The Questions - Charles Dowding and Book Review - Compost by Charles Dowding

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.  

Charles talks us carefully and accessibly through the what, the why and the benefits of composting before going into how compost works to benefit our soils and therefore our growing.  Compost is free, that has to benefit number one and even better, it works.  I like Charles's approach.  There is a section on myth busting about the things that allegedly you can't compost.  Charles has tried composting most plant-based things and seems to find that most will work it done in the right way and for long enough.  Charles also talks about biodegradable items and what that means in relation to composting.

Who knew that one day I would find a discussion on different types and sizes of compost bins interesting and useful.  I look back to my teenage self and half wonder who have I become whilst also thinking how good it is that this is who I have become.

This book is easy to read, it contains a good mix of practical information and science.  It is a companion book to Charles's No Dig book that I have also reviewed and a very useful companion it makes.  It might even be a gateway publication taking you from compost to No Dig and of course vice-versa.

and of course whilst I had the invitation I thought I would ask if Charles would answer The Questions.  It felt foolish to let the opportunity pass.

The Questions

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 

Take care and be kind.

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