permaculture

["Kevin Topek" <ktopek@houston.rr.com>]

Cesca,

Did your soil association give you quantitative data on heavy metal content
in your county compost? Yard debris is usually not contaminated with metals
unless metal containing compounds were applied to plants, such as copper
hydroxide. Yard waste is different than municipal waste and sewage sludge,
which both can contain heavy metals. I am of the opinion that it is best to
utilize locally available organic material for planting, rather than letting
it be wasted in a landfill.

Kevin Topek

----- Original Message -----
From: "Cesca Beamish" <cesca@cornerplotvegetables.co.uk>
To: "'permaculture'" <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2007 3:45 AM
Subject: Re: [permaculture] Municipal Compost


>
> The soil association said that I should not use our 'county compost' on my
> Oganic smallholding as it can be high in heavy metals. Basically, don't
> trust what everyone else puts in their brown wheelie bins. Seems a shame
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: permaculture-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
> [mailto:permaculture-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Kevin Topek
> Sent: 10 January 2007 14:37
> To: permaculture
> Subject: Re: [permaculture] Municipal Compost
>
> Damien,
>
> Municipal compost usually consists of decomposing leaves, grass and ground
> up tree & shrub trimmings. There is not much in the way of toxins except
> small amounts of residual herbicides and pesticides. Thermophilic and
> mesophilic decomposition, composting, degrades most of these compounds. I
> have had good experiences composting municipal yard debris and currently
> purchase it for use in my landscaping practice. I would use it if it is
> locally produced.
>
> Kevin Topek
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Daimen Hardie" <daimen_hardie@hotmail.com>
> To: <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2007 7:59 AM
> Subject: [permaculture] Municipal Compost
>
>
> >
> > A municipality in my area offers compost for sale, composed of organic
> > matter collected from its residents.  Has anyone any expereince with
> > such municipal composting operations?  I would like to mix this
> > compost (as I don't yet have enough of my own) with my local soil for
> > fruit and nut tree plantings, some of which will involve inoculants.
> > I am most concerned
> with
> > any possibility that the compost might harm the trees and/or inoculants.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Daimen
> >
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