Photolog

The "Black box" composter

The passive composting bin

Sasha mixing the compost with perfect form.

Teamwork!

A Dream Come True!

 

(photo by William Collier)

Look what we got!!

Revisions

Timeline Revision

April 21, 2011--- purchase bokashi kit

 tbd

Revised experiment

3 different kinds of composting—

1.      Passive composting (current system at Solebury)

a.       A pile of food and yard waste, turned occasionally

b.      Location:  Outside biology classroom windows

c.       Size: 4ft x 4ft

2.      Black box composting

a.       Food and yard waste stored in an aerated black container

b.      Location: Outside biology classroom windows

c.       Size: 4ft x 4ft

3.      Bokashi composting

a.       2 weeks of fermentation of all food waste

b.      1 month of passive mixing with existing soil

c.       Location: Ali’s house

d.      Size: 50 gal container, 4ft x 4ft hole

The goal:

To figure out which kind of composting is the most productive and best suited for Solebury.  This will be determined by the quality, quantity, and speed of the produced humus.

Timeline

1. By the end of this week (Thursday, April 14): Order bokashi kit + 1 extra bucket

2. By Wednesday of next week (April 20): Send in proposal to Tom about digging on campus

When Bokashi kit arrives...

1. Set up a calendar about collecting waste and tending to buckets/holes

2. Let dining hall staff and Robin know about what we are doing

3. Determine whether waste is going on/off campus (depending on what Tom says)

4. Start collecting waste

Remember to...

1. Pay back Jon with SEAC money

2. Coordinate what's happening with bokashi vs previous method of composting.

Summary!

Summary:

Exploring Compost:

Specifically, to develop a more efficient composting system for Solebury School. We will be experimenting with the Bokashi composting method, both with a starter kit and with our own EM culture.

Resources thus far:

·         William Collier *

·         Jon Freer *

·         http://www.bokashicycle.com/

·         http://www.wildlifegardeners.org/forum/fertilizing-soil-amendments/1292-extreme-bokashi-make-your-own-innoculant.html

·         http://www.teraganix.com/EM-Bokashi-Recipe-s/262.htm

·         http://www.hawaiihealingtree.org/?p=163

Specific goals:

1.      To understand the biology of both anaerobic and aerobic compost

2.      To find out if Bokashi is right for Solebury

3.      Possibly, to create a more organized and usable (if not entirely altered) compost system at Solebury

Background science so far:

Accelerated natural decomposition of food by effective microorganisms (EM) through anaerobic fermentation. Following fermentation, exposure to aerobic bacteria changes CO₂  into nitrates beneficial to the soil. 

What’s next?

·         Purchase culture and materials necessary

·         Start fermentation process

·         Write proposal for digging on campus (and present to Tom)

·         (Make our own culture)


*photographs by Alex Keller