Composting

[mommagoose]

I am so glad you are using American dry wall. Everyone should be very careful using any product from China. I just thought I should remind everyone to be cautious about what they put in their garden. There was an anecdote on Homesteading Today a few years ago , where someone put a lot of old hay as mulch on their garden that was laced with an herbicide. According to them they lost their entire garden. When I drive through town, we have one red light and 4 stop signs, I see piles of leaves that I would love to take home. I will have to work on that. In my greenhouse take down I have 480 cinderblocks. That should make some really nice mulch containers.

Linda

[LeslieH]

Momma,
You may not have to try to get those leaves. Start calling around to lawn mowing services. Ask them if hey'd want to dump their leaves on your property if they're in the area. They usually jump at the chance.
So - you don't get the chemicals and you get the leaves!
Just ask them to not bring any walnut leaves. The thujone in them acts as a natural herbicide.

As for chemicals - yes, everything is technically a chemical. However, I think for the purpose of our discussions, anything man-made that is bought or sold in stores should be the definition. Ashes, leaves, grass clippings - aren't what I consider chemicals, even though their chemical make-up happens to be benificial to the soil.

And while the theory that the lawn services apply their wares to the soil, it is still on the surface of the grass for at least 24 hours and the residual, which has been found to remain in the plant itself, as well as on it, can remain for a year. But as I said before, as long as there is extreme heat - above normal growing temperatures - they break down rapidly into neutral components. And since I've not had any problems with the areas I've let it compost in place, I'll believe them. LOL

L

[bull]

Leslie, it appears we are on the same page..... good luck and keep posting, this forum needs activity !!!!!!

Momma, my leaf jockies pay to drop off it's great, over 200 yards to date and still coming in every day..... that keeps what I want coming in cleab any trash or junk and they are shut off !!! I am priced well below the transfer station fee......
Becareful if you let people come in for free, you will end up with every tom,dick,& harry dropping off everything you can think of, from tires to refridgerators to couches, you don't want to become the town dump!!!
charge $5.00 a truck load that should keep everyone on the up and up !!!
transfer stations charge by weight and it cost over $100 per truck load.....

[LeslieH]

Originally Posted by bull

Becareful if you let people come in for free, you will end up with every tom,dick,& harry dropping off everything you can think of, from tires to refridgerators to couches, you don't want to become the town dump!!!
.

This is why I only deal with a single business! I keep it simple! And, I can't handle more than what he brings me each day, so it works!

The town you live in, Momma, might bring the leaves to YOU. Here in Vestal, they won't for liability reasons. They used to, but it's 'too risky'. Whatever. So they dump illegally by their barns and also take it over to Endicott near the little airport for Union to compost.

I just finished shredding up a truckload of leaves. Am going back out to get it put in place so I can shred more tomorrow! LOL

L

[LeslieH]

Bull,
I don't know if this site would be of any interest to you - but your efforts are definitely on a large enough scale that it might be worth it to look at.
http://www.compostingcouncil.org/
I forgot I had this in my "homesteading" folder.
L

[prmsdlndfrm]

Organic certification has lost all credibility due to corporate America and the recent charges for fake organics, and lawyers finding loopholes and interpreting the rules to fit thier agendas.

Im with you bull I work on balancing the needs of my crops, using IPM and Best Management practices, coupled with soil test. Ive learned to do my own test, and have set up a mini lab and so test my fields throughout the season on a regular basis. Its amazing the chemical changes that can happen over realitively short periods. I have learned through these testings that compost can and need to be made using recipes of different materials depending on what your growing in a certain plot, and using a soil sample to determine what particular crop needs versus what soil has to offer and make a compost to match.
I test for organic mater, soil friability, water holding capacity, cation exchange, major nutrients, and micro nutrients
josh

[LeslieH]

Josh!
That is so cool that you test like that and have determined different compost compositions for different crops.
How cool!
I'm betting you've kept notes on all of this?
That is absolutely fascinating.
I agree that soil composition changes throughout the year. There's no way it couldn't. It would depend on sun, rain, original composition, crop, insect population explosions, etc. Very cool!
I am incredibly impressed.
I don't do massive testing, but do test at least once a year, and watch everything very closely.
Do you amend with cover crops as needed?
Are you able to anticipate needs yet, based on all of the known factors? I know trying to anticipate on a weather forecast is impossible.
Wow - very exciting!
Leslie

[prmsdlndfrm]

Cover crops are an essential componet, I have learned through experimenting that the worst thing you can do is leave a soil bare, even in winter the UV rays are detrimental to soil microorganisms, and even worms, worms are intolerant to UV rays it kills them. One of the most effective sterilizers in the world is UV light. If one can not plant a cover crop, they should use a sheet composting, as youve been dooing, but theres nothing like a green manure, and the effects of its root structure on the soil. I dont yet have the nerve to make a prediction that Ill follow through on as far as the needs of the crop and soil are concerned. The soil is a dynamic living organism, and with all the enviromental influences it experiences on a daily basis its virtualy impossible to make anything but an educated guess without testing.
josh

[LeslieH]

Josh -
These are just nerdish questions since I can't get into this level of soil care yet, but...
Have you found that different cover crops are best for different veggie crops?
Or
Have you found different cover crops help amend the soil after particular crops.

Crop prep and crop recovery.

[prmsdlndfrm]

Yes there is cover crops suited for different aspects, conditions, and recoveries, and also for pest cycle disruptions. Its a long semi complicated discussion, longer than Id like to type right now. E mail me if youd like me to try to explain it.
josh