Field Research Recycle Compost System (RCS) for Growers

Project Status Update 11/20/2025

As of October 1, 2025, the SBIR/STTR program’s authorization expired, causing a pause on new awards and delays in some solicitations. We planned on resubmitting a USDA SBIR  Phase 1 proposal titled “Recycle Compost System (RCS) for Growers” ($100k) when SBIR funding becomes available..

GRANT Status: All Federal Grants are on Hold as of end of Jan 2025

• Submitted a EPA SBIR Phase 1 proposal ($100k) in fall of 2024. In December we were notified we did not win. We plan to resubmit in 2025, if the grant is still around.
• Submitted a USDA SBIR Phase 1 proposal ($100k) in fall of 2024. In December we were notified we did not win. We plan to resubmit in 2025, if the grant is still around.
• Plan to submitt a NSF SBIR Phase 1 proposal ($250k) in the spring of 2025. This proposal will research and design a plc basesd controller and a direct water line flow-through supercharged oxygen generating system.  Both will support the “Enhanced Compost” system. See the below narrative for futher status. The “Enhanced Compost” will be used by growers and composters.
• Submitted  a USDA Compost and Food Waste Reduction (CFWR) proposal ($400k) in 2023 for  the cities of Readstown, Soldiers Grove, Kickapoo.  Hope to add the city of Viroqua in 2025 
• Establish Self-Sustaining Local Food Sources For Readstown, Wisconsin Project> This is a USDA UAIP grant for $350k.  It will be submitted in 2025.  To grow produce for the food pantry and community gardens compost will be used from compost produced  by the Recycle Compost System (RCS).

PROJECT Status:

We have compost for sale!  $15/cu yard. not delivered.  Here is the Compost & Pathogen Report – 4.1.25 from 10.1,24 (Enhanced Compost). 

The RCS uses a new type of compost system (“Enhanced Compost”) used by growers and composters. The system can be used on compost piles ranging from 10 up to 500+ cu yards of input (feedstock).  The goal of the Enhance Composting system is to compost in less than 30 days using minimal labor. The RCS invovles aerobic “hot compost” and/or vermi “worm compost”. During the process the RCS uses suficient moisture and oxygen. The components are a plc based controller with various sensors, a direct flow nanobuble oxygenated emmiter system, and irrigation line with drip line emmitters. The controller will monitor and manage the system remotely. A high tunnel “(hoop house) is the preferred location for the RCS allowing composting in the winter months.

For aerobic composting the feedstock is moved into the tunnel. An example a 30’x96′ size tuunel will accomodate up to 500 cu yards.  Irrigation lines with nano bubble technology and sensors will be installed on the piles and the composting process will be intiated by the operator using the plc controller.  The composting will be monitored and managed by the controller/operator. When composting is completed in less than 30 days, the pile will be removed and another pile brougt in. Up to 6000 cu yards can be composted in one year on 1/10 of an acre.

Input (feedstock) include recycled food scraps, manure, bedding, yard grass clippings, other yard waste, ground up wood, cull plant material, etc. For households food waste is collected from drop off sites strategically located around the city and/or collected via curbside pickup.  For businesses the food waste is collected. Both are taken to the farm who is paid a negotiated gate fee. This fee is the gate fee paid by collection companies to dispose of the food waste in landfills.

Updated 4/23/25 – For the nexi testing we will be using a feedstock consisting of calf manure mixed with sawdust and a little straw.  We tested a sample to determine C:N, C to N Report 4.1.25 (mostly sawdust)

Updated 3/19/25 – As feedstock we a using calf manure mixed with straw instead of sawdust.  Wild Rose Dairy Farm has switched to straw for their calf bedding.  We are sending a sample in to Midwest Labs for C:N testing.  The ideal C:N for beginning compost is 30:1. 

Updated 2/27/25 – In the Spring of 2025 we plan to continue with the experimation of “Enhance Compost” in which the RCS sytem is using.  We plan to add additional oxygen to the pile with intent of reducing the compost time to less than 30 days.

