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

From: <soilfoodweb_at_aol.com>
Date: Fri, 24 Dec 2004 14:47:32 EST

It is possible to get a whole compost pile above the minimum required
temperature, for the entire time period required, to kill human pathogens.
 
The point is to get the temperature above a certain temperature, for the
required period of time. Not all of the pile will be above that temperature
level all the time - the outside of the pile is not usually at temperature, but
the inside of the pile must be, for the correct minimum time period.
 
Then you turn the pile. So eventually, all material in the pile gets into
the middle of the pile, and heats adequately for the minimum time required.
Therefore, thermal piles have to be turned, and turned on-time. The mix of
starting materials is critical to make sure adequate heat will be generated,
for the time period required. Different mixes result in different organisms
and heating properties.
 
If worms are doing the work, then the worms turn the material, and the worms
exit the human pathogens. that's cold-composting. As long as you have
adequate concentration, or density, worms per amount of added material, the
compost will be human-pathogen free.
 
Can we get pathogen-free piles? We have lots of data showing that
human-pathogens are not detectable when the piles are properly composted.
 
Can piles be re-contaminated? Sure, just like food can be pathogen free,
and then, at a later time, be contaminated by someone with fecal material on
their hands. Compost piles can be contaminated after they are finished,
especially if the pile lacks active biology.
 
Compost is like milk in that regard. If you keep the milk cows clean, so
the udders are not contaminated by pathogens, then the milk will not get
contaminated by passage through the udder. If the milking pail is contaminated,
then the milk will get contaminated. If the milk tank isn't properly
maintained, the milk will get contaminated. If the bottling plant isn't properly
maintained, if the milk isn't kept refrigerated, if the glass you pour the milk
in is not clean, if you stir the milk with a dirty spoon......
 
All these things can cause problems. Just like milk, you have to take care
to make sure compost does not get re-contaminated. Luckily, we don't have to
be quite as careful with compost as we have to be with milk, because there
is a set of beneficial organisms that should be in compost.
 
So, like compost, you take care, and testing is required to make sure all is
being done correctly during the whole process of milk production. You can
still have problems, though if you let your children drink straight from the
bottle, and back-wash occurs........
 
Yum. Wonderful topic to be discussing on Christmas Eve!
 
Happy holidays and may only beneficial critters surround you!
 
Elaine R. Ingham
Soil Foodweb Inc., Corvallis, Oregon
Soil Foodweb Inc., Port Jefferson, New York
Soil Foodweb Institute, Lismore Australia
Soil Foodweb Institute Cambridge, New Zealand
Laboratorios de Soil Foodweb, Culiacan, Mexico
Soil Foodweb Inc., Jerome, Idaho
Soil Foodweb Inc., South Africa








Received on Sun Dec 26 2004 - 17:41:02 EST

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