Cultivate community:
coffee shops/roasters (grounds, chaff)
beer brewers (beer mash)
grocery stores (cracked seeds, grains, legumes)
tree trimming and removal companies, utilities, city agencies (wood chips)
residential and common areas with trees (leaves, branches, wood chips)
residential and common green areas (grass trimmings, weeds)
residential and commercial locations that get packages (cardboard, some paper)
Grow your own:
plant alfalfa early spring, harvest as hay
plant and cut early clovers
cut all weeds at base, mow grass and gather clippings
Collect tools/equipment:
2 wood pallets
hardware cloth ¼ or ½” mesh 3’x11’ or geobin plus hardware cloth to cover pallets
bungee cords
composting thermometer 3’
heavy canvas tarp 6’x8’
manure/pitch fork
40 5-gallon buckets
Plan for microbe pile:
Site prep—water source nearby (and a way to filter or treat for chlorine), flat area
Collect and measure materials listed above in proportion: 4-6 buckets high N, 12 buckets green, 24 buckets browns
Day before microbe pile making day: put all materials into 40 buckets and soak
Microbe pile making day: allow half-day to put pile together
Set aside time daily for checking pile temps at least once/day for at least 2 weeks
Plan on 2 hours at least twice during first 7-10 days to turn pile minimum number of times
Microbe pile should sit after it cools, 6-8 weeks depending
Bring community together and make your pile!
Result:
A soil additive rich in microbial life that brings the healthy, living cycle of micro-organisms, the full soil food web, to your soil and plants—that provides your plants continuing access to the nutrients they need to thrive.
Living Systems Soil 