Updated 3/19/25 – As feedstock we a using calf manure mixed with straw instead of sawdust.  Wild Rose Dairy Farm has switched to straw for their calf bedding.  We are sending a sample in to Midwest Labs for C:N testing.  The ideal C:N for beginning compost is 30:1. 

UPDATED 9/23/24 – Proof of Concept for Aerobic “Hot” Composting

This picture is of the current experimention:

Our current composting experimentation involves using calf bedding consisting of calf manure and sawdust. We are using 10 – 12 cu yard piles inside and outside of high tunnel 4. Seven of the ten piles receive irrigation water, four piles received oxygenated irrigation water.  Two of the non irriagated piles are being turned and one pile receives no turning.

Here is a table of the ten piles attributes and what we are proposing to do:

The calf manure/sawdust feedstock initially tested out carbon to nitrogen of 35:1 on July 16th.  August 7th it tested at 20:1 for pile 1. We’re getting close to finished compost, 10-15:1.  We are irrigating with super oxygenated water once per day for 15 -30 minutes. On Sept 1 pile one and two temperatures were 96F and 99F, respectively . According to John Biernbaum, it’s composted (temp less 100F). That’s 45 days. On Sept 6th the pile one temp was 88F.  We turned pile one and the pile temp did not change.   

For Phase 2 experimention we are going to increase water frequency to interject additional oxygen with our goal of 20 days.  The moisture level is at 40-60%. We are making modifications to the EMS plc software to allow up to 12 irrigations per day with oxygenated water. With each EMS we will be able to run 4 irrigation zones up to 10 times per day, individually controlled.  This should allow a continual oxygen flow to the microbes in the pile. We will replace the composted piles with fresh feedstock of calf manure/sawdust and start the experiment over.

The piles not receiving the oxygenated water are still composting.  Two of the piles have been turned 4 times while another pile has not been turn. The pile temperatures are 104F-115F

In October, we went ahead and had the plc software in the EMS modified to allow for up to four piles to be watered, independently. We also made software mods to irrigate/oxygenate up to 12 times a day. This supports suppling oxygen 24/7 in support of the aerobic microbes during the composting process. 

Updated October 21 – We are currently installing three updated EMS units into high tunnel 4 to perform experimentation on four new piles  (25, 15, 12., 12 cu yard) of calf manure/sawdust bedding. The following table represents the experimention we will be performing in the next two months:

Piles 8, 9 and 10 left over from phase 1, are not done composting and will remain composting.

Updated October 29:

We are installing moisture sensors 3 and 4 to EMS 1 & 2.  Ideally we need 4 moisture sensors to run phase 2 experimentation. I called Scott Nigon the Precision Controll System engineer who made the plc mods needed for phase 2. I we discussed the actions needed for phase 2 to make sure the software will support phase 2.  We will then test the equipment to make sure it supports phase 2.   We are presently having issues with the two moisture sensors on EMS 2. The plan is to bring two 30 cu yard loads of calf bedding from Wild Rose Dairy Farm Farm in order to begin Phase 2.  We anticipate this will occur sometime in the next three weeks. We have not manage to get the two moisture sensors wotking.

Updated November 7:

We replaced the burned out power supply fuse but that did not help.  Looks like we will be going with a single EMS and its two working moisture sensors and 8 temp sensors.  We will perform out testimg on the first two piles. We plan the week of Nov 18th to bring in 35 yards of calf bedding from Wild Rose Dairy farm to begin composting for Phase 2 experimentation.

Updated Novemer 28 2024:

We have suspended Phase 2 experimentation due to frozen waterlines.  We need water for the irrigation and oxydation. Experimentation will resume when additional funding becomes available.

As the result of phase 1 experimention we have 40 cu yards of compost ready for sale @ $15/cu yard. We are offering this special pricing to members of the Growers Compost Coorperative (GCC). The GCC is a 20 member non profit organization of local area growers.  We have a lab analysis of this compost.

