Opening Message

We’re excited to share this free primer on compost-making. Open knowledge (CC BY-NC 4.0) resources will evolve as the Holoboint HUB (HH) community provides feedback on possible enhancements, corrections, and expansions.

This Primer will be of particular interest to three groups:

• Backyard gardeners (passionate hobbyists)

• Regenerative producers (small-scale growers)

• Soil enthusiasts (teachers, learners, and advocates)

In this initial version, we address the key principles of active (thermal) composting. We’re starting here because ACTIVE compost can be produced relatively rapidly. Other biological amendments (bioamendments) can also enhance plant and soil health - we appreciate and support diverse strategies. In fact, we utilize other techniques ourselves.

For example, anaerobic (biofermentation) can generate effective bioamendments for direct application (typically with dilution) or use in further compost-making. Likewise, passive composting can be effective in many situations, as can vermicomposting.

Active (AKA ‘hot’) composting is an excellent choice for improving soil health. While the construction, monitoring, and maturation of active compost requires some effort, in most cases, benefits are worth the investment.

It’s important to remember that YOU are at the center of your journey, and our goal is to provide quality information and meaningful ideas to support you. Communities can achieve more together; we invite you to share your composting stories at HH.