Compost
From Envirowiki
Compost is the transformation of dead living matter through decomposition into soil and nutrients that can feed ecosystems and agriculture.
Death is the fundamental condition of the existence of life. All living things around us are in the gradual process of decay. Yet from dead matter, life is able to resurrect itself. Life and death are in fact dependant upon one another,and although we may feel that we cannot easily relate to death—that it is distant and remote to our present living condition—we actually intimately carry the phenomena of life and death within us at all times; death in our dead calcareous skeleton, and life in our vital, surging blood. The cycle of life and death is continuous, rhythmical and in a certain sense—in its predictability—it is soothing.
When we die, we begin to rot. Indeed when any living thing dies nature cannot wait to destroy its ordered structure—drive it into chaos—and reclaim it once more. This rhythm of life and death, both ruthless and calming, is embodied in the everyday compost heap. Although the compost heap is seen by many as a pile of putrid, dead waste, it is in fact a hive of buzzing life and activity. In just one handful of good compost there are more organisms than humans on the whole of planet earth[1]—a thought which I find truly remarkable. These micro-organisms are responsible for helping the breakdown of matter and the formation of the miraculous substance known as “Humus”[1].
In the Agriculture lectures Rudolf Steiner stresses the importance of “retaining the etheric vitality within the realm of the living”. He further adds that we must learn to “recognise that the soil surrounding the growing plants’ roots is a living entity with a vegetative life of its own, a kind of extension of plant growth into the earth [2]. This is precisely what is being made in humus—an extension of plant growth into the earth. Although humus is not plant-like in itself—it is so organised in the way it crumbs into individual “peds”—and it is so brimming with micro-organisms and living bacteria—that it is ideal for supporting plant life.[2].
In his book “Bio-Dynamic Gardening” John Soper states that “Each chemical element has its own special part to play in a living complex”[3]. When bound in a living process, these chemical elements are in what Lehrs refers to as their “young” or “alert” state[4]. In making compost the aim is to retain as much of the life of the chemical elements as possible. Why must we do this? Because, just as we know that it is most healthy for humans to consume wholesome food that is as close to its natural state as possible, so too is it most healthy for plants to consume wholesome food that is as close to its natural state as possible. As a consequence of this, the plant may contain as many minerals as if it had been grown in rich compost, but the life energy of that plant will be significantly diminished. This means that the burden lies on our shoulders to assimilate these plants of diminished life energy into our bodies. These things seem to be subtle and insignificant—but they soon add up. So basically it is in the best interest of plants, animals and humans if we remain within the realm of the living and keep the constant living, recycling process of compost going.
[edit] 1 What happens in the process of decomposition?
The decomposition process generally happens in three different stages and is marked by three separate groups of bacteria that come in and do their work at each respective stage. These three groups of bacteria are the psychrophiles (existing optimally at about 13 degrees Celsius), the mesophiles (existing optimally between temperatures of 20-25 degrees Celsius) and thermophiles (which exist optimally at very hot temperatures)[1].
When the compost is first built the psychrophiles and mesophiles immediately begin to break down the easily degradable parts of the heap. As the heap is slowly digested in this way the temperature begins to rise. At about 20 degrees Celsius the psychrophiles form thick cell walls around themselves and go into a kind of hibernation while the mesophiles take over the work. The mesophiles begin to multiply because the conditions for them are ideal at this temperature. They continue to digest matter and the heap warms up even more. Finally when the temperature gets too hot for the mesophiles, they, like the psychrophiles form thick cell walls around themselves and allow the thermophiles to take over[1]. As the temperature becomes hotter, the thermophiles multiply more rapidly. At about 73 degrees Celsius some of the thermophiles begin to die away. At about 80 degrees there are still less thermophiles. However, some thermophiles have been known to survive over 100 degrees Celsius—above boiling point! They are some of the only known creatures that are able to survive at such temperatures, and it is a mystery why they even exist because climates are so rarely ideal for them. In her book “Resurrection in a Bucket”, Margaret Simons claims that thermophiles “are ancient creatures, probably left over from the early times of the earth, when conditions were steamy and favoured them. Scientists believe they can tell us things about the origins of life itself”[1].
For the compost heap, however, temperatures of 100 degrees Celsius are much too hot. Even 70 degrees Celsius is starting to push the limit because when compost gets too hot then the nitrogen can burn away and lose much of its nutritional value for plants[5]. At the high temperatures that the compost heap reaches the process of decomposition of proteins, fats and carbohydrates is rapidly increased—and many “bad” bacteria are killed off[6].
As the food for the thermophiles runs out the temperatures begin to drop and the mesophiles kick back into action. Next come the psychrophiles once more—along with a whole host of other micro-organisms including roundworms, nematodes, fungi, centipedes, slaters and other invertebrates, beetles, spiders, snails, slugs, mice, millipedes, fly larvae, white worms and earth worms[7].
The most famous of these micro-organisms is the worm. Even Charles Darwin, the father of the theory of evolution, gave credit to the worm when he stated that: “of all the animals the worm has played the most important part in the world’s history”[1]
[edit] 2 External links
- Confessions of a compost maker - Terry Leahy
[edit] 3 references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Simons, M. (2004) Resurrection in a Bucket. Australia: Allen and Unwin. P.9
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Steiner, R. (1993) Agriculture. U.S.A.: Bio-Dynamic Farming and Gardening Association. p.89
- ↑ Soper, J. (1983) Bio-Dynamic Gardening. England: Bio-Dynamic Farming and Gardening Association. p.4.
- ↑ Lehrs, E. Man or Matter (out of print)
- ↑ Forman, T. (2004) Pers. Comm. February
- ↑ Hammet, K. (1977) Soil Care. London: A.H. and A.W. REED. P.41
- ↑ Bockemuehl, J. (1981) In Partnership with Nature. U.S.A.: Bio-Dynamic Literature. P.78-80
