Barrel compost, cow (after M. Thun)
Barrel compost, cow (after M. Thun)
Quantity guide:
Garden – up to 5000m2 = 100g
Small farm – up to 5ha = 1kg
Farm – up to 50ha = 10kg
Large farm – 300ha = 60kg
Quantities for the home garden, literature on permaculture, organic seeds and much more are available at www.DYYNA.bio
Description
Maria Thun developed barrel compost to increase soil fertility and to counteract contamination in the soil. Barrel compost plays a very important role in biodynamic agriculture, as it also partly takes over the functions of the biodynamic compost preparations. It has a markedly good effect on soil health and on soil life.
Barrel compost is based on cow manure to which the Demeter compost preparations, as well as lime in the form of ground eggshells and basalt sand, have been added. Its later effect is produced through a process known as "dynamisation". After the mixture has turned to soil over several months, the actual preparation is formed, which has roughly the consistency of fresh humus.
Barrel compost consists exclusively of natural ingredients which, apart from the basalt sand, come from biodynamic Demeter agriculture.
How does barrel compost after Maria Thun work?
Barrel compost after Maria Thun® is recommended in the guidelines of the Demeter association for converting from conventional farming to Demeter farming. Barrel compost cleanses the soil of contamination and restores and increases its natural fertility.
But barrel compost is not only used during conversion. It is generally added when spreading manure and green manure in order to stimulate and accelerate their breakdown by the soil. It is also used as protection against severe contamination, e.g. excessive radiation exposure of the soil. It serves, as it were, as a restorative cure for the soil that prepares it for the following year, keeps it alive, cleanses it and promotes natural soil fertility.
Use in the garden
Take 20ml of barrel compost and stir it into 2l of water for 20 minutes. This amount is enough for 200m² of garden. That is easy to remember. The stirred preparation can be used on three consecutive days and does not need to be stirred again. If a sprayer is used, the stirred preparation should be filtered so that the nozzles do not clog. A double nylon stocking has proven to be an ideal filter. The preparation is then applied to the soil on three consecutive days. Ideally, the preparation should be applied twice in March before sowing (three sprayings each time) and once in November after harvest (three sprayings).
The soil should be free of frost.
Use in agriculture
Take 240g of barrel compost per hectare and stir it into 35 - 50 l of water for 20 minutes. The stirred preparation can be used on three consecutive days and does not need to be stirred again If a sprayer is used, the stirred preparation should be filtered so that the nozzles do not clog. A double nylon stocking has proven to be an ideal filter.
The preparation is then applied to the soil on three consecutive days. Ideally, the preparation should be applied twice in March before sowing (three sprayings each time) and once in November after harvest (three sprayings).
The soil should be free of frost.
Use in viticulture
coming soon
Difference between barrel compost, cow and barrel compost, horse
While barrel compost, cow can be used on all plants, barrel compost, horse is particularly well suited to fruit trees and soft fruit, as well as to viticulture. Barrel compost, horse is also very well suited for use as tree paste.
Storing barrel compost
We store and ship barrel compost moist, like fresh soil. We put it into small plastic bags for shipping only.
On arrival, the preparation should be taken out of the plastic packaging immediately and transferred to stoneware, wooden or glass containers.
If the preparation is to be stored for longer, it should be kept in a cool, dark place. Although insulating the preparation with peat or coconut fibre is not so essential for barrel compost, we store it in a layer of coconut fibre approx. 20cm thick.