MGATC COMPOST PROJECT
In 2018 the Wabash River Enhancement Corporation funded the MGATC compost project to service the Extension Gardens (Community Gardens, Demonstration Gardens, and Display and Idea Gardens). In early 2019 the five large compost bins and materials staging area was completed. In late 2021, after a pause because of COVID 19, the project was renewed and a compost committee was formed.
The compost committee developed a plan for managing the piles, and serious work began in early 2022. With the approval of the board, the committee purchased and assembled a shredder and the two trailers which were needed for hauling garden scraps to the bins. They also bought a compost thermometer and needed safety equipment. A watering system was installed which allows the piles to be kept at the proper moisture content. As of July, the educational sign shown above thanked WREC for their generous contribution while teaching gardeners and visitors about the science behind composting.
Shredder for breaking brown materials into fine particles
Two trailers were purchased and placed around the gardens. Material is hauled with them several times a week.
The trailers are used several times a week to haul green materials from the gardens to the compost piles.
The trailers are also used for hauling shredded materials (browns) for adding to the compost piles.
Layering the browns and greens, and watering
Turning a working pile with the tractor. The steam coming from the pile means the temperature is high and there is moisture in the pile.
Temperatures inside the pile of over 140 degrees F will kill any weed seeds in the pile. Our managed piles consistently read from 150-170 degrees F.
The three working bins that we add and turn new materials into. These piles are aerated by moving the piles from one side of the bin to the other. They are watered regularly to keep the proper moisture level. As the materials break down and the pile becomes smaller the piles are combined and stacked higher to achieve higher temperatures.
Bins 4 and 5 will be used for completed compost. This photo shows what happened in 2020 when the material from the gardens was just piled up. Proper composting never took place to achieve the temperatures needed, so the resultant material is full of weed seeds, which grew in the pile.
Spreading out material from the gardens and using the tractor mower to facilitate faster breakdown.
Shredded material.