He Composts City's Leaves, Grass, And Brush

He Composts City s Leaves Grass And Brush CROPS Miscellaneous Dick Gallien says his cows and goats start the composting process for lawn clippings dropped off at his community compost site Signs point visitors from nearby Winona Minn to drop off grass clippings and other yard waste at the edge of the cow yard Periodically he pushes what remains out of the paddock and onto a big compost pile working and turning the material with a bulldozer Brush that is dropped off – for a fee – has other uses “I started the site 19 years ago and we’re open every day from dawn until dark ” says Gallien “I wanted to enrich the depleted soil on my farm It has the added benefit of connecting townspeople with the sights and sounds of a small farm ” Gallien says his compost site is fully permitted by the nearby city of Winona It also is a working farm Visitors are encouraged to tour the farm and nearby woods and stream Gallien also invites student groups and others to tour the compost/farm site A card with fee schedule for brush drop off sits on a box by the driveway While leaves and grass can be dropped off at no charge brush fees range from $1 for a garbage bag up to $10 to $12 for a pickup load or up to $100 for a dump truck load Rather than stand by and collect Gallien and his wife rely on the honor system Gallien admits some people simply dump their brush and drive away The couple is setting up video cameras with internet connections in hopes of “encouraging” more to pay Gallien sometimes chips the brush and adds it to the compost pile He also burns it in an on-farm boiler The drop off center really gets busy in the fall The city’s own recycling center is open only for limited hours and refuses to take leaves so Gallien gets them all “We have a steady stream of people driving in and out on weekends and holidays ” says Gallien “Even during the week there are people who drop off lawn clippings and watch our goats and cattle gather round for a treat ” In truth he gets so many yard clippings and leaves that he can’t use all the compost He encourages people to help themselves and take whatever they need “If I screened it and tested it I could bag it and sell it but I would rather people just took it ” he says After he harvests his fields of hay Gallien spreads compost with a 425 bu spreader It’s a process that he has repeated for years with good results “There was a brickyard next door to our farm for many years ” he says “Brickyard clay is what the soil was here With all the compost I’ve spread the soil has changed a lot over the years ” Now nearly 80 Gallien maintains the site largely so people in the area have a place to take their yard waste and leaves A long time organic farmer he hates to see potential compost simply burned “Check with your nearest town ” he says “You can get organic matter delivered to build up your soil and perhaps get paid for it too ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Dick Gallien 22501 East Burns Valley Road Winona Minn 55987 ph 507 454-3126; dickgallien@gmail com; www thefarm winona-mn us

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