Re: [compost_tea] Re: MICROBIOLOGY TESTING of COMPOST TEAS
Dr E. simple question, have you ever operated a
compost facility receiving any large quantity of
material?
--- soilfoodweb_at_aol.com wrote:
> It is possible to get a whole compost pile above the
> minimum required
> temperature, for the entire time period required, to
> kill human pathogens.
>
> The point is to get the temperature above a certain
> temperature, for the
> required period of time. Not all of the pile will
> be above that temperature
> level all the time - the outside of the pile is not
> usually at temperature, but
> the inside of the pile must be, for the correct
> minimum time period.
>
> Then you turn the pile. So eventually, all material
> in the pile gets into
> the middle of the pile, and heats adequately for the
> minimum time required.
> Therefore, thermal piles have to be turned, and
> turned on-time. The mix of
> starting materials is critical to make sure adequate
> heat will be generated,
> for the time period required. Different mixes
> result in different organisms
> and heating properties.
>
> If worms are doing the work, then the worms turn the
> material, and the worms
> exit the human pathogens. that's cold-composting.
> As long as you have
> adequate concentration, or density, worms per amount
> of added material, the
> compost will be human-pathogen free.
>
> Can we get pathogen-free piles? We have lots of
> data showing that
> human-pathogens are not detectable when the piles
> are properly composted.
>
> Can piles be re-contaminated? Sure, just like food
> can be pathogen free,
> and then, at a later time, be contaminated by
> someone with fecal material on
> their hands. Compost piles can be contaminated
> after they are finished,
> especially if the pile lacks active biology.
>
> Compost is like milk in that regard. If you keep
> the milk cows clean, so
> the udders are not contaminated by pathogens, then
> the milk will not get
> contaminated by passage through the udder. If the
> milking pail is contaminated,
> then the milk will get contaminated. If the milk
> tank isn't properly
> maintained, the milk will get contaminated. If the
> bottling plant isn't properly
> maintained, if the milk isn't kept refrigerated, if
> the glass you pour the milk
> in is not clean, if you stir the milk with a dirty
> spoon......
>
> All these things can cause problems. Just like
> milk, you have to take care
> to make sure compost does not get re-contaminated.
> Luckily, we don't have to
> be quite as careful with compost as we have to be
> with milk, because there
> is a set of beneficial organisms that should be in
> compost.
>
> So, like compost, you take care, and testing is
> required to make sure all is
> being done correctly during the whole process of
> milk production. You can
> still have problems, though if you let your children
> drink straight from the
> bottle, and back-wash occurs........
>
> Yum. Wonderful topic to be discussing on Christmas
> Eve!
>
> Happy holidays and may only beneficial critters
> surround you!
>
> Elaine R. Ingham
> Soil Foodweb Inc., Corvallis, Oregon
> Soil Foodweb Inc., Port Jefferson, New York
> Soil Foodweb Institute, Lismore Australia
> Soil Foodweb Institute Cambridge, New Zealand
> Laboratorios de Soil Foodweb, Culiacan, Mexico
> Soil Foodweb Inc., Jerome, Idaho
> Soil Foodweb Inc., South Africa
>
>
=====
Butch Ragland
Conflict is as addictive as
cocaine, alcohol, cigarettes,etc
I'm sorry to report that
cooperation is not
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Received on Sun Dec 26 2004 - 17:41:07 EST
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: Tue Feb 07 2012 - 14:15:40 EST