The SFG Journey-Johnson Su Bioreactor for composting, No turning

OhioGardener wrote: It is fascinating to study the microbial life in the soil, and it is all Jeff Lowenfels fault for publishing Teaming with Microbes!

Love that book!

Wow, awesome website. Thank you Sanderson.

when I replace the tubes with shorter ones, I will leave the removable top off. This way, I will only have to remove the top to get at the compost. I will put the removable top back in place when I filled the composter up for another year. I really enjoy only having to fill it once and not have to turn it, just give it time to mature.

That's good looking compost. Do you screen it to remove the wood pieces? Do you do any regular composting?

The extension section: Is that to build a tall pile, removing it as the material settles?

sanderson wrote:That's good looking compost.  Do you screen it to remove the wood pieces?  Do you do any regular composting?

The extension section:  Is that to build a tall pile, removing it as the material settles?

I be posting the test result soon. Right now I have apply to application of compost extract approx 1 month apart. just been too busy with work and other company. I want to apply at least 3-4 more application before the freeze come. don;t know if I can squeeze it end. It takes about 30 mins for me to fill a 40 gal brute garbage can, unlock the humid acid in the compost to tie up the chlorine and chloramines, get the pump ready, then pump it out unto the soil. It takes about 10 mins to empty the garbage can. I have 15 beds and will be adding my last 3 beds this winter for a total of 18 beds. I placed the compost in tealab compost brew bags brew bags. It allows me to massage the bag to knock off the microbes. most of the compost goes thru the bag leaving those wood pieces. I dump the residue on a garden bag. 
I like the method of doing one time and waiting a year for it too be ready. A year is going to come anyway. Two IBC tote is better or alternate schedule like one starting in  march and another in swept.You can spread the compost around with pone and make compost extract with the other. Keep in mind, it a lot of compost. I spread all my compost from my first bioreactor onto all my plants. I was surprised how much compost was in the container. The compost is about 2.5 ft high and 4 ft wide. I don't do any regular composting because I hate turning piles frequently. You have to know your type of personality when it comes to turning compost. Everyone who has been following me knows I'm a lazy gardener, sooooo turning compost the old fashion ways don't work for me. I tried it, stayed with it for about three months, then I abandoned the ship before the crew Leaving the compost pile to save it self, but it sinked to the bottom of the ground consumed by the earth. 
I love the IBC tote idea which is a standard size. I had to make the portable top so I easily have access to the compost. This part is great. So the compost drops from five feet to 2.5 ft. This is why your mini bioreactor drop so much when you did it. For you and other a smaller tote approx 2.5-3 ft wide to 4ft to 5 ft high would work for a small SFG. you are encourage to let it mature for a year or longer to have a large variety of microbes to assist in the nutrient cycling process.

I forgot to add that a 5 gallon bucket will add a lot of compost extract to a small SFG beds setup. It will go a long way. Sanderson I think it can be done in your compost bin, but put a pallet with weed cloth at the bottom and on the sides. should  put in 4-5 pipes approx 1 ft apart if it's a 4x4 compost bin, less if it a 3x3 bin and they should stay in/ Wrapped the pipes in weed cloth too. I found after the worms are added they cause the holes to close. Use woodchips by itself or mix in layers with leaves. it will drop down to about 1 to 1.5 foot high, maybe two ft when mature. That will many, many 5 gallons of compost extract. You can make compost tea from it too. use the teas to cover the leaves. extract is for the soil, but honestly I spray everything.

I'm late getting data results out.
I had testing done on my JSB last fall, 11/2021 at 5 inch, 15 inch and 22 inches deep, near the bottom. This is my report.

5 inch report with pictures



FOV_1_Fungi


Fungi_Spore

Fungi


Testate


Thk Fungi


Testate_2

NEMATODES Extraction_Nov 4th 2021, 5 Inch Sample
40X


40X


40X

15 inch deep, 11-4-2021



Empty test


Fungi


Germinating Spore


spores


Testate


Unknown...




Nematode Extraction_Nov 4th 2021, 15 Inch Sample 
TTE_Soil Report_R3_AustinSmith_Nematode Extraction_211105


Bac_Omni_400X


BF_400X


BF


Fungi_Aggregate_100X


Large RF


Potworm 400X


Potworm Mouth_100X


Potworm Mouth_100X



Pred_100X


RF 400X


Rotifer_100X

22 Inch deep, Nov 30



100x Fungi




Amoeba



Arcella


Empty Test


Fungi


Mite


Nematode Egg


Similar Fungi Spores




nematodes Extraction at 22" deep
TTE_Soil Report_R3_AustinSmith_22inchDeep_Extraction

100X Compare


100x_Giant Nematode


100x_Giant Nematode2

What is your take away from the report?

To me, it looks like the F:B is good for gardening compost. Is there anything you would do differently on your next batch? Or are you going to try it again?

sanderson wrote:What is your take away from the report?

To me, it looks like the F:B is good for gardening compost.  Is there anything you would do differently on your next batch?  Or are you going to try it again?

I using wood chips, molasses, and llama manure. just completed another one. This year I will be doing soil drenching and leaf spraying with the compost extract on some vegetable. soil inoculation for seeds when planting after I have it tested.