Compost is a hot commodity these days. A nutrient-rich organic soil amendment, the so-called black gold—named for its dark color—is growing in popularity as Millenials discover the joy of gardening and increasingly embrace sustainable practices.

The benefits of compost are many: It recycles organic materials and reduces waste, replenishes depleted soils, and improves soil health . Though it takes different forms, composting can be done in nearly any environment. In an age of profligate food production and consumption, composting offers a solution for recouping some benefit from massive food waste.

For many nouveau gardeners, composting may be a fairly new concept. However, a dive into the history books shows the practice has been around as long as