Composting Guru Sir Albert Howard

Newsletter article from our partners at Garden Organic

Of course composting has happened for millenia but in the 20th century a real composting guru came along. His name is Sir Albert Howard and in 1940 he worked as an agronomist for the UK government. It was from his experience as an agronomist that he published his groundbreaking research, An Agricultural Testament, which became the guidelines for organic farming.

 

Sir Albert, also considered the father of modern organic compost making, worked in India for 29 years, from 1905 until 1934. He combined his scientific knowledge with his observations of the methods used by the local farmers, to develop a method of compost making called the Indore method, named after the town of Indore. This method, based on mixing three parts of green waste with one part of farm manure, is composed of simple layers; the first layer being weeds and leaves, then a smaller layer of manure, covered by a thin layer of topsoil (controversial, I know!). These layers were repeated until the heap was about 1.5 meters tall; it was kept moist, and turned often to keep it aerated. The resulting compost was ready for the garden in about three months, and ensured soil fertility and greater crop sizes with the crops having a better nutrient value.

Many people still use this compost making method, preferring to have an open compost heap in their garden, which they turn, rather than having a compost bin or one of the many types of compost tumblers. However, it is worth mentioning that this system was successful in India which has a warmer climate than the UK and so success with this system throughout the year in Britain would be harder to achieve, there is also the element of using valuable topsoil in the process. 

 

Saying all this, Sir Albert’s work influenced and inspired many farmers and agricultural scientists who furthered the organic movement, including Lady Eve Balfor. He was a pioneer in not only in the organic circles but I think he deserves his place amoungst our Composting Gurus!