Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["TradingPostPaul" <tradingpost@riseup.net>]

I want to focus on that one thing, hot or cold composting. I've used the
old Indore method at times in the past and got the heat buildup and fast
decomposition. But does the heat destroy the kinds of microbes that
naturally work down organic debris at outdoor temperatures near the soil
surface?  What offgasses and is lost during fast, hot composting? By
contrast, green manuring is low temperature composting. Green matter is
mixed with only surface soil and breaks down at or near soil surface over
winter. I'm experimenting with a variation on green manuring,
mixing/layering green matter with nearby grassy soil, in raised beds 6" to
10" high (though it will settle lower over winter). Some bone meal and
alfalfa meal on hand was added in the process. Right now it's germinating
buckwheat and hairy vetch I broadcast, and I'm keeping it moist. Just don't
know if this will need turning and mixing in spring, or leave it alone and
plant away at that time.


paul tradingpost@lobo.net

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********

On 9/2/2006 at 4:39 PM Ken Hargesheimer wrote:

>When the animals are grazing in the field/pasture, no one compost that
>manure.  I have seen wheat fields where one could see these little round
>areas of very green wheat and that was where the manure was dropped.
>   
>  Hot composting gases off some things so some people use low-temp
>composting.  You can give reasons to do or not to do anything. 
>   
>  I have used fresh rabbit manure on soil. I have used fresh horse manure
>with bedding [sawdust] on crops both here and in Kenya.  I applied fresh
>horse manure and bedding [straw] on a large part of my lot this past
>summer.  I do no composting anymore.  It is not worth the time and labor. 
>Use all organic matter as mulch.  The experts say never use raw sawdust. 
>I have and do use it as a mulch but no more than 2-3 inches because it
>kinda seals up and can keep out air I have read.  Maybe that is true and
>maybe not.  The last time I used it on tomatoe plants I put it 8 inches
>deep.
>   
>  I have learned that the people writting books usually have not done it
>much and those on the internet, garden on the internet more than in the
>garden.  
>   
>  You can read that one should never have more than 12% organic matter in
>the soil as then other type organism take over.  I wish I could get to 12%
>to find out.  The statement is useless. 
>   
>  My thinking is to get organic matter in the soil regardless of what you
>use. 
>   
>  Ken Hargesheimer 
>   
>