Compost, Vermiculture, & Soil Fertility

Cynthia Sandberg Love Apple Farm

www.LoveAppleFarms.com

Welcome to Love Apple Farm

Please no talking. Hold your questions until I ask for them. Have faith in my agenda. Questions slow down class and get us off topic. What this class doesn't cover:

Growing tomatoes, vegetables, and perennialsEvery soil amendmentEvery possible method of composting

Class Rules

It's All About the Soil

Increase yieldsDecrease pests and diseasesIncrease nutritional value of cropsImprove flavorReduce erosion of topsoilConserve water

Soil Food Web

Macronutrients

Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium (NPK)

Calcium (Ca)

Needed in larger quantities by plants

MicronutrientsMagnesium (Mg), Molybdenum (Mo), Boron (B), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), Chlorine (Cl), Iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni)

Needed in trace quantities, too much can hurt plants more than it can help

Regular additions of organic matter

Soil pH

Test your soil!Rainfall causes soil acidity Add lime to raise pHAdd sulfur to lower pH

Importance of Soil pHMost vegetables want a pH between 5 and 7 6.5 is a great pH for an all-purpose veggie gardenYour pH could be way offPlants cannot uptake nutrients when pH is skewed

Soil Texture

Ratio of sand, silt, and clay Clay: <0.002 mmSilt: 0.002 - 0.05 mmSand: 0.05 - 2 mm

Gravel > 2 mm

Soil Structure and Aggregates

Soil FertilityDON'TS

Rototilling

Fallow land

Chemical fertilizers, fungicides, and pesticides

DO'SDouble-digging

Cover cropping

Organic amendments

Compost!!!

Double-Digging Technique

Cover Crops

Organic Amendments

Feed your soil like you feed your bodyCannot "Miracle Gro" soil into good healthVegetables are fast-growing plantsNeed more fertilizer than perennials because you are harvesting (taking away nutrients)Always amend beds before planting Soil test will reveal deficiencies and make

amendment recommendations

X

Composting

The controlled aerobic decomposition of biodegradable organic matter, producing compost

Building a Compost Pile

Start with 6" layer of sticks and stalks criss-crossedUse twigs, sunflower stalks, corn stalks

Add a 2" layer of "green" matter (nitrogen)Add a 3" layer of "brown" matter (carbon)Water lightlyAnother 2" layer of "green" matterAnother 3" layer of "brown" matterWater lightlyAnd so on and so on...

At least 3' tall and 3' wide (unless using a bin)

Pile should exceed 131 degrees Farenheit for 3 days, then cool down

"Green" Matter: High Nitrogen ContentKitchen scraps*Garden scraps*Grass clippingsCoffee grounds Yard trimmings* Green leaves Most weedsAnimal manure (vegetarians only)

*Cut up into smaller pieces More surface area = faster decomposition

"Brown" Matter: High Carbon ContentAnimal bedding (shavings, straw)Cardboard*Paper*Coffee filters and tea bagsCotton rags and ballsDryer and vacuum cleaner lintEggshells

Fireplace ashes Hair and furHay and StrawDried leaves Nut shellsSawdustNewspaper*Tea bagsWood chipsWool rags

What Not to CompostBlack walnut tree leaves or twigsOak leaves and pine needles Coal or charcoal ashesDairy productsDiseased or insect-ridden plantsFats, grease, lard, or oilsMeat, bones, or scrapsPet wastesYard trimmings treated with chemical pesticides

Now let's go outside and build a compost pile!

Vermiculture (Cold Composting)

Can be done outdoors and indoors, even in apartments!

Rich soil conditioner

Worm casting tea: our favorite fertilizer!

