Compostthe Black Gold

presented byRay Robinson

raymonde@msn.comnnmastergardeners.org

What is Compost?

Decomposed organic material

Why Compost?

Recycling, reduce waste Improves the soil Adds nutrients to the soil Food for plants Environmentally responsible Monetary benefit

What Can be Composted?

Just Say No To Garden and Lawn

Drugs

Outline Overview Virginia Tech’s new interdisciplinary

offering - Organic Horticulture and Landscape Systems

A Bit on Soil Biology and Healthy Soil Composting and Compost Use Vermicomposting

Compost Happens!

presented byBill Garlette

william.garlette@cox.netnnmastergardeners.org

Up Front SlidesThe First Priority: How???

Balance Healthy Plants Healthy Soil Biologically Active Soil

Up Front SlidesThe First Priority: How???

Compost Insect Diversity Plant Diversity Obey the Seven Organic Rules And…

95% of Pest and Disease Control is attributable to plant health.

99%+ of Plant Health is dependent on healthy soil.

100% of Soil Health is dependent on good organic content and biological diversity.

100% of Soil Health problems are due to chemicals, pesticides and other man-made interference.

Seven Organic Rules1.1. Always use the best adapted varieties for each Always use the best adapted varieties for each

environment.environment.2.2. Plant in the preferred season.Plant in the preferred season.3.3. Balance the mineral content of the soil.Balance the mineral content of the soil.4.4. Build and maintain the soil organic content – Build and maintain the soil organic content –

humus.humus.5.5. Do nothing to harm the beneficial soil life.Do nothing to harm the beneficial soil life.6.6. Consider troublesome insects and diseases as Consider troublesome insects and diseases as

symptoms of one of the above rules having been symptoms of one of the above rules having been violatedviolated

7.7. Be patient. Mother Nature gives birth, but Father Be patient. Mother Nature gives birth, but Father Time controls the cyclesTime controls the cycles- - from from Lessons in NatureLessons in Nature by Malcolm Beck by Malcolm Beck

Remember

Soil is at the root of all your plant problems!

And

Feed the Soil and It’ll Feed the Plants!

It’s Alive!!!

Just like Plants and Animals; The Soil is Alive!

We Have to Treat It the Same As Other Living

Things

What We Dread Germs – Disease Bugs

Weeds

The Outcome

If we win the war to control Nature, we

WILL be on the losing side!

Principals of Organic Horticulture

We focus on pollution of the:Atmosphere - AirHydrosphere - WaterBiosphere – Flora & Fauna, Us

But not the Lithosphere – The Soil

Principals of Organic Horticulture Figure Out The Fertilizer

What’s This Good For?

10-10-10

Principals of Organic Horticulture Figure Out The Fertilizer

And This?

3-36-9

The Questions

Can You Figure Out What Vitamins, Minerals, Nutrients You Should Take For A Week?

Would You Want a Weeks Worth of Meals for Sunday Dinner?

Here Are The Basic Plant Needs

Carbon (C) Iron (Fe)Hydrogen (H) Boron (B)Oxygen (O) Zinc (Zn)Nitrogen (N) Copper (Cu)Phosphorus (P) Manganese (Mn)Potassium (K) Molybdenum (Mo)Magnesium (Mg) Chlorine (Cl)Calcium (Ca) Cobalt (Co)Sulfur (S)

= 17 Basic needs

Don’t Forget,Those Are Just The Elementals.

Then You Have: Amino Acids Humic & Fulvic Acids Photosynthetic Sugars Mycorrhizal Fungi And Lots More Stuff In The Plant & Soil

Food Web

Principals of Organic Horticulture

But This One Tells The Tale!!But This One Tells The Tale!!• Importance of Proper Mineral Balance – If One is Out

of Balance, It Effects Others in a Detrimental Manner

Principals of Organic Horticulture

How did plants survive B.C. (Before Chemicals)?

The Soil Food Web is comprised of

microorganisms that provide nutrients and health to the plants as

well as the soil.

Principals of Organic Horticulture

Principals of Organic Horticulture

Function of Soil Organisms

Principals of Organic Horticulture Function of Soil Organisms

Principals of Organic Horticulture Function of Soil Organisms

Fill a Swimming Pool with Salt =

Osmotic Shock

Principals of Organic Horticulture Function of Soil Organisms

Just Say No To Garden and Lawn Drugs =

Osmotic Shock

Principals of Organic Horticulture Function of Soil Organisms

Soil Soil microbes Plants Herbivores Carnivores Omnivores

Everybody Feeds the Soil

Principals of Organic Horticulture Function of Soil Organisms

If the microbes in the soil are disrupted and the nutrient cycle is out of balance then we have the recipe for Pest, Weeds and Pathogens.

If the microbes in the soil are disrupted and the nutrient cycle is out of balance then we have the recipe for Pest, Weeds and Pathogens.

Principals of Organic HorticultureCaring For The Soil As A Living

System Three Aspects of Soil Health & Fertility

Physical Chemical – Organic Chemistry: cations – anions Biological

Requirements of a Living System Food Air Water “Shelter” – Soil structure & Conservation Living Organism - Biota

Principals of Organic HorticultureCaring For The Soil As A Living

System

The Organic Matter Cycle

&

The Soil Food Web

Principals of Organic Horticulture Feeding the Soil a Balanced Diet Compost Cover Crops Organic Mulches Other Organic Residues Lime, Other Natural Minerals and

Organic Nutrients

Questions?

                                           

Compost HappensCompost Happens

Don’t Do This At Home!

Do This, Instead

Why CompostHealthier Soil & PlantsMore Soil BiologyNo Chemistry 501 Less –Icides (Pest, Herb, Fung)Less Chemical FertilizersLess Chemical StinkLess $$$

Why CompostBottom Line

CheapSimpleNo Chemicals which Kill

the Soil OrganismsBetter Plant and Water

Quality

What is Composting?

What Are The Types Of Composting?

Yard Waste (Thermal), Worm, Biosolids

& Compost Tea

Worm Your Way Into Composting!

Compost Can Be Used To:

Add Beneficial OrganismsAdd NutrientsHelp Sandy Soil Hold MoistureLoosen Heavy Clay SoilsMake Potting SoilMulch

Excellent Compost Materials

Excellent Compost Materials

“GREENIES“(Nitrogen)

Coffee GroundsCover Crops

SeaweedVegetable scraps

Egg shellsFruit

WeedsGrass clippings

40%

"BROWNIES“(Carbon)

HayLeavesStraw

NutshellsShredded paper

Pine needlesSaw dust

Garden stalks60%

Other Excellent Sources

Of

Compost

My Friend Flicka

Elsie the Cow

Bugs Bunny

And all the Friends of the Colonel

Don’t Use

Rin Tin Tin’s Residue

Sylvester’s Exhaust

Or Little Johnny’s John Quests

More Problem Stuff

Disease & insect infested plants Noxious weeds Meat scraps Dairy products Cooking oils & grease