Week 3 brought to us our second beautiful pile of dark, rich compost.  Sitting there, all by themselves, patiently curing for the next 10 days until they are finally ready to be applied to the gardens.  You can still see some small remnants of what originally went into the mix (sometime a not fully decomposed chunk of bread, or bits of wood bark) but for the most part, its dark and rich, and once its been cured and screened what is left will look like rich dirt for our soils.

Just so I do not confuse anyone, compost is not dirt.  It's a component of dirt, but otherwise called a "soil amendment."  It's also not fertilizer.  Fertilizer is specially classified and regulated, typically a chemical made out of petroleum, and very high in N-P-K (Nitrogen-Phosporous-Potassium).  Compost has significant levels of N-P-K, but in smaller amounts than fertilizer and is very high in beneficial microbial activity that bring balance back to the soil and slowly releases its jewels to plants in a manner that can be absorbed by them.  Chemical fertilizers release quick, high doses of nutrients, the majority of which is not picked up by plants, but instead leaches into our soil and water causing serious imbalances.  (See the previous post on how N is wreaking havoc on the planet).

But I digress.  Next week promises to be especially interesting as, along as temperatures of the 1st curing pile fall below 90 degrees F, we will get to bring our first batch of compost to the gardens!  Next step, let's see what we can grow....Looking for some kale for my upcoming cleanse!

Til next week, be sure to check out our events and pictures on the NING site!