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Composting efforts running into the storm drains!

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Posted by rickd 9-10 (My Page) on
Sun, Dec 2, 12 at 13:55

I've mentioned on the forum this summer how I've been undertaking a major trench composting project in my garden since June. Before I started all this I installed a subsurface drainage system on the edges of the two downhill slopes of the yard to improve drainage during rainstorms. During my composting project I also dug a few trenches on the downhill edges of the beds I had composted to catch runoff and allow it to percolate into the ground before it runs off. I've also cover-cropped over more than 50% of the beds I composted and I spread wood chips or horse stable waste over the rest.

We're getting some major storms this week in N. Calif and I'm disappointed to report that the water running out of my drain system looks like exactly like a cup of dark roast coffee. Apparently my catchment trenches weren't enough.

I'm hoping the rainfall rate slows down soon so all my nutrients don't go down the drain.

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RE: Composting efforts running into the storm drains!

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Yes, been quite a downpour here in N. Cal. Looks like it is just breaking now.

Wouldn't worry about the runoff. Especially in soil next to the trenches and the soil under the mulch, worms will be producing castings non-stop in copious quantities.

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