The Container

The Container

Drainage Holes

Drill holes in bottom for drainage and sides for ventilationRaise bin on bricks or wooden blocksPlace tray underneath to capture excess liquid (use as plant fertilizer)

Cover BinsRetains moistureProvides darkness for worms

Indoors: burlap sack or sheet of dark plasticOutdoors: solid lid to keep out unwanted scavengers and rain

Bedding for Inside Bin

Necessary to provide damp bedding for worms to live inShredded newspaper, cardboard, dry leaves, chopped up straw, compost, sawdustVary to provide more nutrients and create richer compostAdd a few handfuls of sand or soil - necessary grit for worm's digestionWrung-out spongeFluff up to provide

air spaces

Compost Worms: RedwormsEisenia foetida

Aka red wiggler, brandling, manure wormLive at or near surface

Lumbricus rubellus Aka driftworm, garden worm, angle worm, leaf worm, red march worm, red wrigglerLive further down

Do not use dew-worms (found in soil)--they will not survive

Food/Worm Ratio

1 lb food waste per day

2 lbs worms (roughly 2000)

:

If starting with less worms, reduce food accordingly Worm population will steadily increase over timeThen you can start adding more proportionately

Feeding Your Worms

DO'sFruit and vegetable scraps, chopped upPulverized egg shellsTea bags, coffee grounds, filtersNewspaper, paper, cardboard ripped up

DON'TsMeatDairyOily foodsGrains

Worm Bin LocationIndoors all year round

Basements are greatOutdoors during milder months

Sheds, garages, patios, balconies, in yardTemperature range: 40 - 80°F

If < 40°F: move indoors or insulate wellOut of hot sun and heavy rain

Maintaining Your BinAdd food for 2.5 months - little or no bedding should remain

Castings will be dark brownContents will decrease in bulk

Separate worms from finished compost before usingMove aside and add new food for worms to move in toOr dump on large plastic sheet and pick out worms

Save tiny, lemon-shaped worm cocoons tooSaves more worms, but more work

Worm Cocoons

Worm Casting TeaBig handful of castings in a 5 gallon bucketLet sit for two daysStrain through cheesecloth or FRC or strainer and apply to plants with a watering can or garden sprayerDo twice a month during growing seasonIncrease fertility, reduce incidence of disease, and reduce bug stress

Compost Tea Brewers and Extractors

Liquid BioTechLocal Santa Cruz company

Brewers ExtractorsCompost teaTea applications

Common Problem: Unpleasant, strong odors

From overloading food waste that sits around too long, and then bin contents get too wet Solution:

Stop adding food wasteGently stir contents to

allow more air inCheck drainage holes for

blockage, and drill more holes if necessary

Worms Crawling to Sides and LidBedding may be too acid if you add a lot of citrus peels or other acidic foods Solution:

Add garden lime and cut down on acidic wastes

Fruit Flies

Solution:Bury food waste in bedding and don't overloadKeep bin covered Move bin to new location

Final Word on Worms

Taking worms out of their natural environmentCreates responsibilityLiving creatures with unique needsCreate and maintain and healthy habitatYour worms and your garden will thrive!

For Sale

Compost Thermometer: $20

Love Apple Farm Worm Castings: $12 Baby Chick: $5Extra Worm Bin: $25

Annual Spring Tomato Plant Sale - Biggest in California!March 26 to June 26, 2011Mon thru Fri: 10am - 6pm

Sat & Sun: 9am - 5pmNew Location: Knox Garden Box46 El Pueblo Road, Scotts Valley

Upcoming Classes at Love Apple

Gopher Control - Tue, Mar 15 and Sat, Apr 30 Summer Vegetable Gardening - Sat, Mar 19 and Sat, Apr 16 Growing Tomato Transplants from Seed - Sunday, Mar 20 Container Vegetable Gardening - Sat, Apr 2

Bee-Keeping - Sun, Apr 3 Lots of cooking classes as well.Grab a hand-out for info!

Love Apple Farm's Tomato Extravaganza Day

Saturday, April 30, 201146 El Pueblo Road, Scotts Valley, CA

Free to the public1/2 hour mini-classes on:

Tomato Planting TechniqueTomato Cage Making DemoGrowing in ContainersPruning for Health & YieldOrganic Tomato Pest ControlSeed Saving Demo

BBQ