The Miracle of Compost

Compost and soil building is the foundation of our fertility Program for the Farm. 

1. We make our own compost for our soil mix and for planting seedlings.
2. We grow green manures for incorporation into the soil during the growing season.
3. We buy compost day to day use on the farm.

The biggest source of compost is from the Rochester, Minnesota, Waste to Energy Facility. This is primarily leaf and grass compost. It costs $25 per ton if you load your own. They test it for persistent chemicals yearly and there have been none. They say that it requires 30-35 yards of leaves and grass to make one yard of compost. So the compost is a greatly concentrated form of organic matter. The compost is nearly weed free so we can use it as a protective weed supressing mulch on top of the soil. The compost facility is very close to where I work and only a mile from the farmers market, so I combine many trips.