RicelandMeadows

I have been a composter all of my adult life. Why? Because it works! The compost in my hand was made from 35% animal manures and 65% wood chips. The chips offered free when power companies have to trim along their lines. I got several truckloads when they were in the area 3 years ago.

I pushed them into a long pile as they brought the chips. It happened fast, many trucks over a few short days. Once they were done bringing the chips, I started putting manure all around the pile of chips at the base. I mixed them with our skid steer. Then every few months, I would push the pile up and somewhat “stir” it. I was pretty relaxed about it, but did mix the pile a couple times each year in the warmer months.

This pile was located in one of our pastures. Many times the animals rested or slept on the warm pile. As they walked it down and played on the pile, I would push it up from time to time just to keep things neat and the sides mixed in. I would turn the pile as I pushed, mixing it as well as I could.

I did that for 3 years. The coarse chips, straw, sawdust and manure “cooked” in the pile and reduced in size by about a third. The day that I finally spread the pile, it was the consistency of peat moss. There was no smell other than a fresh turned Earth aroma. I lightly spread 25 loads, from a 125 bushel manure spreader onto my permanent horse pasture. I look forward to seeing the effects next growing season.

We use compost all over our farm. We especially use it in our gardens and raised beds. It turns our mostly hard packed clay soils into a very good growing medium.

These carrots were from one of our raised beds. They were not woody or hollow. The were wonderful, sweet, tasty flesh that any rabbit, horse or man would love! The composted beds made for not only good growing, but also easy pulling. I just popped them out with a small hand spade.

In our traditional garden where we grow other vegetables like squash, sweet corn and potatoes, we have applied compost for over 25 years. I do concentrate my efforts in the garden, because compost won’t burn plants so I apply heavy amounts.

These potatoes, planted by hand, cultivated and hilled by horse drawn equipment, were some of the best we have ever grown. No magic here, just soil made better by composting.

This is just a random sampling from the “worst” part of our garden. It is from the end where garden meets lawn and the soil is often more compacted there. This is a five gallon bucket. You can see we had a few “whoppers”!

Small farms and homesteads benefit greatly from patience and animal manures. Add a team of horses to your farm plan it will reduce your carbon footprint and offer the opportunity (according to a Penn State study) to utilize 50 tons of manure. I can only say my farm and gardens have improved steadily since 1992. I give all the credit to God and his amazing microbes! I am just the potato and carrot eating applier of His goodness.