Producing and Using

Biodynamic Compost on Your Farm

Southern SAWG Conference

January 16, 2015

Mobile, AL

Mike Smith

Longwood Plantation, LLC.

Longwood Plantation Facility

Building

When We Began and Now

Aerial Photo of Current Site

Compost Defined

Composting is the biological process of

breaking down organic residues of plants

and animals into an extremely humus-like

substance by various micro-organisms

including bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes

in the presence of oxygen.

Benefits of Using Compost

• Improves soil structure, porosity, and bulk density

• Increases moisture infiltration and permeability of heavy soils

• Improves moisture-holding capacity of light soils

• Improves and stabilizes soil pH

• Improves cation exchange capacity (CEC) of soils

• Supplies a variety of macro and micronutrients

• Supplies significant quantities of organic matter

• Supplies beneficial microorganisms to the soil

• Binds and degrades specific pollutants in soil

Key Factors in Composting

• Aeration – Composting is an aerobic process (meaning

it requires lots of oxygen). Turning is critical to provide

oxygen to compost.

• Nutrient Balance – The ratio of carbon to nitrogen for

successful composting. Must contain 20 to 40 parts

carbon to 1 part nitrogen.

• Moisture Content – Compost pile should be around 60%

after completion of original mixing. Should never drop

below 40%.

• Temperature – The maximum composting rate occurs

when the temperature is between 110° and 150° F.

Temperatures at 131° F for 10 days will kill all parasites,

weed seeds, and disease-causing organisms.

Methods of Composting

• In-vessel – Typically rotary drum or kiln-type set-up for

continuous processing. High capital investment, usually

municipal or governmental systems. Short compost

cycle.

• Aerated Static piles – High capital investment. Low

labor requirements. Questionable results.

• Turned windrows – Lower capital investment. Lends

itself to custom blends. Lower capacity restraints.

• Biodynamic – Uses biodynamic preparations, intensive

pre-blending, and static pile formation.

Feedstocks for Composting

Carbon

Cotton Trash – 29

Peanut Hay – 65

Dry Leaves – 60

Hay – 30

Fresh Sawdust – 40

Rye Straw – 82

Yard Waste - 44

Nitrogen

Chicken Manure – 11

Cow Manure – 30

Onions – 18

Horse Manure – 35

Grass Clippings – 12

Coffee Grounds – 20

Cocoa Shells - 22

Parameters for Finished Compost

Temperature F° 92-94°

Oxygen (O2) Not under 8%

Carbon Dioxide (C O2) Not over 8%

pH 6.5 – 7.0

Ammonia (NH3) <50 ppm

Sulfides (H2S) 0 at any time

Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio 15-20:1

Methods of Composting at

Longwood Plantation

• ACS – Advanced Composting System.

Based on the Luebke system

• Bio-Dynamic – Based on Rudolph Steiner

principles

ACS Processing Method

This process combines a balanced recipe with a

scientifically managed composting process,

producing humified compost – a high-value

compost that improves soil fertility, buffers crops

against adverse conditions, and reduces need for

weed and insect suppression. It is based on the

Luebke method, with focus on quality and

consistency of the finished product. This is of

paramount importance in attaining good humus-

based compost which yields positive field results.

Basic IngredientsBalanced Recipe

Cotton Gin Trash Peat

Chicken

Litter

Windrow turning with Front Loader

Compost-a-Gator

Turning

Screening

Bio-Dynamic Method

Bio-Dynamic compost is made based on basic principles first presented by Rudolph Steiner, a noted Austrian

agriculturalist. These principles emphasize the balancing of the holistic development and interrelationship of the

soil, plants, and animals as a closed, self-nourishing system.

The bio-dynamic compost is made from composted cotton gin waste, aged wood meal, green waste, chicken litter, peat humus, granite dust, and biochar, using static windrows approximately 6 feet high and innoculated with

bio-dynamic preparations.

