Every household generates a lot of waste products, but after separating them for collection there is still a lot left. Why not benefit your garden by putting in a compost heap or bin? For beginners there seem to be a lot of do's and don'ts to take into consideration so it can seem daunting; here is a book which lifts the lid on how to do it properly. This truly is a really good book. I'm no gardener but I am very into green issues and have a garden, so was keen to learn. As gardening does not interest me especially I didn't want to plough through lengthy treatises on the subject, I just wanted what a lot of people want-a greener way of disposing of my waste. To make this book extra user friendly, every page has lots of photographs with captions telling you how, why and what. For example, there are pictures of what to compost, what not to compost, different options on heaps and bins available, how products compost etc. I found I was learning all the basics I needed to know very easily. There is advice on how to use your compost, making a worm bin (at last I know why mine failed!) and "green compost" plants like winter tares to plant for soil benefit. I particularly liked the last section showing alternative ways of using some waste products normally thrown away. such as yoghourt pots, polystyrene packaging, car tires, plastic bottles and lolly sticks. One for my keeper shelf, and one that also got me thinking about why the way the book is written and presented makes it so readable and useful. Maybe now my worm bin might work...-Myshelf.com

Pauline Pears lives in Leamington Spa. She is Head of Knowledge Transfer, and editor of The Organic Way magazine, at Garden Organic. She has been involved in the practice and promotion of organic growing for over 20 years, and is still a passionate organic vegetable grower. She and her husband cultivate two organic allotments, as well as growing fruit and vegetables at home. Pauline has written several other books in this series.

Introduction Why compost What you can compost What you cannot compost Compost containers Compost chart Making compost Making compost in extreme weather conditions Worm compost Leaf mould Shredding How to use compost Plants in containers Comfrey Green manures Other ways to recycle household waste Glossary Index