When Jane Down was looking for gainful employment her father suggested she shovel, bag and distribute the dung from his 350-strong herd of cows...Seven years later Jane, alias Lady Muck, sells several hundred bags of the rich, organic manure compost every week. In Magic Muck the author guides us with warmth and humour through the history of composting and reveals her secrets on how to create and maintain a compost heap to suit every garden. Essential tips include lists of perfect ingredients, do's and don'ts and a section on trouble-shooting. In addition, the text explains the formation of soils, the role of the earthworm and discusses the many types of compost and manures available to the gardener today.