Composting 101

The best way to build healthy soil is with compost and cover crops. There are many ways to make compost. At www.Tierrasonsrisagarden.com we make production compost for our market garden or small farm. The method we use is based on Sir Albert Howard's method. All composting requires the correct carbon/ nitrogen ratios. Green materials and manure = nitrogen., dry materials (hay, dry leaves, sawdust) = carbon. So about 2/3 dry to 1/3 green. I put layers of rough stalks and dray material on the bottom of approx. 6" followed by 3" of my green/manure source. Next I add a thin layer or sprinkling of either granite sand, wood ash or soil. Then the process is repeated until I run out of materials. On top is a layer of hay and cap it off with a layer of soil to hold it down. Each layer is watered down, as the bacteria and fungus require large amounts of air and water. I build the pile around a pipe inserted a few inches in the soil. It is removed a day or two later. This allows air to get into the center of the pile.

This is covered in my book, Radical Regenerative Gardening and Farming, published by Rowman and Littlefield. The process of decomposition involves several groups of microorganisms. First, mesophyllic bacteria move into the pile breaking down epidermal layers. This is followed by thermophyllic bacteria that create temperatures of 140 to 170 ideally. This kills weeds seeds and most diseases. Fungi break it down further along with other aerobic bacteria. After a couple weeks I turn the pile to get uniform decomposition and put air into the pile and water is if need be. It then heats up again. Once it cools down I add Biodynamic preps and turn again. Eventually it is home to protozoa, actinomycetes and soil insects such as rotofers, sow bugs and earth worms. It becomes like big fish eating small fish until it is at a state of total decomposition. This is high in humus which is stabilized organic matter that feeds soil and manufactures nutrients for plants.

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In my next blog I will cover vermaculture which is much more appropriate for small back yard gardens. This is covered in more detail in my book, Radical Regenerative Gardening and Farming. You can also view pictures of my gardens in my Bio, http://frankholzman.tripod.com/frankholzmanresume.com