Jonah and Gwen and Mala sifting compost at Twin Oaks Community in Louisa Virginia

Illustration for a magazine article about composting. I don't think the article's come out yet or I'd post a link... composting is so cool!

Sifting first batch of compost April 3 2010

And Pheonix

Various ingredients in the compost pile, pictured here are egg shells, coffee grounds, dry banana tree leaves, grass clippings and spent roses

Teachers educate students on the how-to's, energy savings, and environmental benefits of composting.

Screened compost added to extractor. Extractor uses water and air to concentrate living biology in compost into liquid that can be used in sprayers, seeders, and other equipment to jump start soil biology. Shawn Preputin (pictured), Larry Johnson, and Alec McIntosh, farmers, create compost extract that is applied to their crop fields to bolster soil microbes and improve soil health. Hill County, MT; June 2022

Recipe

© unafinestradifronte.blogspot.com/

Ingredienti

200 g fichi fioroni (3 fichi)

30 g zucchero

Gocce di limone

Preparazione

Sbucciare dei fichi e disporli a strati con lo zucchero ed il succo di limone Coprire e lasciare riposare per mezz'ora. Mettere al fuoco e portare ad ebollizione per 15’, avendo cura di mescolare delicatamente e di frequente con un cucchiaio di legno. Al raffreddamento e sarà pronta per il consumo.

We used pallets to build seven compost bins so at least we had somewhere for the weeds to go.

Community gardens, Northampton.

See where this picture was taken. [?]

The sun sets as International Compost Awareness Week 2014 draws to an end

Fifth Graders are super excited to begin composting!

Bokeh

Extractor uses water and air to concentrate living biology in compost into liquid that can be used in sprayers, seeders, and other equipment to jump start soil biology. Shawn Preputin, Larry Johnson, and Alec McIntosh, farmers, create compost extract that is applied to their crop fields to bolster soil microbes and improve soil health. Hill County, MT; June 2022

Single Bin Redwood Compost Bin - side

a 3 bin compost system I built from reclaimed pallets held together with long screws. I later added plywood lids to keep off the rain. Composting is really good for healing soil. Starts all sorts of biological activity.

I'd guess that between 10 and 15 pumpkins got carved this year. The bin was already pretty full and the squirrels had gotten into the yard buckets overnight.

Soil temperature where growing plants are providing cover. Larry Johnson, Shawn Preputin, and Alec McIntosh, farmers, create compost extract that is applied to their crop fields to bolster soil microbes and improve soil health. Hill County, MT; June 2022

Raw material to be added to the Johnson-Su bioreactor. Shawn Preputin, Larry Johnson, and Alec McIntosh, farmers, create compost extract that is applied to their crop fields to bolster soil microbes and improve soil health. Hill County, MT; June 2022

Marni Thompson (L), NRCS soil health specialist, examines crop roots where compost extract is applied in the field. Notice soil sticking to roots showing the formation of glomalin, a sugar that helps to glue soil aggregates together creating stable soils that are able to infiltrate and store more water. Larry Johnson, Shawn Preputin, and Alec McIntosh, farmers, create compost extract that is applied to their crop fields to bolster soil microbes and improve soil health. Hill County, MT; June 2022

Shawn Preputin, Larry Johnson, and Alec McIntosh, farmers, mix wettened raw materials used to create compost extract that is prepared and applied to their crop fields to bolster soil microbes and improve soil health. Hill County, MT; June 2022

found in a small flower pot.

Okra, apple, spaghetti squash, onion, etc.

Kailee Calnan (R), NRCS supervisory district conservationist, looks on as Alec McIntosh (L) exposes crop roots where compost extract was applied in the field. Shawn Preputin, Larry Johnson, and Alec McIntosh, farmers, create compost extract that is applied to their crop fields to bolster soil microbes and improve soil health. Hill County, MT; June 2022

I made some compost bins (mostly) out of wood from our old fence.

Found a few plants growing in our compost bin. Our Red Wigglers have been hard at work!

Shawn puts the extract down with his seed using the liquid application set up on his hoe drill. Shawn Preputin, Larry Johnson, and Alec McIntosh, farmers, create compost extract that is applied to their crop fields to bolster soil microbes and improve soil health. Hill County, MT; June 2022

Last year's leaves - this year's compost.

Leavings from cleaning out the compost extractor will be put on Alec McIntosh's garden. The extractor uses water and air to concentrate living biology in compost into liquid that can be used in sprayers, seeders, and other equipment to jump start soil biology. Shawn Preputin, Larry Johnson, and Alec McIntosh, farmers, create compost extract that is applied to their crop fields to bolster soil microbes and improve soil health. Hill County, MT; June 2022

Here I am putting a few extra holes in the bottom of our compost can (for drainage).

Inspect our diet in the last week!

Composting is a reflexive activity.

That's a lot of compost.