The remaining of 2024 into 2025: Provided funds and time are available, we will continue experimenting with aerobic and vermicomposting with calf manure/sawdust. As soon as we are satisfied with calf manure/sawdust composting we will proceed with a food waste composting experiment with the goal to achieve finished aerobic composting in 20 days.   We will monitor pile temperature using the three EMS temp sensors, six moisture sensors and one pH sensor.  We will inject dissolved oxygen into the irrigation water using the O2 Grow System (we are working with Dennis Clark the O2 Grow developer to patent the component) The oxygen will enhance the microbiology aerobic composting process and, along with the vermicomposting process, it will support one of our objectives—to complete aerobic hot composting in 20 days with minimal pile turning. In July 2023, when I spoke with Jake Duame, the compost operator at SETMN in Rosemount, MN, he thought adding oxygen to the compost pile would significantly speed up composting. At SET it takes almost a year to static compost. They will compost 20,000 tons of food waste in 2022. So Jake is interested in our composting experiment and will follow the project on our BLOG. (See his support letter).

As soon as we are done with aerobic “hot composting” Phase 2 experimentation, we will begin vermicomposting experimentation. As input we will use almost completed aerobic composted calf bedding and in separate experimentation almost completed aerobic composted recycled food waste.

History of RCS

2021 – Vermi and Aerobic Compost Tasks for Scenic Valley Farm (SVF)

Tasks:

1. Research & Develop a step by step plan for small to medium size cities to develop a food waste recycle program for residences and businesses

2. Research and Develop a Recycle Compost System (RCS) for Growers located on grower’s farm. 

• The  goal of the RCS is to produce up to 6000 cu yards of aerobic and 1000 cu yards of vermicompost, enough for a 200 acre farm produce production. The RCS shall be located on a farm inside the high tunnel. The temperature and moisture level of the compost will be monitored and controlled inside a high tunnel.

RCS Inputs (feedstock) – Food waste from residential and business, yard waste (leaves), culled plant material from farm, livestock manure mixed with wood chips bedding If input is food scraps, location of farms surround the city collecting the food waste .

There are 20,000 Organic Farms in  the US.  Over 70% use compost on their farms. SVF in its 15 high tunnels growing organic produce uses 225 cu yards per year.

See above for Project Experimention Status – Task #2 

Hello all, hope all are having a happy new year so far.   We have completed the research, design, development and begun the “proof of concept” testing. For an overview I have attached the executive summary of the USDA SBIR Phase 1 proposal I submitted in 2023 and again in 2024..  I should hear in December if we won the grant.

The RCS is part of the Food Waste Closed Loop System.  It consists of the components “Processing and Soil Amendments”

As of April 25 2022 the RCS shall consists of the following:

A scalable turnkey compost making system located in a 30’x96’single layer of plastic high tunnel on the farm. The system is scalable to produce up to 6000 cu yards of aerobic “hot compost”  and up to 1000 cu yards of vermicompost  per year. Support materials and equipment shall include and will be based on the amount of compost expected;

1. Small (up 100 cu yards of  aerobic compost, up to 10 cu yards of vermicompost)
2. Medium (up to 500 cu yards of  aerobic compost, up to 50 cu yards of vermicompost)
3. Large (up 6000 cu yards of  aerobic compost, up to 1000 cu yards of vermicompost)

The aerobic hot compost shall be made using 12 cu yard piles of VCS Inputs (see figure above for inputs) with up to 4 piles inside the tunnel at a time

The  pile composting time we are attempting to achieve is be 20 days. After the aerobic hot composting is finished the composted material shall be moved to bins or wedges for vermicomposting.  Extra hot compost not needed for vermicomposting shall be removed from the tunnel and stored for future ag production use. After vermicomposting is complete (composting duration TBD), the compost shall be removed and stored for future ag production.

