In the fall of 2024, the composting plant at Mære Agricultural School was ready for use. Silage residues, horse manure, tomato waste, straw manure, waste from the park and other organic waste will now be converted into good compost. The compost will be used for soil improvement in the park and on the school's fields.
The school has built a row composting facility using the CMC method, where the compost is turned with a compost turner. We have chosen to build a facility with an asphalt slab to make it easier to empty waste and transport and turn the compost. Another alternative would have been to place the compost on an area with a firm/sandy soil type. The slab, which has both an area for storing waste before composting and the compost rows themselves, is 1800 m2. The area requirement is calculated based on the fact that we have approximately 500 m3 of organic waste suitable for composting at Mære each year.
The compost at Mære is turned with a compost turner from the Italian company, Pezzolato, which is sold by Felleskjøpet. The working width is 2.5 meters and we have driven the tractor from 300 to 1200 meters/hour depending on how well mixed and transformed the compost is. We have also built a cleaning pond below the compost plate to preserve nutrients from the compost. More information about composting can be found here: The art of making good compost | The Zero Emissions Farm
Why is composting a climate measure?
Compost improves soil quality, adding nutrients and improving soil structure, which can increase the soil's ability to retain water and nutrients. This can reduce the need for artificial fertilizers. Composting also helps to sequester carbon in the soil. Compost builds up the biodiversity in the soil, which is important for good soil health and plant growth.
Thanks to the Norwegian Agricultural Advisory Service, Sogn Agricultural and Horticultural School, Steinkjer Municipality, Nathaniel Mead and Olav Odden for good advice along the way, thanks to Stein Arild Risan AS as the contractor on the facility.
