Re: Compost

**L* R* <g*@leereich.com>**

What kind of "testing" did you do to see the differences in your  
composts? And was the only difference imposed in curing time?

Lee Reich, PhD
http://leereich.com/

Books by Lee Reich:
The Pruning Book
Weedless Gardening
Uncommon Fruits for Every Garden
A Northeast Gardener's Year

On Jan 14, 2008, at 12:07 PM, Miranda Smith wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Yes, the way that you compost determines the quality of the finished
> project. I've done enough research, complete with testing all the way
> through and at the time that it was stockpiled for curing, 3 months  
> after
> that time, and 6 months after that, to know that is so--the  
> "formal" way,
> with or without composters in tuxedos and tiaras, gives the highest  
> quality
> product.
>
> But there is a huge caveat. Unless you are using the compost as a  
> disease
> suppressant, in greenhouse containers or starting mixes, or composting
> something smelly in a suburban environment, does improved quality  
> matter
> enough to inspire you to monitor the piles every day and adjust  
> accordingly?
> I don't think so. For ordinary uses, sloppy compost works fine--as  
> long as
> it's really broken down. And you can tell that with a simple "cress  
> test."
> Before you buy compost, do a cress test with it: take a sample,  
> plant land
> cress in it--no additives like peat moss or vermiculite--and see  
> how they
> do. If they are fine, you can use it in starting mixes. If not, you  
> know
> that it requires a few more months of curing before it is safe to  
> use for
> sensitive applications.
>
> Best,
>
> Miranda
>
> On Jan 14, 2008 11:37 AM, <loisdan@juno.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi Everyone,
>>
>> Last week I posted a piece to my blog on troublefree composting.  
>> Out of
>> curiosity, I browsed several GWL member sites to see what you all  
>> have to
>> say on the topic. Of those I read, while most gave at least an  
>> obligatory
>> nod to the "rules" of composting, nearly everyone seemed to use  
>> some type
>> of desultory method similar to my own. What say you? Do any of you
>> compost only by the rules? It might be an interesting exercise for  
>> us to
>> discuss whether formal composting actually has much effect on the  
>> final
>> product.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Lois
>> Visit http://loisdevries.blogspot.com
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