Risk using city dump compost?
kskasia
14 years ago
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ericwi
14 years agonutsaboutflowers
14 years agoRelated Discussions
composting chicken manure in the city
Comments (14)Oh yes, the leaves as browns -now I see you already had said that. Oh my gosh that is a perfect set up. I know you are worried about odor, but with old leaves you will do GREAT!!! Layering like you described is perfect! You can decide how much moisture - if it does not get too wet and you have a good supply of leaves or other browns, you should be fine and there should not be an odor problem. Are you saying that you are considering not starting composting at all? I suspect you would love small scale urban composting SO much that one day you would look back and laugh that you had considered "not" to do it. Or if you have already started composting other things with those leaves, I agree with Annpat, the chicken waste is awesome and you could always start with less manure if you are nervous and work your way up as you see how great it works in the compost. - Rachel...See MoreCity Compost Question
Comments (30)On thing to be aware of - human waste from the sewer treatment plant is added to the compost in most cities. Dept of Natural Resources says that it is a 'valuable resource'. The mulch is well composted with plant material after mixing and is tested. It is an excellent plant medium in my opion, even for veggies. When I pull into the composting facility, the sign out front says wastewater treatment facility. I only see the plant material they are working with, not the wastwater treatment plant. I'm not sure if it is in a different area even. But the composting facility is run by the wasterwater treatment department. When you buy commercial compost in bags, it contains the same things. Most such composting companies are located near major wastewater treatment facilities. The labels they use may call it something else, to eliminate the 'yuck' factor. Sooooo - all I am trying to say is to be aware. Get used to it. Its excellent fertilizer and tested for health concerns. If you don't like the idea, then municipal waste may not be for you. The charge for the screened compost is $16/cubic foot. MULCH, without the compost and consisting of schreded brush, including leaves and branches is $8/cf. They also sell a course mulch with a little compost added for $6/cf. It will take a long time to break down and is not suitable for gardens but is excellent around trees and berries. I use this compost in containers and raised beds, with the mulch over the top for moisture and weed control. If you have not watched the Back to Eden film, it covers this topic well and is inspirational. The link below is for that film to watch free online. Here is a link that might be useful: back to eden film...See MoreSF bay area city dump's compost quality
Comments (8)I have a somewhat different take than some on this post Some of us with really heavy clay simply need to amend our soil. I also live in the bay area and my soil is way to heavy for most plants to survive. I have tried to plant citrus and other plants in the native soil and they have done extremely poorly. What you don't want to do is to dig a hole in the clay and add top soil or something else that drains readily. Water will just collect in this hole at the interface between the two soils. This will reduce aeration to the roots and they will die from lack of oxygen. When amending my soil I try to dig it in so that there is a gradient. At the surface there is 100% amended soil. 1 foot down or so there is 50% clay/50% amended soil. 2 feet down it is 80% clay/20% amended soil. This way there is not a sharp interface between the two. With this technique I have had very good luck with most everything I have planted. Good luck. -Brett...See MoreFinding non-toxic compost in NJ
Comments (4)I found that thread you were talking about: Organic Gardening Forum: Risk using city dump compost? And I also found this on chicken manure contaminating agricultural lands: Arsenic In Chicken Production ... "Chicken manure introduces huge quantities of arsenic to agricultural fields. According to Donald L. Sparks, professor of marine studies at the University of Delaware, poultry litter is spread on land at the rate of 9 to 20 metric tons per hectare. Each year, he estimates, 20 to 50 metric tons of roxarsone in chicken litter is applied to fields on the Delmarva Peninsula, a region that includes parts of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia." "A group led by Johns Hopkins' Silbergeld analyzed arsenic in tap water on the Delmarva Peninsula. It found higher levels of arsenic in areas where chicken litter is spread on fields and lower levels in areas where chicken manure is not spread. The research was reported at the Society of Toxicology meeting in late March." ... I found this on testing: Arsenic in Poultry Litter: Organic Regulations ... "To find out how much arsenic is in the poultry litter that you intend to use, have your soil or manure testing laboratory check your litter samples for arsenic (it may be listed on the soil test request form by its chemical symbol, As). You can ask for this test when you submit your litter for the standard analysis of plant-available nutrients. Depending on the laboratory, the test for arsenic will be labeled either as "arsenic" or as "total recoverable metals," where arsenic is one of several metals analyzed. A soil test for arsenic will range from $5 to $20 per sample, depending on whether you are using a state or private soil testing laboratory." ... But I don't have the time or inclination to get the Scotts Premium Humus and Manure tested, I would rather just return it to be on the side of caution. I figure that municipal compost has to be a better option....See MoreDan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
14 years agomarlingardener
13 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
13 years agoDan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
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13 years agoannpat
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13 years agoanney
13 years agoannpat
13 years agoDan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
13 years agodavid52 Zone 6
13 years agoannpat
13 years agoDan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
13 years agoUser
13 years agodavid52 Zone 6
13 years agoannpat
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8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoKansas Gardener
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