What is compost?
“Composting is the only regenerative and environmentally conscious option available to Minnesota horse owners. ”
Compost is a soil amendment.
It is not fertilizer, it is not potting soil… but mix it with your soil and you will replenish organic matter and therefore...
Improve soil structure, porosity and density, creating a better plant root environment
Reduce water loss by increasing infiltration and permeability in heavy soils
Supply macro and micronutrients as well as beneficial microorganisms
Buffer soil pH and improve ability to hold nutrients for plant use over time
As stewards of the land and our animals, we have a responsibility to do right by our horses and the environment.
What does our compost process look like?
Upon arrival at our home, the horse will be immediately and carefully laid upon a bed of wood chips and sawdust. We then fully cover the horse in a blanket of wood chips and stall waste. From there we will mark the location for our records, place thermometers, and allow nature to take its course* inside of what looks like a large pile of dirt.
*At an accelerated pace thanks to the cozy environment we have created and carefully manage.
Inside of the pile is where all of the natural processes will take place. We meticulously monitor the compost piles —temperature readings, moisture levels, turning, pile shape, etc.— and after two, full heat cycles and time for curing, we will have created what appears to be richly colored dirt.
Looks are deceiving though, because the process that has taken place has nullified any barbiturates that were in the animal’s system, eliminated any pathogens and weeds, and has left us with a nutrient-dense soil amendment that can be utilized in a myriad of ways. (see below)
We have carefully designed our facility to include a cement pad upon which the composting process takes place, dedicated storage bays for feedstocks and various compost stages, and ease of access for our transport trailer and unloading zone. Additionally, biofilters of native vegetation surround the property.
Uses for compost
Gardening
Top dressing, land spreading
Landscaping
Erosion control
Roadside planting enhancements
The use of compost as a growing media has been shown to reduce fertilizer and liming requirements, improve crop vigor, increase the number flowers per plant, reduce the need for fungicides, and improve root growth, according to Cornell University.