Johnson Su - Filling Tote

1.https://youtu.be/RL7y_qZYGy8
Professor Johnson commented that leaves, pine needles, are dried grass best when run through a “chipper-shredder” or farm bale-grinder to “open” them up so they compost better. He said that the issue with material that is “green” is that it compacts too much. For example, dried grass that is re-wetted is fine while green grass is not. Also, very small material like sawdust packs too much.
2. Notice how the materials in professor David Johnson's bio-reactor are high in carbon. (5:45 – 6:05)
https://youtu.be/DxUGk161Ly8
3. Jay Young from the Young Red Angus farm discusses the results of using various Johnson Su ingredients.
https://youtu.be/OmL2lBavtHk

BioReactor #3 - got up to 160F (too hot) due to the grass but did not smell bad
BioReactor #4 - only got up to 120F (too cold to kill pathogens)
BioReactor #5 - got up to 160F (too hot) due to the grass

Jay Young commented that the next trial will be with 80% wheat straw, 10% grass, and 10% horse manure. He said about 80% of the mix should be a “high carbon source” like, wheat straw, dried leaves, dried corn stalks, etc.

4. Mycorrhizal fungi only exist when there is a plant. BEAM compost brings a “full complement” of microbes that have been shown, according to professor Johnson, to help up to 23 different mycorrhizal fungi in a soil thrive.
5. In my opinion, adding soil into the mix from old growth woods may help to promote a more diverse range of microbes that are specific to your area.
6. Start watering and add worms after the high-heat thermophillic phase at about 80F.
7. Notice the putty consistency of BEAM compost. (1:46-1:51)
https://youtu.be/JGxSDhnvUUc
8. Extract “jump starts” the biology but to maintain and increase it, farmers must plant a diverse mix of cover crops to feed the soil microbes.