Re: [compost_tea] Re: carbonization

From: Steve Bridges <steve_at_texasgrown.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2004 13:05:35 -0600

Ted,
When I die are you going to let me into Heaven?

Oh, and why do bad things happen to good people?

Thank you for the microbes....

......in Your name,,,,Amen,
Steve Bridges
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Ted Peterson
  To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
  Sent: Thursday, December 30, 2004 12:52 PM
  Subject: Re: [compost_tea] Re: carbonization


  From: soilfoodweb_at_aol.com
  To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
  Sent: Thursday, December 30, 2004 7:16 AM
  Subject: Re: [compost_tea] Re: carbonization


  Absolutely, when charcoal is being formed, nutrients are being lost throu=
gh volatilization, and organisms are dying because they are being converted=
 to charcoal.

  I did not know that charcoal production meant that there was no oxygen pr=
esent or, as Steve points out, oxygen concentration has dropped below some =
level.

  So, take that as another useful indicator of what happened in someone's p=
ile. If charcoal is present, the pile MUST have gone anaerobic, lost a bun=
ch of nutrients and lost a great deal of the desirable organisms. Can it s=
till be called compost?

  I wonder what that threshold level of oxygen is? For charcoal to be form=
ed, what concentration has oxygen dropped below?

  Elaine:

  I am curious about something. Last week, you wrote an email giving all y=
our credits as a consultant to several composting operations. Even though =
you said you never ran a large operation (I don't blame you for not wanting=
 to do that.) you knew enough about it to consult and give large or small s=
cale composters advice and direction and had several clients who were runni=
ng quite successful operations based on your guidance.

  Most people I work with or consult with understand anaerobic/aerobic cond=
istions in a compost pile and what happens when O2 is restricted and the pi=
le gets too big. Some even know the role moisture plays in the process. B=
ut these people are looking for expert consultants who have that chemistry =
down and know or can predict with a degree of certainty how a compost pile =
will react at a given size with given materials and moisture/02, etc. They =
are looking for consultants who understand the role of CO2 and how regulati=
ng O2/CO2 can improve or harm a pile of any size.

  So when I see statements like the above, it makes me wonder. Please don'=
t take this as a personal attack but I am at a loss as to why I should ask =
you anything about composting.

  You know, your Compost Tea Brewing Manual and the work you did with the s=
oil food web was really outstanding stuff. Statements like the above and w=
hat they indicate don't equate with the same level of knowledge and show so=
meone who should be asking questions not giving answers.

  Ted Peterson
  SOE



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Received on Thu Dec 30 2004 - 18:13:26 EST

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