[Greenbuilding] Compost issues

[Speireag Alden]

Sgrìobh Leslie Moyer:

>  > What about vericomposting in a compost toilet? Does that work?
>
>I don't know much about how it works, but yes....Tom Watson (of "Watson
>Wick" fame) mentioned these when I heard him speak in October at the
>Natural Building Colloquium in Kerrville, TX.  When I got home, I looked
>it up (http://www.wormdigest.org/content/view/44/2/ -- scroll down) and
>it appears that it doesn't work all that differently from just your
>average compost toilet.  However, the "deposits" would either have to be
>made directly into a larger worm container or you're still left with
>dumping into a central collection unit where the composting is done
>separately.  I think "finishing" humanure with vermicomposting could
>work very well--a great way to ensure the compost is fully digested. 
>I'm getting ready to expand my vermicomposting to include my chicken
>litter so we may throw a few batches of humanure in there, too.

     For humanure, ideally, you run a hot compost pile which kills 
human pathogens.  I'm guessing that such an environment would be 
inimical to worms.

     I do my pile on the _Humanure Handbook_ system:  I add to a pile 
for a year, and then cap the pile with straw and let it sit for a 
year while I start a new one.  The one I'm adding to all the time 
generally runs pretty hot, especially at the core.  Once I've capped 
it and started a new one, after the heat dies down, I would think 
that throwing a batch of red wigglers on top of the pile would be 
very useful in the post-processing phase.

     But not necessary.  The appropriate flora and fauna move in by 
themselves.  You just can't let it go septic.

-Speireag.

-- 
A wise man will make haste to forgive, because he knows the true 
value of time, and will not suffer it to pass away in unnecessary 
pain.
--Samuel Johnson, lexicographer (1709-1784)