Currently at SVF we are paying $150 for 30 cu yards trucked in of VCS input (calf manure/wood shavings bedding). We anticipate an additional cost of $3/yard for a total of $8/yard to make the compost using the VCS.  So the final cost for  SVF to make the VCS compost is $8/cu yard.  The going rate of compost on the market is $40/cu yard.

Current status – Task #1:

We have both tasks on hold to work on a proposal submittal for a EPA SBIR Phase 1 Grant due Aug 23rd. After the proposal is submitted we will resume current effort.

If you supply an email address I will send you information on Community Food Waste Recycle programs including: presentations from Kellie Kish the Minneapolis Organic Program Coordinator. Minneapolis has had a Food Waste Recycle program since 2015. Currently they recycle 6000 ton per year of food waste with over 50% resident participation. They use a compost site in Rosemount. run by SET. Hennepin County where Minneapolis is located has mandated all cities implement Food Waste Recycle programs by 2025.  I will also send three parts to a very good Webinar for community composting. See Community Composter for information on Food Waste Recycle program for cities.

Here is some info from Brenda Platt, Institute for Self Reliance:

Current status  – Task #2:

We have both tasks on hold to work on a proposal submittal for a EPA SBIR Phase 1 Grant due Aug 23rd. After the proposal is submitted we will resume current effort.

Within two weeks we will begin the execution of following experiments:

1. Hot Composting (aerobic) calf manure/wood shavings – We are having 3 dump truck loads (90 cu yards) of fresh calf manure/saw  dust bedding from Wild Rose Dairy Farm trucked in the farm to make 6 – 15 cu yard piles in two high tunnels. Four piles in high 8 and two piles in high tunnel 10.  Place 2 temp sensors and one moisture in each pile.  Monitor the temp and water content read outs using the EMS. All piles will maintain a moisture level of 45-50% using the irrigation feature of the EMS. The goal is to compost the pile in 20 days with minimum turning.

Current composting methods turn windrows or piles using mechanical turners, skidsters, or front end leaders. Also air is pumped through the pile using blowers for static pile composting.

These processes take 8 week to 9 months to compost. The goal of our composting methods is to have a finished compost in 20 days.  Our method will require a less labor because of a reduction in turning. Also the composting will be finished in 20 days, significantly less time than current composting methods require.   The piles will have the following variables applied in different combinations.  Turning the pile every two days after day 4. Turning the pile twice after 4 days. We have acquired technology with some modifications to quicken composting and reduce labor.  We will be adding to some of the piles dissolved oxygen via the irrigation water, using O2 Grow. Oxygen enhances microbe growth and efficiency,  We will be adding Compost Activator to some of the piles. Compost Activator will: 1) Hastens the composting process, 2) Curbs the emission of foul odor, 3) Quicken the rise temperature to composting requirement, 4) Acts as soil conditioner, 5) Curtails the growth of undesirable pathogens and weed seeds, 5) Enhances the quality of final compost product, 6) Reduces environmental pollution

The results on all piles including, moisture content and temp, will be monitored and recorded daily for 20 days and beyond.

2. Hot Composting (aerobic) food waste –

We are planning to have 2-15 cu yard piles of food waste hot composting in high tunnel 7. We are working with Driftless Cafe in Viroqua to supply the food waste and Southwest Sanitation  in Viroqua to supply 4 – 95 gal totes/carts. Every other day we will pick up approximately 120 gallons/1 yard of food waste and transport in the farm into a pile.  In  the center of the pile will be 5 yards of food waste surround with 10 yards of sawdust.  The sawdust is obtained from a local Amish sawmill. Both piles will have two temp sensors and one moisture sensor connected to an EMS. Both piles will be irrigated to maintain a 50% moisture content. We have been told this is the desired moisture content for “Hot” aerobic composting.  One pile will be turned every other day after day 4.  The other pile 2 will have dissolved oxygen, via O2 Grow,  added to the irrigation water and Compost Activator  added. This pile will be turned every 4th day.  At the end of 20 days the piles will be compare for a finish compost product.  Additional composting piles will be set up based on these findings.  If the dissolved oxygen and compost activator works in our next pile experiment we plan to turn the pile less frequent.

