Compost? How much is enough?
- To: P*@athenet.net
- Subject: Compost? How much is enough?
- From: L* <L*@aol.com>
- Date: Sun, 2 Nov 1997 12:08:53 EST
Listen up guys. I'm back.
I have been reading and thinking about compost. Last year there was a post by
one of the outstanding members of this group stating that one year he put so
much compost into his plot that the temperature of the soil rose into the 100s
and that he had, rather than a garden, just created the world's biggest
compost heap!
A number of those posting here talk about putting 6 inches of compost on their
garden and then tilling it in. I assume their tillers are effective to about 8
inches and so their garden is in essence a little more than 40% compost, at
least until it packs down. The local farm agent says that about one inch is
all that is nesessary each year. I heard that the Zehr's (remember them?) put
a thin layer of composted cow manure on their garden each year and rely mostly
on a crop of winter rye to supply "green manure." I have added two inches of
compost to my garden and have tilled it in 8 inches. There was little organic
material in my new garden when I started. I have winter rye growing (what
hasn't been eaten by the deer, fence not yet complete) and will till it in in
the spring. Any comments from some of you composters?
By the way, I am still have psychological problems regarding the guy who
insulted my seeds for next year. TerriLynn said I should have been harder on
him. I can only say that if this guy asks Chris Anderson for some seeds and if
Chris is running low that he makes sure this guy is near or at the bottom of
his list.
Marv in Altoona PA
