Comments on: The Temperature at which Manure Becomes Compost. http://www.dropstonefarms.com/2009/05/the-temperature-at-which-manure-becomes-compost/ A tiny farm on Bainbridge Island. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 07:45:33 -0800 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Sinfonian http://www.dropstonefarms.com/2009/05/the-temperature-at-which-manure-becomes-compost/comment-page-1/#comment-3720 Sinfonian Sat, 09 May 2009 04:38:32 +0000 http://www.dropstonefarms.com/?p=556#comment-3720 My research on manure is that it's fine after it's been rotting for a few years, no work needed. I think rabbits are the exception. I could have sworn I read that chickens were also, because they only have one excrement and thus it's blended carbon:nitrogen ratio was balanced. I guess that I'm mistaken there. Of course I just did my compost after mowing the lawn and had to use all the shredded news paper I could find to get a decent enough amount of browns to offset all that grass and kitchen scraps, hehe. My research on manure is that it’s fine after it’s been rotting for a few years, no work needed. I think rabbits are the exception. I could have sworn I read that chickens were also, because they only have one excrement and thus it’s blended carbon:nitrogen ratio was balanced. I guess that I’m mistaken there. Of course I just did my compost after mowing the lawn and had to use all the shredded news paper I could find to get a decent enough amount of browns to offset all that grass and kitchen scraps, hehe.

]]> By: garth http://www.dropstonefarms.com/2009/05/the-temperature-at-which-manure-becomes-compost/comment-page-1/#comment-3699 garth Fri, 08 May 2009 15:16:45 +0000 http://www.dropstonefarms.com/?p=556#comment-3699 Oh hooray! I'm glad your composts work effortlessly and well. I never had any luck with hot composting until I started using animal manure. The technical aspects aren't garden-driven so much as commerce-driven. One aspect of growing for market is that there are a *lot* of regulations to cleave to that are, by and by, good from a health and food safety perspective. One cannot, however, write a law that says "Manure is safe to apply when it's been well-composted" without putting some specific, quantifiable data behind it. Oh hooray! I’m glad your composts work effortlessly and well. I never had any luck with hot composting until I started using animal manure.

The technical aspects aren’t garden-driven so much as commerce-driven. One aspect of growing for market is that there are a *lot* of regulations to cleave to that are, by and by, good from a health and food safety perspective. One cannot, however, write a law that says “Manure is safe to apply when it’s been well-composted” without putting some specific, quantifiable data behind it.

]]> By: Sinfonian http://www.dropstonefarms.com/2009/05/the-temperature-at-which-manure-becomes-compost/comment-page-1/#comment-3692 Sinfonian Fri, 08 May 2009 05:02:30 +0000 http://www.dropstonefarms.com/?p=556#comment-3692 I must agree that composting is amazing. Many of my garden buddies have had challenges with it, but my hot composting was perfect from day one. I love being lucky in gardening. It's refreshing. My pile always heats up to 140 to 150 within 24 hours of turning and adding. My main problem now is finding vegetative browns right now. Sure I have shredded paper, napkins and dryer lint, but somehow that seems like cheating. As for all the technical mumbo-jumbo, you can keep it. I mix an approximate equal amount of browns and greens, add air and water and presto! Then again, I have never used manure. Of course, I have no farm animals and no source for them. Oh, and I'm partial to my free pallet bins. No clue about all that other stuff. Glad yours is heating up well! I must agree that composting is amazing. Many of my garden buddies have had challenges with it, but my hot composting was perfect from day one. I love being lucky in gardening. It’s refreshing. My pile always heats up to 140 to 150 within 24 hours of turning and adding. My main problem now is finding vegetative browns right now. Sure I have shredded paper, napkins and dryer lint, but somehow that seems like cheating.

As for all the technical mumbo-jumbo, you can keep it. I mix an approximate equal amount of browns and greens, add air and water and presto! Then again, I have never used manure. Of course, I have no farm animals and no source for them.

Oh, and I’m partial to my free pallet bins. No clue about all that other stuff. Glad yours is heating up well!

]]> By: garth http://www.dropstonefarms.com/2009/05/the-temperature-at-which-manure-becomes-compost/comment-page-1/#comment-3663 garth Thu, 07 May 2009 02:11:58 +0000 http://www.dropstonefarms.com/?p=556#comment-3663 Sorry. <a href="http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/rrr/composting/vessel.htm" rel="nofollow">in-vessel</a> composting involves putting the material in a large container and managing the process very closely. <a href="http://www.extension.org/pages/In_Vessel_Composting_of_Manure" rel="nofollow">more on in-vessel composting</a>. Man, composting is so cool. Sorry. in-vessel composting involves putting the material in a large container and managing the process very closely. more on in-vessel composting.

Man, composting is so cool.

]]> By: Lauren http://www.dropstonefarms.com/2009/05/the-temperature-at-which-manure-becomes-compost/comment-page-1/#comment-3662 Lauren Thu, 07 May 2009 02:05:38 +0000 http://www.dropstonefarms.com/?p=556#comment-3662 Do they say what counts as a vessel vs a windrow? Like, is a regular pile a vessel? Do they say what counts as a vessel vs a windrow? Like, is a regular pile a vessel?

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