What is Compost & Biochar?

Knowing what compost is (and what it’s not) is an important first step in ensuring that you use compost in the best way possible.  

 Composting is a controlled, aerobic (oxygen-required) process that converts organic materials into a nutrient-rich, biologically-stable soil amendment or mulch through natural decomposition. The end product is compost 

 Sunshine uses a combination 1) The most common way to compost in the US is - Windrow Composting - a method of generating compost by piling organic waste in long rows; and 2) Aerated Static Pile (ASP) method involves mixing organic waste in a large pile. Aeration is provided by a blower system. This method of composting can speed up the composting process and can work with large quantities of materials.

 Each batch of compost can be differentiated based on key measurable attributes. The levels of each of these characteristics impacts whether the batch is high quality compost: 

• pH
• Soluble Salts 
• Nutrients: Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium 
• Moisture 
• Organic matter 
• Remove: pathogens and trace metals 

 Un-Composted Mulch cannot be registered as compost.   

 
Using compost - has tons of benefits for your garden, crop or landscape. Compost enriches the soil, nourishes vegetation, and contributes to a more sustainable ecosystem. 

A Zero-Waste Solution — Biochar is fine-grained charcoal made by pyrolysis (pī-rä’-la-sis), the process of heating biomass (wood, manure, yardwaste, etc.) with limited to no oxygen in a specially designed furnace capturing all emissions, gases, and oils for reuse as energy.

An Ancient Soil Conditioner — Biochar has been used in agriculture for more than 2,500 years and is becoming increasingly popular in modern agriculture and horticulture as a safe, sustainable soil amendment.

Increased Nutrient and Water Retention — Biochar outshines all other organic soil material in its ability to attract and retain water and nutrients, as well as hold phosphorous and agrochemicals. Plants are healthier and less fertilizer runs off into surface water and leaches into groundwater.

Less Fertilizer Needed — When added to soil, biochar improves plant growth and crop yields while reducing the total fertilizer required. Nitrous oxide (N2O), a greenhouse gas, released from certain fertilizers is 310 times more potent than carbon dioxide CO2. Biochar conditioned soils reduce N2O off-gassing by 50-80%. 

Benefits from biochar’s ability to:

• Support soil health
• Increase crop yield
• Protect water quality
• Improve air quality by avoided burning
• Produce alternative energy and fuel by-products through pyrolysis
• Improve forest health and reduce the severity of forest fires