The Urban/Suburban Composter: The Complete Guide to Backyard, Balcony, and Apartment Composting

Cullen ( A Greener Thumb--The Complete Guide to Gardening in Canada ) and Johnson ( Green Future: How to Make a World of Difference ), both Canadians, recommend composting as a way to reduce one's contribution to the global garbage overflow, and also as a means of simply, safely and effectively enriching what soil you have, even if you are a city dweller. They discuss the basic composting process, in which microorganisms break down organic waste with the help of water and oxygen, releasing energy; then survey assorted variations on the theme, from indoor composting, carried out with the aid of worms in some northerly places, to the pest-proofing of compost bins with wire mesh. Along with diagrams, dimensions and instructions, the authors provide bits of information that are less expected--George Washington favored composting, for instance--in addition to a glossary and source list. (Feb.)