By Guest, 2012.

We've talked about the science of composting here before. Good compost adds invaluable nutrients to your garden but it also plays a larger role in making your community and this planet a healthier place.

Did you know that International Composting Awareness Week is celebrated annually in May? Most people don't. Let's take a look at how composting makes a difference beyond your front door, hopefully by next May awareness will be up significantly.

According to Earth 911, the average American home throws away 1.3 pounds of food scraps every day. When these scraps go into landfills, they take longer to decompose and take up valuable land resources. You may not be ready to start composting, but you don't have to contribute to the problem!

Your waste disposal service may actually be able to help. Oregon has a commercial compost facility capable of processing traditional compost materials as well as meat, dairy products and non-vegetative food waste. Since the facility opened, the community (including homes and businesses) have doubled the quantity of food waste recycled. Restaurants are increasingly participating in composting pick up programs, as they are able to significantly reduce their waste disposal costs while positively impacting the environment. Restaurants with a focus on providing locally-sourced produce tend to be the leaders among this trend, creating a more sustainable marketplace with a smaller carbon footprint.

There are plenty of myths associated with composting and they can only be dispelled through education. The most common myth regarding composting is the odor issue. If you don’t use animal scraps (meat and dairy) in your compost pile and you maintain it properly, it won’t smell. Another common excuse for non-composters is a fear it will attract unwanted animals to your yard. Again, if you avoid animal scraps and keep up with maintenance, you won't have a worry! For those concerned about time commitments - bin or barrel composting is far less labor intensive than a pile and just as effective.

Composting doesn't end with food. Organic waste which also includes leaves, grass clippings and other yard waste can make up as much as 25% of the waste stream. By adding these items to your compost pile, or separating them for organic waste pickup (if available in your area) you can significantly improve the waste stream in your community. Don't be afraid to encourage your friends and neighbors to go greener - whether you can offer to accept their composting materials, help them start their own compost project, or rally together to improve your area's waste management practices.

If you have pets, you can also compost their waste, though it's a separate process from your standard household composting. Improperly disposed of dog waste can get into storm drains and if the storm drains do not connect to a treatment facility, the waste ends up in lakes and streams. Composted pet waste won't ever help your garden, but it will help to save the environment — and keep you from stepping in it in the yard!

Composting can make such a big difference, if everyone would just pitch in a little bit. So don't be afraid to speak up for composters everywhere and perhaps you'll find a few new recruits!

Home Growing – Your Complete Guide to Growing Vegetables, Fruits and Herbs

by Consultant Editor Edwin F. Steffek St Martins Press, 1977.

This absolutely gorgeous 9 ¼” by 12” coffee-table book is a practical guide to productive gardening. It’s filled with inspiring photographs and helpful drawings. Vegetables, fruits, and herbs are organized in alphabetical order, and the book also contains short sections at the end that cover tools, improving the soil, composting, pests and diseases, among others. It’s a delightful combination of practical advice and inspiring photography.

Unfortunately, only a handful of used copies (in the $20 - $40 range) are available on Amazon.com.

Composting – The Cheap and Natural Way to Make Your Garden Grow by Dick Kitto

By Thorsons Publishers Limited, Wellingsborough, Northamptonshire (England), 1978.

This may be the first book on gardening that I ever read; it convinced me that composting wasn’t so mysterious and that anyone could do it by following a few simple rules. A relatively short book (only 88 pages long), it is, nevertheless, a complete guide to the process of composting, and contains lots of useful drawings.

Unfortunately, a recent search on Amazon.com indicates that a mere 2 copies are currently available for sale, in the $8.00 to $9.00 price range.

The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible

By Edward C. Smith

The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible published by Storey Books in 2000, is a lavishly well illustrated complete guide to … you guessed it … vegetable gardening. This book contains a wealth of information on vegetable gardening, including a great guide to composting and practical advice on how to deal with insects and other garden pests. Mr. Smith’s witty introductions to each vegetable category are delightful, and the book is well indexed, so you can easily find exactly what you need to know. At just over 300 pages, the 8 ½ by 10 ¾ paperback book is the perfect season-long guide to good gardening.

This easily obtainable book is a wonderful addition to any gardener’s library. It costs less than $16 and has received 67 5-star reviews (from a total of 75 reviews) on Amazon.

Photographing Your Garden

By David Bjurstrom, Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 2003.

