I admitted in a blog post back in early August to getting excited about a couple of things -- our fly predators and composting. Well, that blog was all about fly predators, and this one is about composting!
When you have as many large animals as we do -- 30 horses -- you end up with a lot of manure and stall bedding. We compost it in long, narrow piles called windrows, then spread it on our pastures as a wonderful soil amendment using our tractor-powered manure spreader. The reason I get so worked up about composting is because of how incredible it really is. Lots of tiny invisible microbes break down all this organic matter and over time, turn it into something that looks like rich top soil. All we need to do is pile it up, keep it moist, and turn it. Then turn it again ... and again ... and again.
Over the course of several months, it goes from looking like this:
To this:
Our employee Cindy took both of these photos this afternoon, when she and I were out turning the windrows with the two tractors. That small pile in the very top photo is stuff collected from the barn stalls over the summer, so there isn't much yet ... but this will become the "starter pile" that will serve as the heat engine of a new windrow this winter.
Here's a photo I took of Cindy moving one of our three windrows, this being the center one:
This is the windrow that is the oldest and most thoroughly "cooked." Today will be the last time we turn it. Now we will leave it alone to cure for the next several weeks, and it will be the first one we spread on the pastures this fall. But before we get buried in snow, we will have all three windrows spread on the fields. And that gives me one more opportunity to blog about compost!
Interesting stuff! I'm a city gal but I think I'd like to learn how to drive a tractor!
Posted by: Miranda | September 10, 2008 at 11:28 AM
The ranch is truly "green" and looking after its corner of the earth....a job well done!
Posted by: Nina | September 09, 2008 at 07:47 PM
What an good story, Steve! It's always interesting to hear about the nuts and bolts parts of life at RDR. Now if we could just get you to wear a different shirt for the third photo in this installment...(just kidding)
Posted by: Moon Rani | September 09, 2008 at 07:19 PM
WOW - I am an avid gardner - I am WAY impressed (and a little jealous)! I was just talking to my dad about starting a compost pile - this must be a sign that it's time to get cookin'
Posted by: Sharon | September 09, 2008 at 02:22 PM
Composting is a seriously underrated "good time." I only have a tiny composter from my kitchen scraps for my tiny garden, but it turns out the most beautiful humus (not to be confused with hummus, that very delicious Middle Eastern food that you can eat) that improves the garden soil every year. And all for the cost of turning it.
Posted by: Janet in Cambridge | September 09, 2008 at 10:56 AM
The whole process of composting is quite exciting and amazing to follow.
With the size of RDR I can see the level of happiness to be mounds high. ; )
Posted by: Boundforglory | September 09, 2008 at 09:45 AM
Rock on Cindy!! One of many chores to make the ranch function in a great way! I'll stick to walking the dogs and cleaning the cat house!
Posted by: Shirley * James * Portland, OR | September 09, 2008 at 03:55 AM
I wish I had some of that to put on my "in need" yard! It would help it by leaps & bounds! That's some beautiful compost you've got there! Should I say a bumper crop? Great job!
Hugs to all,
ginger, Tobias & Tlingit
Posted by: Ginger Young | September 09, 2008 at 01:09 AM
Wow, that is a lot of compost - puts our tiny backyard efforts look pitiful. What do you end up using the compost for? Gardening? Flowers?
Posted by: Stacy | September 08, 2008 at 08:23 PM