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Compost After Reading: A Practical Manifesto for Purposeful Decomposition

by Cassandra Marketos

Composting as practice and perspective

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AlbakiReads Editorial

Composting as practice and perspective

Cassandra Marketos pairs practical composting guidance with a broader look at what decomposition means in everyday life and in conversations about waste. The book covers how compost works, choosing a setup and location, building a pile, and sourcing materials. Its scope includes small-space methods, worm composting, managing odors and insects, and adjusting a pile for colder weather. The guide also addresses materials that are often assumed unsuitable for composting, while noting that some should be left out. With advice for different experience levels and illustrations by Sludge Thunder, it connects the hands-on work of composting to questions of community, culture, and zero waste. The publisher describes the paperback itself as compostable.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Beginners seeking guidance on starting a compost setup
  • Experienced composters interested in troubleshooting and seasonal adjustments
  • Readers curious about composting’s connection to waste and community

Themes

Composting and soil healthDecompositionWaste reduction and zero wasteComposting in small spacesCommunity and culture

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

Get started on your composting journey with this practical, accessible, and fun guide to reducing your waste--including this book when you finish reading!

Composting is so much more than just transforming food into soil; it is deeply existential, radical, and soul-opening. And no, it's not just for gardeners. You can compost in a bowl on your kitchen counter, or a bag under your sink, and you can compost things you're told you can't (although there are some things you probably shouldn't). Everyone can compost. And even if you're not going to compost at all, knowing about compost is engaging with a dialogue about zero waste.

With wry and brilliant writing, ​Cassanda Marketos brings the culture, beauty, community, and philosophy of compost to life in this one-of-a-kind, inventive work of narrative nonfiction that brings compost out of the dark ages and into the contemporary moment. Delightfully philosophical and inviting, it is an accessible guide to everything you need to know about compost, with actionable advice for beginners and experienced composters. You will learn why compost works, where to put your compost, how to pick your compost set up, the basics of decomposition, what to put in a compost pile, where to source your compost materials, and how to build a pile. With insights on what tools to consider, how to deal with odors, insects, and other critters, and transitioning your compost pile for colder weather, find easy-to-follow compost pile designs, tips on composting in small spaces, composting with worms, and how to compost things you're always told you can't (you just need to know how).

This book has something for everyone, at any stage in their compost journey, and includes edgy, delightful illustrations by the artist Sludge Thunder throughout. And ... it's literally compostable. Read it, follow the advice, and toss it into your compost pile.
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