O2Compost Hot Topics
Successful Manure & Waste Management
Test Piles
September 27th, 2007 by peter
The O2Compost Micro-Bin has proven to be a great success for horse owners with 1 to 4 horses. To date, we have sold over 200 Micro-Bin systems to farms and stables located throughout the U.S. and Canada. Virtually everyone has discovered that aerated composting not only solves their manure management “issues”, but it is also very easy to incorporate into their daily routine.
In an effort to continually refine the Micro-Bin approach to small scale on-farm compostnig, we have been conducting our own research to “learn by doing”. The following discussion pertains to the first of three tests that we are currently running.
Test #1 – Retention of Nitrogen with Sweet PDZ
As described on their website (www.sweetpdz.com), “Sweet PDZ is the leading stall freshener on the market and is the odor control and deodorizer of choice for thousands of horse, pet and livestock owners. Sweet PDZ is an all-natural, non-hazardous and non-toxic material (i.e. Zeolite, a naturally occurring volcanic mineral). It captures, neutralizes, and eliminates harmful levels of ammonia and odors. Sweet PDZ is a far superior alternative to lime products for ammonia removal and moisture absorption. Don’t risk compromising your horse’s performance.”
In discussing this product with their Sales Manager, Tom Menner, I asked if the ammonia (i.e. nitrogen) that is captured by their product is retained in the compost, thereby improving the quality of the finished product. Tom’s response was, “That’s a good question, I don’t know. How can we find out?”
To answer this question, we have set up one of my Micro-bins with 2.5 cubic yards of horse manure mixed with sawdust bedding. At the 3-foot horizon (about a foot down from the top), I placed five nylon mesh bags with different mixes of manure, bedding and Sweet PDZ (see illustration and table below). Each sample was prepared in an identical manner with the exception of the type and quantity of Sweet PDZ. The objective is to compost these samples for 60 days and then send representative portions of each sample to the laboratory to evaluate the carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N). The samples will be pulled around Halloween and the lab test results will be posted here as soon as we receive them.
Plan View (Looking Down)
New Regulations for Managing Horse Manure
November 7th, 2006 by peter
I had the opportunity to travel to three major horse centers in the United States, including: Orange and San Diego Counties, CA; Will County, IL; and Marion County, FL. In all cases, representatives of the County Conservation Districts (CD) and the Federal Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) clearly indicated that they expect new regulations to be adopted requiring horse owners to comply with federal and state water quality standards.
Unfortunately, the defense “But we’ve always done it that way” will no longer work in most situations. Some counties are responding to federal dictates and others seem to be responding more to neighbor complaints. All in all, the fact remains – times are changing and horse manure will need to be managed in accordance with a clearly written plan or the stable / training facility / clinic may be shut down for non-compliance. Ultimately, it’s all about water quality, and it’s safe to say that we all support a cleaner environment.
When will this take place? It will vary from region to region, based on a wide array of factors. It’s happening right now in Southern California and it is about to begin in central Florida. After talking with horse owners at recent Equine Affaire Expos (Pomona, CA and Columbus, OH), I sense that some horse organizations are trying to take a proactive stance while many others are ignoring the situation or dragging their heels. My opinion is that it is always better to be pro-active and take charge of your future than it is to be reactive and fight inevitable change.
Our mission at O2Compost is to help horse owners properly manage manure, protect ground water and surface water quality, and convert an operating expense into a new profit center for their farm or stable.
Compost Marketing Hints
November 7th, 2006 by peter
- Allow yourself to be excited about your compost and talk about it with anyone who will listen. Genuine enthusiasm is a wonderful way to sell your product.
- Never give your compost away for free. People need to know that it has real value. If you do give some of your compost away, state that it is worth $25 / cubic yard, that you will be calling them to find out how it worked in their garden, and that you will be using their testimonial in your marketing campaign. They need to earn their “free” compost.
- During the winter months, donate a pick-up truck load (2 cubic yards) of your compost to a charity auction in your community. This will work particularly well if there is a cross over with the local garden club, as these folks go nuts for high-quality compost.
Fall 2004 Newsletter
Welcome to O2Compost
October 14th, 2006 by peter
Welcome to “Hot Topics”, the O2Compost Blog. The purpose of this section of our website is to keep you updated on a wide variety of topics in the realm of composting, to provide an opportunity for you to comment on the articles that we post, and to make suggestions for future topics.
Invitation to Editors & Students:
 Over the course of 2008, I will be writing a series of 12 Newsletter Articles, each approximately 500 words in length. I invite the editors of Horse Club Newsletters to reprint these in their monthly publications, along with any other sections from the various O2Compost website pages. Further, I invite students to utilize the information presented on this website for their projects, science fair competitions, etc.
In doing so, please attach the following acknowledgement:
“O2Compost specializes in aerated compost system design and operator training. Our mission is to teach the art and science of aerated composting, and in so doing, empower our world community to become committed stewards of our land and water resources and bold leaders in sustainable agriculture.”