- One thousand years before Moses, the Akkadian farmers in the Mesopotamian Valley near Babylon used manure to amend their soil. Other historical writings exist that refer to various types of compost by the Romans, Greeks and Israelis. Even Shakespeare mentioned compost through the words of Hamlet.
- American colonists knew about the benefits of composting. New Englanders used fish for much of their composting, taking advantage of the riches of the nearby ocean. Many of the Founding Fathers such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson promoted the benefits of composting.
- Composting was revitalized in the mid-1940s with the publication of "An Agriculture Testament" by Sir Albert Howard, a British agronomist. Based on his work in India during the early part of the century, it helped spark a new interest in organic gardening that has continued into the 21st century.