Seeds of Knowledge: The Secret Life of Your Compost

A Lesson in Circular Economics

The other week, I had the privilege of instructing the NMED Commercial Compost Operator Course in Santa Fe for another biannual session, diving deep into the complexities of creating a high-quality, safe product—from managing persistent herbicides to the advanced science of animal mortality composting.

This inside look reinforced a critical lesson for all of us who care about soil health: not all compost is created equal. The methods, feedstock, and monitoring behind the scenes at a professional facility directly translate to the health of your garden and the safety of our local food web.

This leads to a powerful, simple action you can take this season to support true soil health and our local economy.

Connect the Loop: Talk to Your Local Composter!

The most sustainable thing we can do is keep organic matter out of the landfill and return it to our soils. The heart of this "circular economy" is your local commercial composting facility.

We encourage you to reach out to the operators in your area. These experts are invaluable resources. When you call or visit, ask them:

• "What types of compost and soil blends do you sell to the public?"

• "What feedstocks (inputs) go into your different products?"

• "Do you test for persistent herbicides and other contaminants?"

By purchasing locally produced compost, you are not just amending your own soil. You are:

• Closing the Nutrient Loop: Turning local waste into local wealth.

• Supporting Regional Resilience: Strengthening a system that benefits our entire community's environmental health.

• Ensuring Quality: Investing in a product made with expertise and oversight.

Building healthy soil is a community effort. Let's support the operations that are doing the hard work to make our region more sustainable, one yard at a time.

Looking for a local operator? We're happy to point you toward facilities in your area. Just reach out!