COMPOSTING FOR THE CLIMATE

The Land Gardeners have been working with a local farmer, trialing ways to create “climate compost” on a large scale. They then plan to sell it to other farmers and gardeners. It’s called “climate compost” because it enhances the microbial life in the soil which, along with plants, improves the ground’s ability to sequester carbon, benefiting the environment. “We use a system of windrows where we layer carbon (straw, dead leaves, stems, cardboard), nitrogen (grass clippings, weeds, green matter, manure) and clay,” says Henrietta.

” We measure the oxygen levels and temperature — so by ensuring there’s the correct oxygen, heat (between 58 and 65 degrees Celsius) and moisture we encourage rich microbial life. “Many of the composts people buy are just organic matter, but they’re dead with no life in them. We are trialing microbially eight “And to quite make we small-scale weeks ways their aim rich that to to own, teach make compost we gardens.” even can high- people if sell. in they quality, six then to have Says trialing teas, which Bridget: how are to “We’ve make good compost for also scaling been up for into large a muslin farms. bag You and put then compost into a compost tea maker — it’s like a bubbling pot that has air forced into it, like an aquarium. It’s brewed for 24 hours, and then you spray it on in the evening — or when it’s dull, as sunlight kills microbes. “And it is essential to cover your soil with plants or green manures. The soil microbes live symbiotically with plant roots, and their existence is thus dependent on them. “We also practice a minimal till in the garden, only aerating the soil when necessary to avoid disturbing the microbial life.”