Market For Organic Compost Grows

Market For Organic Compost Grows SPECIALTY/SERVICES William Hale makes organic compost for use on his own farm and also sells it under the farm name All-Farm Organics He says the business started small but has grown over the past dozen years with sales by the bag and in bulk “I started making compost with chicken litter and waste hay bales using a tub grinder and a mixer ” says Hale “Eventually I needed a windrow turner and got one for a good price before demand took off and they got expensive ” As demand for his compost grew he added new sources He gets wood chips from a planer mill down the road from his farm A local tofu plant ferments soybeans and has a soy byproduct They need wood chips for their own composting process so Hale trades with them “I get their soy byproduct in palletized tubs ” says Hale “It is a really good nitrogen source and has more moisture than chicken litter which helps in the composting process ” Hale recommends checking with local food manufacturers wood processors and others for possible sources He emphasizes that whatever the source he checks with his organic certifier to get his okay Contact: FARM SHOW Followup William Hale 249 Baker’s Branch Lane Louisa Va 23093 ph 434 981-6286 or 540 894-5238; wnhale@ntelos net

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