Mr. Bjurstrom, the primary rose and garden photographer for Jackson and Perkins for more than a decade, has created one of the most beautiful books on garden photography that I have ever seen. Of course, it’s loaded with outstanding garden photography, as well as tips on how to take better pictures. It is not intended to help you create more beautiful flowers or more appealing vegetables; but, if you enjoy taking pictures of your gardens, this book will make you a better photographer. And, it just might inspire you to be a better gardener in the process.

As of this writing, there were 37 copies available on Amazon, 12 copies on Barnes & Noble, and one on eBay. Maybe it’ll be a collector’s item! The good news is, if you act fast, you can add this book to your library for less than 5 or 10 bucks.

Home Growing – Your Complete Guide to Growing Vegetables, Fruits and Herbs

By Consultant Editor Edwin F. Steffek St Martins Press, 1977.

This absolutely gorgeous 9 ¼” by 12” coffee-table book is a practical guide to productive gardening. It’s filled with inspiring photographs and helpful drawings. Vegetables, fruits, and herbs are organized in alphabetical order, and the book also contains short sections at the end that cover tools, improving the soil, composting, pests and diseases, among others. It’s a delightful combination of practical advice and inspiring photography.

Unfortunately, only a handful of used copies (in the $20 - $40 range) are available on Amazon.com.

Plants of the Bible and How to Grow Them

By Allan A. Swenson, A Birch Lane Press Book
Published by Carol Publishing Group, 1994.

This book is about flowers, vegetables, herbs, and trees mentioned in the Bible, and how to grow them. With more than 40 excerpts from the bible (King James Version), Swenson delves into the various plants mentioned in scripture. The author describes how the various plants were used in ancient times, and provides useful information on how to grow and enjoy them now. Similar to a text book or historical account, the book contains both color and black and white photography of the various plants as well as line drawings for suggested “Biblical Gardens.” Well indexed and containing an extensive list of public gardens that can be visited, this book is a very interesting read for those who might want to add a spiritual dimension to their gardening.

Widely available, new and used editions are available on Amazon, ranging in price from $7.00  to $12.69.

Plants of the Bible and How to Grow Them

By Allan A. Swenson, A Birch Lane Press Book
Published by Carol Publishing Group, 1994.

This book is about flowers, vegetables, herbs, and trees mentioned in the Bible, and how to grow them. With more than 40 excerpts from the bible (King James Version), Swenson delves into the various plants mentioned in scripture. The author describes how the various plants were used in ancient times, and provides useful information on how to grow and enjoy them now. Similar to a text book or historical account, the book contains both color and black and white photography of the various plants as well as line drawings for suggested “Biblical Gardens.” Well indexed and containing an extensive list of public gardens that can be visited, this book is a very interesting read for those who might want to add a spiritual dimension to their gardening.

Widely available, new and used editions are available on Amazon, ranging in price from $7.00  to $12.69.

Easy Compost Book

The secret to great soil and spectacular plants. 112-page guide includes essential composting tips, what to put into the pile, how best to use compost, etc.

Let It Rot!: The Gardener’s Guide to Composting

(Third Edition) (Storey’s Down-to-Earth Guides), by Stu Campbell, which costs $7.00 to $10.00

The Rodale Book of Composting: Easy Methods for Every Gardener

by Grace Gershuny and Deborah L. Martin, ranging in price from $9.00 to $15.00.

Small & Container Gardening

Everything you need to know about planning,designing,planting and embellishing a small garden.

Country Living Gardener A Blessing of Toads: A Gardener's Guide to Living with Nature

Since the very first issue of Country Living Gardener, writer, artist and naturalist Sharon Lovejoy has created the award-winning “Heart’s Ease” column for the magazine. Through this collection of delightful essays and beautiful illustrations, she shares with her readers the boundless joys of a country garden. Lovejoy has chosen to focus on animal life in the garden, including hummingbirds, caterpillars, and dragonflies, but her informative and witty prose also covers traditional plant care. The very titles of her sketches convey pleasure in the vibrant country landscape and the life that teems within it.

The Flower Gardener's Bible: Time-Tested Techniques, Creative Designs, and Perfect Plants for Colorful Gardens

Although there are entire books devoted to any one of the many subjects covered in the Hills' "bible," comprehensive resources that provide a thorough overview of essential gardening topics are always welcome. Using their practical experiences as hands-on amateur gardeners, the Hills share techniques they find most useful, tips they feel most helpful, and treasured plants they think most reliable for successful flower gardens. Whether sowing seeds in spring or protecting tender roses for winter, fundamental aspects of garden planning, planting, culture, and care are covered, thus making them accessible, especially to those newly bitten by the gardening bug.