"If a healthy soil is full of death, it is also full of life: worms, fungi, microorganisms of all kinds ... Given only the health of the soil, nothing that dies is dead for very long."
- Wendell Berry, The Unsettling of America

A comprehensive instruction to the science and ecology of composting. Start with an overview of the many organisms which make up the soil environment. Explore the wide array of micro and macro-organisms which work to break down organic matter. Learn how to design, implement, and operate effective compost systems.

*The set comes in one DVD case with 2 discs inside - one disc has the 2 composting programs and the other has the Soil Biology program.

Part 1 - THE SCIENCE OF BIOLOGICAL DECOMPOSITION: Effective Composting Methods
Start on the microscopic level to see the wide array of micro and macro-organisms which break down organic matter. See how to create compost and explore its water and nutrient holding capacity. Learn the basics of aerobic hot composting & how to create a good C:C (brown:green) ratio when layering. Also, see how to implement proper watering rates and how to use a thermometer to determine the pile's mesophyllic/thermophilic cycle. This shows when to turn the pile or windrow. Other methods shown include sheet, pit and worm composting. This program is very popular for teaching what compost is and how it can be effectively produced. 33 minutes.
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Part 2 - INTEGRATED COMPOST SYSTEMS
See how to design, implement and operate effective compost systems. Visit a renowned agricultural compost operator, a worm farm operator, a landscape manager who composts all of the organic matter at a golf and town home retirement community, a yard waste recycling specialist who coordinates a city-wide compost system, a landfill manager who runs a huge windrow operation, and a university compost manager who integrates food waste, yard waste and farm waste. DVD 33 minutes


Part 3 - SOIL BIOLOGY
This program is loaded with information on the many organisms which make up the soils environment. From easily visible earthworms to microscopic bacteria, discover valuable information on the roles and interactions of the soil's flora and fauna. See how soil biology relates to soil horizons, porosity, water holding capacity and other physical properties of soil. While soil fertility is often measured by a soil's chemical, mineral and organic matter content, new research is presented on how the many species of mesofauna can be extracted from the soil and then used as indicators of soil fertility. Examine soil pests as well as beneficial life forms found in the soil. Also see human attitudes towards soil organisms and learn how opinions can develop which are not always based on science. Clear narration, effective use of graphics and fascinating microphotography bring into focus the many life forms in the soil of our farms and landscapes. Part 1 - 24 minutes, Part 2 - 26 minutes
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