Biodynamic Composting

Rand Carter

Curious about compost? A simple pile of discarded refuse does not make compost. Real compost transforms into humus. Trash piles hardly ever make this important conversion. Humus is the magic in soil. It turns sand into soil, breaks up the clods in clay and most importantly provides a home for the soil food web. Composting is an art and a science: you express knowledge as you acquire knowledge. This year the 2022 Mountain Run Jam Merry Prepstirs will experience a true community event while we build a 4’x4’x4’ biodynamic compost pile. We will be immersed in the agriculture science of the carbon to nitrogen ratio and wallow in the art of mixing table scraps, farm scrapping, ground-up leaves and of course the main ingredient, cow poop. Rand has promised to reduce the yuck factor as much as possible. Throughout the duration of the three day event we will all add to our pile, experience the lasagna layering process, incorporate those mysterious Biodynamic Preparations and put our baby to bed for the winter.

Bio:

Rand Carter was born during the era post Victory Gardens and had his first contact with composting in the 60’s. A few years ago Rand spent a year traveling throughout the US attending Biodynamic courses and working at any BD farms that where work was available. He had the opportunity to meet and continue studying with some of the best practitioners of our time. He is a graduate of Elaine Ingram’s Biological Regenerative Agriculture course and the

University of Florida’s Mycorrhizae course. He presented at the Florida Organic Growers Conference, and hosted his interactive composting course at the Biodynamic Practicum in Woolwine, VA.