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  • From: "David Inglis" <mhcsa AT bcn.net>
  • To: "'Market Farming'" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: RE: [Market-farming] conversion factors
  • Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2004 15:12:47 -0400


This is also my experience; 1 ton = 2 cu.yds.
One way to increase the effectiveness of limited quantities, [aren't
they always limited?] is to build a shroud on the back of the spreader
so that the compost falls mostly in the area you plant; this is
especially true if you work with permanent beds as I do. What good will
compost that ends up on tire tracks do when there will be very little
root growth there. I look as this technique as increasing my supply of
compost by 20% on beds with 5 foot centers. Some friends spread the
whole area and then lift the 'tire track' compost out of the tracks and
onto the bed tops but I think they then have twice the compost on the
edges of the beds than the middle and I would rather have it spread
evenly over the whole growing bed.
David A. Inglis
Mahaiwe Harvest C.S.A.

> Subject: [Market-farming] conversion factors
>
>
> I'd like to know if anyone has conversion factors for manure and
compost
> going between tons and cubic yards. In Eliot Coleman's book, he
> recommends inputs in tons per acre, but I'm only able to acquire such
> thing in terms of cubic yards. My simple observation tells me that 1
> cubic yard of dry compost seems to be about 1000 pounds (1/2 ton). So
if
> I want to apply at a rate of 30 tons per acre (60,000 pounds), I'd
need to
> get about 60 yards. Is that about right? Over an acre, that's only
about
> 1/2 inch deep. Does that make sense? It seems to me that in poor
soil
> where almost no organic matter exists, I'd want maybe as much as 3
inches
> of "the good stuff", disced in maybe a foot deep.
>
> Also, any recommendations on a good cover crop/green manure to improve
the
> soil would be appreciated. Right now, my thoughts are alfalfa,
fescue,
> oats, some kind of bean, or clover. It'll grow all winter long and be
> disced in with the composted/manure in the spring.
>
> Anyhow, any advice or info would be appreciated. This is all in
> preparation for a 2 acre pumpkin/squash patch to be planted May/June
2005,
> for a October 2005 harvest.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Matt Cheselka
> Cosmic Lettuce






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