those who have a compost system going. We are on Cape Cod and recycle everything! This book tells us how to compost everything.

Fun and Informative!

2008-01-01
In 1975, Let it Rot! helped start the composting movement and taught gardeners everywhere how to recycle waste to create soil-nourishing compost. Contains advice for starting and maintaining a composting system, building bins, and using compost. Third Edition. 267,000 copies in print.

A great start 2007-11-02
I very much enjoyed this book because it laid out the basics for the beginner, explained a small bit of the science, gave the list of do's and don'ts, and didn't get too technical for me. I really wanted to begin composting and had no idea where to start because there were so many options. This book helped me decide which was the best of the choices for my lifestyle, yard size, and abilities. Well worth it for the beginner looking for information.

Easy Guide to Composting 2007-07-21
If people are still buying it after all these years one would think it of value.

Let it Rot! 2007-01-20
This was a christmas present which he has alot of enjoyment reading.

Good basic information 2005-07-16
Sadly, composting has a bit of a bad reputation some places. Many people imagine that you have to wear Birkenstocks and take part in anti-globalization marches, grow your facial hair and bathe infrequently to compost. Nothing could be farther from the truth!
According to most gardeing experts, amending one's soil is just about the most important thing one can do to ensure the health and beauty of a garden. Composting can be an inexpensive, quick and simple way to improve the soil, and it cuts down on the waste taken off to garbage dumps.
Let it Rot! Gives clear, well-written help on understanding how composting works, how you can set up your own composting system, and pitfalls to avoid. After you follow the instructions and see your garden blossom as never before, you'll understand: You don't need to be a hippy to compost your scraps!