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Hadley Ny

I know several growers make their own black gold mix. My nephew has just started growing AGs and he has all the equipment for hauling and turning which I'm not capable of. I always brought in slightly aged manure. We want to stock pile and make black gold for next year. My thoughts were 25 yards of last fall and this winter manure loaded with hay...5 yards of chicken shit..5 yards of wood chips and maybe a load of slightly composted leaves. Plan on doing this soon and it will be turned weekly. Guessing it will be ready to spread by fall or next spring if it's not ready. Looking to see if I left anything out or change some ingredients. Should this also be watered occassionally? Thoughts from growers who make there own.

[Last edit: 04/15/24 12:16:46 PM]

4/15/2024 12:14:55 PM

Brooktondale, New York

I am curious what people offer as advice, specifically with regard to the addition of wood chips? From what I gather wood offers a ton of good old fashion carbon, with the expense of tying up significant nitrogen in the process. I believe nitrogen is an important ingredient, to the point that some recommend adding it to help start the process. I have also heard that wood can harbor disease. Turning the pile once a month to up to once a week will help add important oxygen reducing anaerobic issues. Cindy Tobeck just posted a great video on YouTube talking about her personal preferences on the process. This is more of a piggyback rather than an answer. I will be interested in what people who know what they are talking about have to say.

4/15/2024 3:51:41 PM

Brooktondale, New York

Opened a bag of compost from a place out western New York...
For the record it had wood chips in it. Guy at the bottom of the road selling compost it has wood chips in it. So that settles that question.

4/22/2024 12:03:06 AM

Grittyville, WA

I havent have much luck with poultry waste. Maybe there's excess sodium in it. And I'm not gonna taste it to find out lol..

4/22/2024 5:38:45 AM