Re: [compost_tea] Eucalyptus mulch
Ted -
Why do you insist on flaming other people?
In your statement about eucalyptus decomposition, which I copy below, you basically say everyone else in the world is wrong, only you know the answer.
Why behave like that? Why can you not just state your knowledge without having to flame everyone? Your message would have been more effective, more believeable, if you did not try to claim that you are the world's expert, and no one else knows anything about eucalyptus?
> I know how Elaine feels about Euc compost and I know the "common knowledge" about Euc. I can tell you that they are flat wrong. Elaine is partly right.
Along with the fact that you then proceed to tell people what others, myself included, already stated.
You said:
However, there is a process that must be followed.
Exactly, Ted. There's a process that has to be used, and I and others explained that process. At least we didn't claim that people have to come to learn about our secret patented process in order to find out the way to deal with the oils in eucalyptus. The "secret" is to remove the oils, either through simple de-gassing by letting the pile sit (the cheap way), or, if you want to spend money, through heating the pile so the oils de-gas faster.
The attitude displayed on this list has not been "boogey-man", as you claim (see copy of what Ted said below).
I don't think I have ever seen a C:N on eucalyptus of 1000:1. Have you actually determined the C:N in the wood, in the bark, leaves, etc of eucalyptus? It would involve sending samples to a lab and would require paying money to do that, neither of which are approaches that you support. So I expect you have not in fact determined the C:N for yourself before making that statement. There are different C:N ratios in each of the different components of plants as well. And, if the C:N of the wood was indeed 1000:1, then simply removing the oils would not result in decomposition of the wood. Addition of nitrogen in some form would be absolutely required to speed the composting process.
Ted wrote:
This is partly because the C:N of Euc is about 1000:1. Also there are oils in Euc that tend to act as antibacterials. I have found a way to nullify the oils in a very short time. So don't be afraid of the boogy-man mentality of Euc. With proper handling, it is as useful as any other soil additive. You just have to think the right way about it, treat it and then use it.
So -
As Ted said, with proper handling, eucalyptus can be used. As several other people have ALSO said in response to the question. It was not appropriate to say everyone else was flat wrong in what they said about eucalyptus. Everyone else related their experience, all of which contained useful information for people on the list, and NO ONE was flat wrong in their statements.
I do not appreciate people who have to put everyone else down before they then say what everyone else said, in their own way, in their own words.
It is poor manners to denigrate others, especially when the advice given is a repeat of what others have already said.
Ted, stop putting down the responses of other people. If you have something to say, say it without the degrogatory comments. The put downs are not needed.
Elaine Ingham
President, Soil Foodweb Inc.
SFI Corvallis, OR
SFI Port Jefferson, NY
SFI Lismore, NSW, Australia
SFI Hilversum, The Netherlands
SFI Cambridge, New Zealand
SFI Culiacan, Mexico
http://www.soilfoodweb.com
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Received on Sat May 01 2004 - 08:41:50 EDT
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: Tue Feb 07 2012 - 14:15:15 EST