This in-depth guide can answer all of your compost questions. Whether you are an urban farmer, community gardener, or a backyard homesteader, this toolkit supports you in becoming an expert composter.

Urban farms and community gardens grow two things: plants and soil. Building healthy soil is fundamental for growing healthy fruits and vegetables and supporting healthy communities. The benefits of building soil extend to farms and gardens that raise animals and grow plants for fiber, and is particularly vital for people who work with urban soils, where the impacts of development may have left behind degraded soils in need of repair and replenishment. Using compost builds fertile soil that is rich in organic matter, dark and wonderfully crumbly, teems with life, holds onto moisture, and drains well.

On-site composting offers many advantages for urban farms and community gardens. Purchasing compost from vendors can be expensive and requires transportation in bulk. When farmers make their own compost they control feedstocks and compost quality, and eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from municipal collection, commercial composting, and delivery.