Renewable Revolution

Quote from: agelbert on October 10, 2016, 07:25:28 pm

Does Composting Remove Toxins?

Bad Turns To Good in the Compost Pile   

Geoff Lawton, one of Australia's premier permaculture experts, explains how it is that fruits, vegetables and plant waste that has been sprayed with a toxin will still come out perfectly clean on the other end of the compost cycle.

 "All the life- potentially 50 million genus of bacteria and 50 million genus of fungi lock up the toxins to the carbon molecule - and it becomes inert."

 So 100 million entities, potentially, are hard at work in the compost pile to make small amounts of toxin... just disappear!

 Learn about this marvel of earth's healing ability in this video!

 --Bibi Farber

This video was created by Permaculture.org.au and WorldwidePermaculture.com

http://www.nextworldtv.com/videos/permaculture/does-composting-remove-toxins.html

I don't believe this is completely true, actually. If cows and horses eat hay grown with the typical herbicides used in meadows these days, it takes at least five years for it to leach out of their manure. That's why I had to give up on my plan to use manure from horse farms to build soil on the stead.

No disrespect intended, Doctor, but I think Geoff Lawton knows a bit more about this than you. In the 2 minute video which I hope you watched,  , he specifically said that this was conditional on the amount of toxins present (he referenced pesticide sprayed vegetable residue being added to a compost pile). Obviously, if the percentage is high, it would not be effective in removing all the toxins. So, you are partially right. But Geoff is totally right. Some time ago I learned that horse manure is much poorer than cow or chicken manure for composting. I hope you are aware of that. I suggest you watch the full soils movie. It will help you expand your knowledge on this subject.

Proverbs 18  (NIV) 1 An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels. 2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.