COMPOST TRIALS 2013

Material was collected from the ranch for use in compost trials, to see which

produced finished compost most quickly.

Materials included leaves, straw, potato vines, comfrey, pine needles, grass

clippings, and cow, horse, and chicken manure, combined in 5 different recipes.

Applying green leaves from fallen branches found after a storm

These green leaves were removed from fallen branches after a storm, to be used

as green material for a compost pile.

The green material for this pile was freshly cut grass.

Using a rotary mower to mulch grass to use as green material for compost piles

Using a rotary mower to mulch grass to use as green material for compost piles

Using a rotary mower to mulch grass to use as green material for compost piles

Preparing the ground for compost pile trials

All piles start out 3' x 3'.

Finishing first layer of a compost pile

The lower layer of a compost pile consists of fibrous, hard to break down

crop residue and straw.

We applied azomite mineral to help embed the finished compost with

nutrients.

The brown material is finished compost. The idea is that microorganisms from the finished compost will inoculate the new

piles.

A compost pile with several layers of alternating green and brown material

Compost pile with alternating layers of green and brown material

Adding some biochar to a compost pile

A report with trial results is available free online.