The results on all piles including, moisture content and temp, will be monitored and recorded daily for 20 days and beyond.

3. Vermicompost – Using finished compost from a pile of calf manure/wood sawdust that we finished composting in March our plan is to vermicompost using the “Container Method” in two containers, 275 gallon food grade totes. We also plan to experiment using the “Wedge Method”. The totes will located in high tunnel 8.  The Wedge composting will be performed in high tunnel 7.

The first tote with be filled with one foot of the “Hot Compost” finished product and then the worms added. As the worms consume the feed we will add another foot of feed (compost) and keep adding until the worms reach the top of the tote. The second tote will be located side by side with the first tote. One foot of compost will be suspended in the top of the tote. The top one foot of the side that is next to the first tote will be removed. Then same for the first tote. The plan is the worms will move to the new feed in the second tote.  When the worms have transitioned to the second tote, the top one foot of the worm filled compost will be dropped to the bottom of the tote.  The process of worm migration to new feed will begin again.  We might use a light source in tote one to coax the worms to tote two.

Another method of vermicomposting is to use the wedge method. John Biernbaum, a researcher from MSU,  has worked for years on using the “Wedge” method to vermicompost. We will also try this method.

We have been told vermicomposting should be done at 80% water content. This seems high.  We will monitor for cries from the worms that they are drowning and adjust the water content if needed. The irrigation will be controlled using the EMS where the worm optimum water content of 80% can be maintained.

Worms prefer darkness vs direct sunlight. We have 50% or 90% shade cloth that we can use on the high tunnel that not only will restrict direct sunlight but also cool the tunnel’s inside temp.  The EMS controller will not only monitor temps but to some degree manage the temps with sidewall and end wall curtain management, circulation and fan control.  All based on a preferred temp.  Worms operate best at 55-80F. Above 95F can be lethal. The high tunnel will definitely extend the composting season into early spring and late fall and maybe even winter. There are other ways we can cool the tunnel that are in development with other SVF’s R&D projects.

The results on all containers and the wedge vermicomposting including, moisture content and temp, will be monitored and recorded daily for the duration of vermicomposting.

 This completes current Task #1,#2 Status 

VCS Research and Development starting in the fall of 2021.

R & D Current ongoing status: 

We will begin out R&D using fresh calf manure/wood shavings bedding (FCMW) as an input to the VCS. The reason being we can readily secure FWMW from Wild Rose Diary Farm in LaFarge WI, 20 miles from out farm.  Eventually we will perform our co1mposting experimentation using food waste collected from the Driftless Cafe in Viroqua WI. The primary input to the VCS will be food waste recycle program set up by municipalities through out the country collecting food waste from different sources such as residences and business. Presently many cities have a Food Waste Recycle (FWR) program including Madison and Milwaukee in Wisconsin. We have had initial talks with Viroqua setting up a FWR program.  We have contacted the Driftless Cafe and determined we can secure approximately 300-400 gal of food waste per week.  Food waste composting experimentation will occur once we get a handle on composting FCMW, hopefully sometime around the middle of June

At least our first 10 piles performing aerobic hot composting will involve using FCMW.

In Ht 8 & 10 we have experimentation occurring with piles of fresh calf manure/wood shavings bedding (FCMW).  We have an EMS controller in both tunnels along with temp and moisture sensors. A dissolved oxygen system, via the O2 Grow is in Ht 8.

The first two piles, Pile 1&2 in Ht 8 is finished hot composting. The FCMW was extracted from the calf barn at Wild Rose Dairy Farm in Oct 2021.  In November the FCMW was moved to our farm and then into Ht 8 towards the end of December. So the FCMW has been composting since October. Both piles  have finished composting with internal pile temp of less than 100F.

