Re: Composting WWTPs and composting (Was Re: [compost_tea] Re: MICROBIOLOGY TESTING of COMPOST TEAS

From: <soilfoodweb_at_aol.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Dec 2004 03:34:12 -0500
Hi Ted -

I agree.  And when you say there is lots of confusion here, I agree very much about that!

Butch recently e-mailed me to say that instead we need to become clearer about our questions.  When I say something that you aren't sure of what I meant, asking a question back to me to clarify is the best way. 

Exactly as you did, and I appreciate that you asked, and didn't attack.  

You put in my quote:
You use temperature in the first 3 to 4 days to tell you how the mix might need to be adjusted so that every pile comes out pathogen-free, with the critters you want.

In another e-mail you said that temperature alone can't be used to -- well, I don't remember the exact term you used, but it wasn't a word I would say. 

So, I responded by saying that I didn't say that temperature alone could be used. 

Let's go back to my original statement and go through it:

"use temperature in the first 3 to 4 days to tell you how the mix might need to be adjusted"

This does not suggest that temperature alone can be used to do composting.  It says temperature can be used in the first 3 to 4 days to assess what is going on.  That means, in the first three to four days, and does not in any way suggest that I am talking about the whole composting process. 

OK?  Are we clear on that?  I am not talking about the whole composting cycle, nor am I talking about using temperature to the exclusion of any other measure, where appropriate.   

In my original statement, I indicate that the mix has to be defined to start out with, and that the mix may have to be adjusted.   

OK?  One of the parameters that must be understood is the starting mix.  There may need to be adjustment of that mix in the first stages of composting. 

There are many parameters involved in composting, but most people are rather limited in the set they have to choose from. 

Which is why it is so hard to talk about "THE ONE WAY TO COMPOST"  (Read that like "THE VOICE OF THE MASTER"). 

There is no one way to compost.  In a certain set of conditions, the best compost may be made in a certain set of conditions.  But I would bet what the best compost would not be made in exactly the same way in Maine.  Adjustment for the local constraints is required. 

There are certain principles of composting that must be understood.  Adjust the exact details based on what the person's exact conditions are.

So, work with SFI advisor's who have been trained to do composting in various ways.  They can look over your situation, and offer suggestions. 

The Master Composter program is usually right up there with recent improvements in understanding too. 

Chat with various people on this list serve who have some expertise, and see who gives you the simple, easy, straight-forward approach that sounds like you can do good composting. 

But remember, we compost in order to get the diversity of organisms needed back in the soil, not just minerals, and nutrients. 
--
Elaine Ingham
President, Soil Foodweb Inc.
SFI Corvallis, OR
SFI Port Jefferson, NY
SFI Lismore, NSW, Australia
SFI Cambridge, New Zealand
SFI Culiacan, Mexico
SFI Jerome, Idaho
SFI South Africa
http://www.soilfoodweb.com


Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
ADVERTISEMENT
click here


Yahoo! Groups Links

Received on Mon Dec 27 2004 - 08:21:10 EST

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.0 : Tue Feb 07 2012 - 14:15:40 EST