Compost

paper, 106 p., $9.95

If you ever wanted to start a compost pile, this book is for you.

Number eight in Rodale's Organic Gardening Basics series, Compost is an informative, quick and enjoyable read, summing up composting in just about 100 well-illustrated pages. Color photographs provide sharp visual identification of essential tools, ingredients, insects and the finished product. Other information in this book ranges from facts to quick tips, useful charts and a glossary of composting terms.

I especially liked the chart "Who Lives Where." This illustration shows where key decomposers, such as various insects and spiders, live in a compost pile. Once you get your pile going, check out who's who in the material breakdown world. It's fascinating!

— Alana Mezo