DIY Funerals Part 2: Swine Composting

...rate) One of the commenters, Raleigh Rancher, kindly sent along a link to Composting Swine Mortalities in Iowa, a publication of the Iowa State University Extension Program. Thank you, Raleigh! What a trove of information! It has how-to’s, and a FAQ. I also googled “swine composting” and found that there is in fact a ton of information out there, and most of it from respectable university extension services, not crazy DIYers like me. And now I tr...

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Free Biodynamic Composting Seminar in Los Angeles with Jack McAndrew

...ck in November, you’ve got another chance. Here’s the 411: Free Biodynamic Composting Seminar in Los Angeles with Jack McAndrew Date: Saturday, January 18th, rain or shine Time: 10am Duration: 2 to 3 hours but stay as short or as long as you’d like Where: Micheltorena School Garden, 1511 Micheltorena Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026. Garden located at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Micheltorena Street. Transit Stop nearby, Bike Parking in garden...

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Free Biodynamic Composting Seminar in LA on November 16th

[email protected] And here’s the details: Learn the Secrets of BioDynamic Composting from Jack McAndrews Recognized as one of America’s leading experts on biodynamic organic agriculture, Jack’s biodynamic composts have been the secret behind some of the most beautiful and healthiest gardens in Hollywood and on the Westside. And now you can learn how to create this black gold in your own backyard. Maria C. Linder, Professor of Biochemistry at CalS...

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Cat Litter Compost, Installment #3

...cow manure, and vegetable trimmings.) Other than those caveats, cat litter composting works pretty much like regular composting. Keep the pile moist. Keep an eye on it, fix it as necessary. Let it sit for two years at least before you spread it. And then spread it around non-edible plants, or under fruit trees. The fruit trees won’t uptake anything nasty. It’s totally do-able and I’d do it again. But I’d rather do it again in a larger yard, where...

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Maggots!

Like a lot of the agricultural duties around our urban homestead, composting requires time and initiative. Unfortunately both our garden and our energy level are at a low point, both sapped by the record breaking heat – anyone see Al Gore’s movie? The result of this lack of effort has been the maggot party currently going on in our compost pile. The best compostin’ revolutionary I ever met, photographer Becky Cohen maintained a three pile system...

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