Re: [compost_tea] Re: MICROBIOLOGY TESTING of COMPOST TEAS

From: butch ragland <wilddog_202_at_yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 22 Dec 2004 20:41:18 -0800 (PST)
Its not possible to pasteurize a compost pile. I know
Dennis is not suggesting that but what are we talking
about beyond reasonable caution.

--- dkemnitz2000 <dkemnitz2000_at_yahoo.com> wrote:

>
> --- There are rodents, rabbbits, cats, raccoons, etc
> cruising around
> the compost pile (24/7). Not just birds. That'll
> change statistical
> significance.  I think an ND will be somewhat
> difficult to obtain
> with all those critters moving around. I've done
> lots of coliform
> (not E. coli specifically)testing on raw milk
> samples and coliform
> (microorganisms from the gut of warm blooded
> animals)get in the milk
> quite easily apparently.
>     BTW I sure appreciate all the people on this
> list who send info
> to further  the cause.  It takes a lot of time (for
> me anyway)to
> write the long explanations, etc. Thanks again.
> Dennis Kemnitz in KS
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, butch ragland
> <wilddog_202_at_y...>
> wrote:
> > I can follow all of the what ifs but statistically
> it
> > is so unlikely that it seems silly to worry about
> it.
> > --- Ted Peterson <ted.peterson_at_t...> wrote:
> >
> > >   ----- Original Message -----
> > >   From: butch ragland
> > >   To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
> > >   Sent: Wednesday, December 22, 2004 4:39 PM
> > >   Subject: Re: [compost_tea] MICROBIOLOGY
> TESTING of
> > > COMPOST TEAS
> > >
> > >
> > >   What is the signifience of traces of e coli
> such
> > > as a
> > >   random bird droping on a pile of compost.
> > >
> > >
> > > Think of aerobic and anaerobic conditions.  You
> have
> > > a compost pile or windrow you have carefully
> > > nurtured from greenwaste only, no animal feces
> used
> > > in the compost.  It sits outside and a couple of
> > > birds fly over and leave droppings.  Now, most
> birds
> > > are carnivores; they eat insects and worms along
> > > with berries and nuts and stuff.  But their
> > > digestive systems, in general, are capable of
> > > digesting meat, or protein from animals.  That
> means
> > > they have the bacteria in their digestive
> systems to
> > > handle these inputs.  A bird's digestive system
> is
> > > anaerobic which means that anaerobic bacteria
> thrive
> > > there.  There are some switchers but it's more
> of a
> > > case where they can tolerate O2 as opposed to
> > > requiring O2.  There are e coli, and other
> > > pathogens, associated with bird equivelant of a
> > > colon.
> > >
> > > When these birds evacuate (Remember, birds do
> not
> > > have urinary tracts like humans.  You don't see
> > > birds running sound lifting their legs on bushes
> and
> > > branches.) all the material goes including
> bacteria
> > > feeding on the stuff being ejected.  This hits
> the
> > > compost pile and along comes Joe Composter and
> turns
> > > the pile over.  Now these bacteria are at the
> bottom
> > > or near the center of the pile with little air.
> > > It's an environment they like so they start
> > > multiplying.  Leave it long enough and keep your
> > > pile anaerobic enough and you can generate
> pathogen
> > > levels that are unacceptable by EPA standards
> for
> > > compost.  Remember also that bacteria don't
> > > generally taxi so you have to turn the pile
> around
> > > to spread the stuff throughtout the whole pile.
> > > Even then, pathogens near the surface will be
> less
> > > because of O2 and UV.  UV actually kills them
> and
> > > they can be digested under certain circumstances
> but
> > > I wouldn't count on digestion as a way to
> control
> > > pathogens.
> > >
> > > That's how it can happen. Now, lucky for us, e
> coli
> > > are very sensitive to UV and O2 so if you keep
> your
> > > pile turned and oxygenated enough, you can keep
> the
> > > pathogen levels quite low.  Also, lucky for us
> > > ostrich's don't fly.
> > >
> > > Now I don't know if you have ever raised a crow
> but
> > > I have (three to be exact) and let me tell you,
> they
> > > produce a healthy load.  It's almost directly
> > > proportional to the amount you feed them which
> makes
> > > me wonder if anything they eat, which is quite a
> > > lot, actually gets digested.
> > >
> > > Ted Peterson
> > > SOE
> >
> > =====
> > Butch Ragland
> > Conflict is as addictive as
> > cocaine, alcohol, cigarettes,etc
> > I'm sorry to report that
> > cooperation is not
> >
> >
> >            
> > __________________________________
> > Do you Yahoo!?
> > The all-new My Yahoo! - What will yours do?
> > http://my.yahoo.com
>
>
>
>

=====
Butch Ragland
Conflict is as addictive as
cocaine, alcohol, cigarettes,etc
I'm sorry to report that
cooperation is not


           
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Received on Thu Dec 23 2004 - 09:45:28 EST

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