Nov 5 (edited) • General discussion
Johnson-Su compost - Pit variation
Here's a short video update on my first Johnson-Su pit variation compost. It could probably use a more elegant name, but for now I'm aiming for accuracy in the description.
If you haven't heard of Johnson-Su or BEAM compost, you are in for a treat. In my peer group of soil nerds, where talking shop often consists of rating the excrement of different animals, there appears to be a convergence in thought around compost. Namely, that variations of Johnson-Su are simply the best all around direction to take compost creation.
-Running a hot compost with 3 flips? Probably want to cure it in Johnson-Su.
-Making some worm castings? That biology in a Johnson-Su will be next level.
-Got a pile of random weeds and woodchips in the yard? Johnson-Su coming to the rescue.
So what makes a Johnson-Su compost, and why should we be mimicking and adapting its techniques?
My best summary of what a Johnson-Su "is" is a static compost pile that is aerated through the most passive access to air possible. Specifically, the use of some form of perforated pipes to allow all of the composting material to be within 18 inches of direct air contact.
This is different than other static (meaning we don't flip or disturb it) piles because in previous versions of the aerated static pile (ASP) the air is pushed into the system with some type of forced air blower. We have none of that here.
In the original method, the compost his held in a circular wire cage of some sort, often with some mesh or fabric to minimize solar and wind exposure, and to not let it all fall out. By the time I learned about it, many people had dropped the mesh, or switched to burlap, because of an increased awareness and witnessing of microplastics.
Then my teacher Matt Powers was talking about making one in a pit! I found this to be a brilliant idea, I have clay soil so the hole would retain its form, and I got the opportunity to borrow a tractor. What this did is bring some natural parent material (dirt), get out of the sun and wind, mediate temperature with earthen mass, and bring in a stronger opportunity for earth worms.
But why would I be so bold to call it "the BEST" and what do I even mean by that? After all, compost is very context dependent.
In general, and especially in my context, the reason I see Johnson-Su being the most powerful is because it brings -
- Very high fungal numbers and strong fungal expression throughout the material.
- A wide diversity of other trophic layers.
- A very high concentration of life and consequent efficiency in its application.
- Relatively easy to create a pile at almost any size operation.
- Very low maintenance requirements once it's set up.
In my opinion, it is very hard to outcompete Johnson-Su in these regards, and I hold those goals in a compost pile higher than most other considerations.
Not sure how you could build one of these? Let me know in the comments and we can find you some resources to get started on the right type of pile for you. (It's ok if it's not in a pit!)
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Johnson-Su compost - Pit variation
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