See below for further composting information. We soon move Pile 1 to vermicompost bin & pile 2 to outside to hot compost storage area. Pile 1 &2 moisture was maintained at 50%.  Final temp recorded in both piles less than 100F. Dissolved O2, via O2 Grow, was added to irrigation water to Pile 2.

Pile 1&2  Ht 10 hot composting has not been lab tested for completion. Both piles were not turned, neither temp or moisture level monitored. Testing of these two piles by moving the piles indicated that composting in not complete. The pile’s insides were still cooking/smoking.  These two piles were spread in Ht 10 and tomatoes planted in half the tunnel.  In the other half of the tunnel two additional piles of fresh FCMW will be brought in and hot composting experimentation will occur.  See paragraph below for piles 5 & 6.

Pile 1&2 Ht 8 is being prepared with fresh calf manure/wood shavings bedding (FCMW). Pile 1 & 2 will be turned when temps fall below 130F. Pile 2 will have dissolved O2,  via O2 Grow, added to irrigation water.  Moisture level of minimum of 50% will be maintained in both piles. The purpose of this experiment is to determine is adding dissolved O2 to the irrigation water speeds up composting.

Pile 3 Ht 8 is being prepared with fresh calf manure/wood shavings bedding (FCMW). Pile 3 will be turned when temps fall below 130F. Pile 3 will have dissolved O2, via O2 Grow, added to irrigation water.  Moisture level of minimum of 50% will be maintained in both piles. Compost Activator will be added to the  pile. The purpose of this experiment is to determine if adding Compost Activate and dissolved O2 while turning the pile will complete composting occur in 20 days.

Pile 4 Ht 8 is being prepared with fresh calf manure/wood shavings bedding (FCMW). Pile 4 will not be turned. Pile 4 will have dissolved O2, via O2 Grow, added to irrigation water.  Moisture level of minimum of 50% will be maintained in both piles. Compost Activator will be added to the  pile. The purpose of this experiment is to determine if adding Compost Activate and dissolved O2 while not turning the pile will complete composting occur in 20 days.

Pile 5 Ht 10 is being prepared with fresh calf manure/wood shavings bedding (FCMW). Pile 5 will be turned. Pile 5 will irrigated and maintain a moisture level of minimum of 50%. Compost Activator will be added to the  pile. The purpose of this experiment is to determine if adding Compost Activate while turning the pile will complete composting occur in 20 days.

Pile 6 Ht 10 is being prepared with fresh calf manure/wood shavings bedding (FCMW). Pile 6 will not be turned. Pile 6 will irrigated and maintain a moisture level of minimum of 50%. Compost Activator will be added to the  pile. The purpose of this experiment is to determine if adding Compost Activate and not turning the pile will complete composting occur in 20 days.

June 6th 2022:

Vermicomposting:  We are in discussions with WI Redworm  on best way to worm compost. The original Pile 1 from Ht 8 will be used to vermicomposting experimentation.

R&D History: In December 2021 we moved 2 – 17 cu yds of dairy compost (a mix of calf manure and wood shavings) into two 30’x96′ high tunnels, Ht 8 and 10.  Using the Environmental Management System (EMS) in both tunnels to monitor temp and moisture content in the piles.

In high tunnel #1 we placed 2 temp sensors in each pile, one in the middle and one a foot deep.  We placed one moisture sensor two foot deep in the pile.

In high tunnel 2, also with two 25 piles, we have not done anything yet. For now I am just going to place temp & moisture sensors. In high tunnel #1 I placed the sensors in the piles the first week of Jan. The initial temp readings were pile 1 – 115F outside 103F inside, pile 2 122F outside 110F inside. Then I took a snapshot of the EMS display on 1/13 and 1/19. See pics below. I plan to hook each EMS to the internet so you can view the EMS remotely from your lab top. Notice the tunnel inside and outside temp readings. 1/19 was somewhat colder. The temperature in the piles is warmer on the outside than inside. I expect some thermal property reason. Pile 1 temps are maintaining and pile 2 are decreasing slightly. Irrigation Zone 1 is the moisture content of pile 1 and Zone 2 is pile 2. Moisture content is water content and is measured in percent. Each moisture sensor has a feature that records temperature. But for this effort we will use the temperature reading recorded by the temperature sensors. So far over time the water content of both piles are maintaining at 25% to 30%.

