[Terrapreta] Char charged vermicomposting trial

[Frank Teuton]

Hi Allan,

Actually my garbage disposal/milk crates lined with geotextile system would 
be appropriate for up to 2-3 acres of market gardens in conjunction with 
other sources of compost, manure, leaves, etc. I currently run 30 milkcrates 
as individual worm bins, which take up 6 square feet (and a bit more) 
,stacked 5 deep, of floor space in my garage. I could easily run 200 or more 
if raising worms was a goal, or 150 stacked three deep to generate 
vermicompost...such a system would yield about 10 yards of vermicompost 
annually for the stacked system, or 40 yards for the individual bin method; 
individual bins are more labor intensive but if you can retail the worms at 
ten bucks/ pound-equivalent each bin should generate 60 dollars/year in worm 
revenue and around 6 cubic feet of vermicompost (castings).

In my perfect world scenario, clients of a CSA would each run a three season 
worm bin in any of the outdoor black box composters out there, cleaning out 
every fall and bringing their compost back to the farmer. Realistically I 
don't expect many people to keep worms indoors due to the 'betes noires' of 
vermicomposting, fruit flies and fungus gnats. Up here worms cannot winter 
over in small compost boxes so there would be a need to recharge them every 
spring. After fall cleanout a supply of shredded leaves, shredded paper etc 
would be placed by the compost box and each time kitchen wastes are added a 
layer of such materials would be applied to ensure C:N balance and no spring 
'sploosh' when a mass of kitchen wastes thaws and melts in the spring.....

Wouldn't it be nice if you could get 10 cubic feet of compost per CSA member 
every fall?

And, if you could supply them with rock dusts, charcoal dust, etc, to be 
dusted onto each layer as the pile is growing, you could get exactly the 
compost you need and everyone could participate in the Terra Preta 
sequestration dance...and the charcoal would be ready to hit the soil 
already charged with nutrients and microorganisms so no negative application 
effects should occur.

The big reminder to give out is for people to water the compost once a week 
especially in warm weather, and to use a piece of rebar ( or something 
similar) to aerate the pile once a month or so;  aerobicity is assured.

I am also experimenting with larger scale vermicomposting inside a car 
shelter (12 x 25) made by Harnois. So far in spite of some very cold spells 
this winter a 10x25x6 feet high pile made up of wood chips, leaves, coffee 
grounds (thank you Tim Horton's) and various orchard and vegetable wastes is 
staying warm enough for the worms. I believe the garbage disposal method 
could be used at this scale for reducing chunk charcoal into sizes that 
would compost nicely and not create any problems cultivating and seeding. 
The need for water in the disposal matches up nicely to the need for 
additional water in vermicomposting (versus regular composting) and takes 
care of the initial wetting of the charcoal. I use a mister in the disposal 
method to keep the water to material ratio as low as possible. The charcoal 
in the system grinds easily and tends to have a cleaning out effect on the 
system. I'm guessing that if I had a supply of chunk charcoal I could 
probably process 200 or more kilograms an hour with my two tub garbage 
disposal set up. (Electric, portable, dust free....)

While this is hardly the hot setup from any industrial POV, it is feasible 
for small scale work up to a few acres worth of vermicompost or compost, and 
a heck of a lot less noisy and dusty than cement mixers with rocks, gas 
powered shredders, etc. On a larger farm scale where farmers are already 
working with liquid systems something like this could be piggy backed on 
with little need for radical equipment changes.

I recognize that charging with charcoal will probably take a small bite out 
of the overall nutrient levels in the compost; the TANSTAAFL principle is 
always in full force and effect. Better this should happen in the composting 
process than have negative consequences on plant growth, is my working 
hypothesis.

All the best,

Frank Teuton

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Allan Balliett" <aballiett at frontiernet.net>
To: "Frank Teuton" <fteuton at videotron.ca>
Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2008 9:02 PM
Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Char charged vermicomposting trial


> >Over the next few days I will inspect the bins periodically to see how 
> >the worms respond to this new feed.
>>
>
> Bravo, Frank! Thank god someone's thinking about the garden.
>
> Charcoal Supplement containers usually have a warning that states that 
> prolonged intake of charcoal  will lead to malnutrition as the charcoal 
> absorbs nutrients in the gut.
>
> For what it's worth. -Allan
>