Bio-Dynamic PreparationsSteiner prescribed nine different preparations which are the cornerstone of biodynamic agriculture, and described how these were to be prepared. The prepared substances used for making the bio-dynamic compost are numbered 502 through 507, and are listed below:

502: Yarrow blossoms (Achillea millefolium) 503: Chamomile blossoms (Matricaria recutita) 504: Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) 505: Oak bark (Quercus robur) 506: Dandelion flowers (Taraxacum officinale) 507: Valerian flowers (Valeriana officinalis)

BD Preparations and their Purpose

• Yarrow – Provides trace elements uptake in dilute quantities

• Chamomile – Stabilizes nitrogen (N) in compost and enhances soil life

• Nettle – Stimulates soil health providing plants with individual nutrition components needed

• Oak Bark – Combats plant diseases

• Dandelion – Stimulates relationship between silica and potassium (K)

• Valerian – Stimulates compost for proper phosphorous (P) use by the soil

Placement of Bio-Dynamic

Preparations in a Pile

Dandelion (506) Yarrow (502)

Nettle (504) Oak Bark (505)

Valerian (507) Chamomile (503)

Making Bio-Dynamic Compost

Building the Pile

Shaping the Pile

Preparing holes for innoculation

Placing Preps

Adding Valarian to Water

Pouring Valarian into Hole

Spraying Valarian over Entire Pile

Hydrating Pile

Evaluating Finished Compost

First Production Pile

1 2 3

45

6

Compost Applications

Compost Application Rates

Different Uses for Compost

• Raised beds and container gardening

• Organic fruit and vegetable gardens

• Tree and plant nurseries

• Lawn care maintenance

• Golf course construction and maintenance

• Tree care and deep root fertilization

• Sports field construction and maintenance

• Gro-Soxx

• Erosion control filter soxx

• Compost extract and tea

Raised Beds

Organically Yours, Savannah, Ga.

Raised Beds

Bercegray’s Square Foot Garden

using Mike’s Mix instead of Mel’s Mix

Raised Beds

Vernon Waters Home

Raised Beds

• Before After

Hampton Island Old Farm, Riceboro, Ga.

Raised Beds

10/19/200811/25/2008

11/25/200811/25/2008

Little St. Simon’s Island Garden

Container Gardening

Shannon’s Garden Vegetables

Container Nursery

Bald CypressVitex

Pineland Nursery

Southern Native Plantings

Native Plant Nursery

Oakleaf Hydrangea Apple trees and Paw-paws

Organic ApplicationsWalker Farm Organic Onions

Seedlings Harvest

Organic applications

Peterson Garden at

Whitener Plantation

Lawncare Maintenance

Before After

Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton, SC

Lovett residence, Statesboro, Ga

Golf Course Construction

Hampton Island Golf Course

Greens Restoration

Palmetto Dunes Golf Course

Tree Care and Deep Root Fertilization

New Baseball Field at Screven County

Sports Field Construction

Sports Field Restoration

Before After

Fertilization and Weed Control

Gro-Soxx

Lee Family Vegetable Farm

Erosion Control Filter Soxx

Compost Extract and Tea

Types

• Compost tea – Brewed - Contains

additives such as molasses, yeast extract,

fish-based products, kelp, or green plant

tissue. An active process.

• Compost Extract – Extracted – Made from

good compost and water. A passive

process.

Uses for compost tea

• Fertilization

• Foliar spray

• Drip irrigation

• Compost pile innoculation

• Root injection

Compost Tea/Extract

Considerations

• High quality, mature compost is essential

• Pure, uncontaminated water is also

important

• Additives are used to extend the life of the

tea to give the bugs something to eat

Methods of Producing Compost

Tea

• Bucket Fermentation Method– An old passive method which makes an extract.

• Bucket Bubbler Method– Similar to the Bucket Fermentation Method but uses a

pump and air bubbler

• Trough Method– Uses homemade tanks and pumps to re-circulate,

bubble, and aerate the compost tea

• Commercial Tea Brewers– Uses commercial equipment and added food sources,

along with aeration.

Benefits of Using Compost Tea/Extract

• Reduces risk of diseases

resulting from surface

contact with chemicals

• Cleanses the soil of the

salt build-up

• Boosts soil microbiology

• Reduces inputs over a 3-

year period.

• Is a commitment to the

environment and to future

generations

Compost Tea/Extract Testimonials

Before After

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