So the question is can I use these temperature readings to tell me when to turn the piles. We are using Windrow composting, turning the piles based on temp readings. My research says to turn the pile after 3 consecutive days of 131. The problem is these piles never reach 131F. I don’t know the reason for not reaching 131F. Is it because of the winter or is it the composting material. I have attached a compost analysis performed several years ago on composting material I got from Wild Rose Dairy farm. This latest compost analysis that make up these piles should be the same as the analysis I got 5 years ago. Thou, I am having a new compost analysis done on current compost. This compost originated from a calf barn. There appears to be more wood shavings mixed with the calf manure. That explains the relative high c:n ratio of 38:1 John at what temperature would you recommend turning? I also read for license composting facilities that: “For the most common method of composting, windrows and static piles, attain a minimum temperature of 55C (131F) on a minimum of 15 days (not necessarily consecutive) and turn the windrows or piles at least 5 times during the high-temperature periods.” I definitely can’t achieve these temps at this time of year. If I need higher temps I could implement our Solar Thermal heating system we developed for heating a high tunnel. The air temperature inside those solar panels reach 250F. We use it to heat the ground in a 30×96 tunnel to 70F in March. I might wait to research using our solar thermal when we receive the grant.

As for the moisture content, as mentioned previously 50% water content is achievable but it is as high as I have ever had in any tunnel growing anything. Presently the water content is 25% to 30% in the two piles. All my water pipes are frozen. So I can set up a 125 gallon stock tank filled with water by running a hose to the stock tank. The EMS irrigation uses low voltage values connected to the main watering line. It uses the moisture sensors to monitor water content. When the water content falls below a predefined threshold the EMS controller activates the valves. A submersible pump in the stock will be used to drive the irrigation. The pump will be manually controlled since the pump is 120v and the EMS drives 24 volt irrigation valves. We will look at modifying the EMS irrigation system to drive 24 volt valves or 120 volt pumps or other device. Using an overhead sprinkler I can water the pile. My concern will the sprinkler water seep to the pile bottom? If not I might have to install drip line in the middle of the pile. But this creates extra work pulling the drip line when turning the pile. As you can see winter creates obstacles. I would also like to add dissolved oxygen when irrigating. I understand turning the piles adds oxygen but adding additional dissolved oxygen via an O2 Grow System is worth researching. So to one of the piles I plan to install an O2 Grow System. We have a O2 Grow system that we can use from our Vertical Stacked Pots growing strawberries. I will place the O2 Grow system in the 125 gal stock tank producing dissolved oxygen in the irrigation water. We will monitor the oxygen in the piles using a dissolved oxygen meter. A question I have is when is the “hot composting” ready? Whenever that is, I plan to construct a wooden 4’x4’x4′ container and fill it one-half full with material from the “hot compost”. This bin will be a section of our worm composting system. I plan to monitor the compost temp prior to adding the worms. My understanding is ideal temp for worms vermicomposing is 55F to 80F. I’ll see what it takes to maintain this temperature. Maybe it will involve solar thermal. Using our Solar Thermal Technology in the tunnels we’re maintaining 70F in 30″ depth of soil in March.

The goal is to produce as much aerobic “hot compost” as quick as possible in a 30’x96′ tunnel. 10 % of this composted material will be used to make vermicompost at the other end of the tunnel. John, have you ever heard of the Berkley Hot Composting Method Compost in 18 days? We could “hot compost” 50 yards every 18 days in 1/3 of the tunnel, for a total 1000 yards per year. At the same time, produce 100 yards of vermicompost. Both could be used to fertilize a 10 acre farm, and that’s putting it on pretty heavy.

Vermicomposting System Abstract
Wild Rose Dairy Compost