Two years ago, we talked compost with Nicky Scott. Now his new book is here.
Two years ago, we sat down with composting expert Nicky Scott to talk about his work, his experience and why turning organic waste into healthy soil matters.
With the launch of the third edition of How to Make and Use Compost, it feels like the perfect time to revisit that conversation and celebrate a book built from decades of practical knowledge.
Composting made understandable
Composting sounds simple: collect organic material, allow it to break down and return it to the soil.
In practice, questions soon appear. Is the heap too wet? Does it need turning? What can be added? How should food waste be handled? Which system is right for the space available?
Nicky’s strength is his ability to make those questions feel manageable. He has worked with households, schools, community groups, councils and businesses, helping people create composting systems that work in real situations.
That experience sits at the heart of How to Make and Use Compost: The Practical Guide for Everyone.
Finding the right system
The book does not claim there is one correct way to compost. Instead, Nicky explains the different options and helps readers choose a system that suits their space, materials and circumstances.
It covers traditional cold composting, wormeries, hot boxes and bokashi, with guidance for people composting in a kitchen, garden, school, community project or larger organisation.
We are particularly pleased to see bokashi included as part of the composting toolbox. Fermenting food waste gives people another practical way to handle organic material before returning it to a composting system or directly to the soil.
The book also includes an A–Z of compostable materials, solutions to common problems and advice on using the finished compost.
It goes beyond home composting too, looking at larger-scale food-waste management and how to establish school and community composting schemes.
Why compost matters
Good composting is not simply about making waste disappear.
It keeps valuable organic material in use, supports soil life and helps create soil that can hold water, cycle nutrients and support healthy plant growth.
It can begin with one small bin, but the same basic idea can grow into something much bigger: households, businesses and communities taking responsibility for their organic resources and returning them locally to the soil.
That is why Nicky’s work remains so relevant.
Revisit our original interview
Our interview with Nicky was filmed two years ago, but the conversation is just as useful today. It offers an opportunity to hear directly from someone who has spent much of his life helping people understand and improve composting.
Get the new book
The third edition of How to Make and Use Compost is published by Green Books, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing. The 208-page paperback includes colour photographs throughout and offers practical guidance for complete beginners and experienced composters alike.
Order How to Make and Use Compost from World of Books
Congratulations to Nicky on the launch. We are delighted to help spread the word and to revisit a conversation that reminds us why composting—and the soil it helps create—matters so much.
