flick wrote:


That's what I used to do when we lived in the city. I never
measured the temp in one of those bins, but they seemed to get
pretty hot, so some of the pathogens shoulda died. The
appropriate temp is what, a week at 150 F(?) Or 180 F(?) to
kill parasites.

flick 100785

Good points. Let me just add to them, if I can.

The appropriate temp varies with time exposure. The longer the temp is held,
the lower it can be. At the temps you mention, mere hours are enough. Even
poorly built piles of adequate size will attain core temps of 130 F. for
the week or so that is recommended.

Here's the kicker: even if the pile never does go above body temperature,
eventually the parasites die anyways. Why?

No food. Temperature extremes. Ultraviolet light sterilization. Falling prey
to other biota. Dryness. None of these mechanisms alone is enough, but they
each take a toll and the combined toll IS enough. We just need to give the
pile time if we can't give it heat.

I want to make what I think is an important point. We are not trying to make
the compost absolutely sterile. That is not the goal at all. We only hope
to make it as safe as the soil it is used in and on. Culture a petri dish
of soil sometime and you'll see that this is an easy target to reach.

Composting is simply the act of gathering together and concentrating the
processes that occur naturally without human intervention. Who here fears
forest soil? Who even cares if a bear made a doo-doo on it last year? Who
cares if a deer carcass rotted on it five years ago? Or if a mouse or
squirrel shat on it today? The bear doo-doo and the deer carcass benefitted
from time, not temp. and the only trace they left behind was soil that was
richer for their presence. The rodent doo-doo is simply accepted because
there is little choice and little risk. We want that bushel of soil, rat
poop and all, because we know how fertile it is. We'll take our chances
with the poop.

We let the three year old eat the green bean fresh from the vine with little
concern for what the wind, bird and bug have left behind. Why? Because we
want her to love gardens as we do. It's a calculated risk ... and we all
take it.

Gardening is simply the act of working with natural processes to grow
specific species of plants that we find useful. Making compost is just one
of those natural processes. Taking reasonable risks is part of
gardening ... as it is all of life.

Don't dust, rub or spray your plants with diseased manure / urine and the
processes that were in place in the Garden of Eden will take care of the
rest. With or without our help, depending on how much of a hurry we are in
to relax in the garden.