Compost City Practical Composting Know-How for Small-Space Living

The ultimate guide to individual- and community-scale composting in small urban spaces—with illustrations, expert tips, fun DIY projects, and much more
 
These days, everyone’s talking about compost.

Along with backyard chickeners, balcony beekeepers, rooftop farmers, and community gardeners, urban composters are part of a bumper crop of pioneers who are redefining the green space of crowded towns and cities.

You may think you need a big yard to compost. Think again. Compost City teaches you how to easily choose and care for a compost system that fits perfectly into your (tiny) space, (busy) schedule, and (multifaceted) lifestyle.

Whether you live in a cramped apartment or a sprawling town house, or you dream of composting in a shared space with a group of friends or colleagues, Compost City provides simple and effective indoor and outdoor composting options. Packed with research, expert testimonies, and a healthy dose of humor, this guide will help you:

• Compost your food scraps and yard waste with ease

• Ease your fears of backbreaking labor, obnoxious odors, big messes, and creepy crawlies (hint: you can compost successfully without any of the above!)

• Convince compost-wary family, friends, neighbors, and community leaders to green-light your compost dreams

Compost City serves all eco-curious citizens from casual hobbyists to staunch activists. So put your compost cap on. Whether you compost one tea bag or whole honking barrelfuls of scraps at a time, you’re about to have a whole lot of fun.

REBECCA LOUIE, a certified Master Composter, is also a journalist, beekeeper, and friend to all worms. She divides her time between New York City and the Catskill Mountains. To learn more about Rebecca and her work, please visit rebeccalouie.com and thecompostess.com.

Contents
 
Preface
…in which a long lost friend returns in a puff of compost magic.                 
 
1. Composting: Yes, You Can
…because you will be wowed by compost’s benefits and overcome your compost fears.                
 
2. What Is Composting?
…or, how intimidating sciencey things become ludicrously accessible and interesting.                  
 
3. The Very Basic Concepts Behind Making Compost
…surprise, it’s not that much work!           
 
4. Outdoor Composting: Above Ground Systems
…holding units, single and multistage bins, and tumblers wow you.          
 
5. Outdoor Composting: Going Underground
…can you dig it? Trenches, digesters, and lasagna composting.                  
 
6. The Wormderful World of Indoor Vermiculture
…embrace the wordplay and get yourself some worms                    
 
7. Bokashi Fermentation
…a pickle you want to get into.                      
 
8. Urban Farmyard
…so many compostable animal poops in the concrete jungle!                    
 
9. Get Organized! Community Composting
…there’s no need to go solo.            
 
10. Join the Green Party: Eco-Taining!
…much less creepy than hiring a clown.                   
 
Resources                                           
Acknowledgments                             
About the Author