I was recently asked if I wanted to review Charles Dowdings latest book 'Compost - transform waste into new life'. I have been lucky enough to meet Charles and visit his garden way back in September 2020 when going out from being in lockdown was an adventure, a treat and also felt a little like living on the edge. It was a fabulous visit (see blog post here) and it did create changes in how I garden and view gardening.
Yes he is holding a different book here, but it is a nice photo I took on the day so forgive me for reusing it. I did not pay for this book nor have I been paid to write this review. My words and opinions are as always my own.The new book is rather lovely, a nice small A5 ish size that fits neatly into the hand so you can quickly and practically use it for reference. It also is nicely understated in how it is presented. It feels like a book that once you have read it to pieces you can compost it. This feels right, however I would hope you would not be composting it soon!I love the woodcuts by Jonathan Gibbs in the book, they add a simple beauty. Yes there are diagrams and charts too that are really useful; but I like a practical book that is confident enough to include beauty as well.
1 |
In which garden do you feel happiest? |
My own, for beauty and food and familiarity
with plants and layout |
2. |
If you could only have five garden-related
tools, which would they be? |
Wooden long-handled dibber Copper trowel Manure fork Half-moon edger, copper Wheelbarrow |
3. |
If you could only have five garden-related
books, which would they be?
|
Planta Sapiens, Paco Calvo Teaming with Microbes, Jeff Lowenfels Common Sense Compost Making, M.E.Bruce No Work Gardening, Ruth Stout The Secret Life of Plants, P Tomkins and C Bird |
4. |
What was the most defining moment in your life
so far?
|
Filming my first YouTube video in September 2013,
then starting the channel, with No Dig Abundance
It has 1.4 million views, which spiked massively at
6000 during the first week of lockdown in March 2020.
|
5. |
What are you most proud of?
|
Helping so many to feel wellbeing in their gardening and growing |
6. |
If you won the lottery, what would you do?
|
Buy more land and create a garden school |
7. |
Who are your garden heroes (no more than
three)?
|
Ruth Stout J. Arthur Bowers Sheila Das |
8. |
What skill would you like to learn and why?
(does not have to be garden related). |
Play the violin, I adore the tonality and feeling |
9. |
If you could visit any garden right this minute,
which one would it be? |
A Japanese garden say in Kyoto, for the
feeling
|
10. |
What is your current plant obsession?
|
Many vegetables - say cabbages |
11. |
Which garden tool is never far from your hand?
|
Bucket for compost materials |
12. |
What is your favourite gardening/plant related
word? |
Companionship
|
13. |
What do you wish you could do better? |
Tree fruit
|
14. |
What is the most important lesson you have learned
so far?
|
Small space is better than large one |
15. |
What makes a perfect day for you?
|
Combining gardening with friends, eating vegetables, reaching many
people through social media |
16 |
If you had one piece of advice to offer to
someone what would it be?
|
To get curious about what you are doing in the garden and dare to try
something different occasionally |
17. |
Gnome or no gnome? |
Absolutely none! |
I have to give a huge thank you to Charles for taking part with such good grace, anyone else thinks that Charles winning the lottery would be a good thing?
A big thank you to Emma Mason as well for facilitating.
Compost by Charles Dowding is published by DK Publishing
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