Nothing says romance like compost. Kevin knows the way to the gardening heart of his wife. Although the gardening season is winding down, we still have many chores around our farm. We had a bulk compost delivery last week in order to prep new beds for garlic planting around Halloween. This is our second delivery from Daniel Doty, the owner of Green Acre Compost. We have been using it as a topdressing mulch for orchard trees, a refresher in my container plants, and about 90 percent of it to continue enhancing the soil in our hardworking vegetable beds. Green Acre compost is made locally. Daniel is well versed in the gardening challenges we face here in our valley; he and his family have been farming mostly alfalfa here for many years. Also, if you’re lucky, delivery includes a visit with the ridiculously cute dog, Murphy.
Can you tell me a little about your backstory and how you got into the compost business?
I’ve always looked at ways to try and maximize farm production. Around five years ago, we began putting large amounts of horse and cow manure on our fields. Despite being great for the soil’s organic matter, the manure brought weed seeds and made it impossible to have a crop without spraying herbicides. I began researching the benefits of compost and was intrigued. Tired of my multiple phone calls and emails, our local agronomist referred me to a company in the Midwest that sold composting equipment and taught seminars. After attending a seminar in Missouri, I was all in.
What challenges soil-wise do you think most farmers and home gardeners face here in Fallon?
The largest challenges with Fallon soils are the low levels of organic matter. A lot of areas in Fallon are below one percent organic matter. Organic matter relates directly to soil health and water storage.
Can you briefly describe how you make your compost? Including what's in it? How can local green thumbs best use your compost?
The composting process takes between 10-12 weeks. We build two 6-foot high by 300-foot long windrows with all available feedstocks. Feedstocks include straw, alfalfa, oats, wheat, almond shells, sorghum Sudan, corn stalks, gypsum, and horse manure. During the first three weeks we measure and record the windrows temperatures, CO2 levels, and moisture. After three weeks, the windrows are combined and continue cooking for the next 7-9 weeks.
What have been the biggest challenges of the business so far?
The biggest challenge so far with the business is making Fallon aware of the product. Adding the sign on the highway and the website has helped a lot, but by far referrals from former clients have helped the most.
You deliver compost locally and have spreading services available as well. How big is your delivery area?
For deliveries, I try to stay in the Fallon area. Deliveries range from 3-22 tons per truckload and spreading on fields is a 6-ton minimum.
Till or no till? And how often do you recommend customers refresh their growing plots?
No till is showing up in a lot of areas around the world and farmers having a lot of success. My family has implemented no till practices in our farm with moderate success. I think we have unique challenges in Fallon and I don’t think the exact formula has been figured out for our area.
What is the best way to get in contact with you?
My cell is 775-771-4903, and the website is greenacrecompost.com.
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