CAT 'High Fibre' cold composting

Home-made compost

Whenever I see demonstrations of composting on TV I’m always impressed by three things – the size of the compost heap, the endless supply of compostable materials to put on it and the enormous vigour of the gardener in charge of the heap.

Out in the real world, even the most fortunate of gardeners is unlikely to be blessed with all of those things. I personally don’t have the space for one of those massive, multi-bay compost bins. I have 3 plastic compost bins and two wormeries, so I have to spread the compostable goodies around. And I certainly don’t have the time or the energy to be out there every day with a thermometer, ready to turn each heap at a moment’s notice.

Which is why I have always, unwittingly, followed the Centre for Alternative Technology‘s High Fibre composting process.

The key points in this process are as follows:

CAT have put all the details of their High Fibre composting method into a factsheet, available from their website as a pay-to-view download (no waste!). Lots of other titles are available too, so have a look around while you’re there.


CAT have brought out one of their great ‘Little Books’ just in time for Christmas. ‘The Little Book of Compost’ by Allan Shepherd is styled as a recipe book for compost – complete with starters, main courses, side dishes, desserts and drinks. It makes a great stocking filler for gardeners and includes hot & cold composting, bokashi and worm composting techniques. Buy online from the Armchair Gardening Store (UK and US).

© Copyright Emma Cooper, 2007. All rights reserved.

Posted 8 December 2007, 14:02.  

Commenting is closed for this article.