Staring at plants, relaxing and building compost heaps were the main tasks I had to perform at my workshop in Lijiang Shuhe.
I was very sorry to miss the last day of it, the inauguration of the compost heap, but I had to return to Kunming to say goodbye to the family before I take off for Shanghai on Saturday.
Luckily, one of our group members recorded the procedure in detail and sent it to me.
I am translating her notes here for karma points.
FYI: This meditation/agriculture workshop was held by the Waldorf school in Chengdu. The teacher based his talks on Knowledge of the Higher Worlds and Its Attainment, by Rudolf Steiner.
This is what our classroom looked like.
Now, about the compost.
Gather all ingredients: fresh weed, straw, cow manure and lime.
We prepared them the previous afternoon, the manure and the lime are hidden by the straw.
Everyone enjoyed being intimate with the manure.
Very very relaxing indeed...
Step 1. Clear the ground (area = 2m x 1.5m)
The composting material need to be in close contact with the soil, so that microorganisms such as earthworms can climb in.
It is best to insert two fresh bamboo stalks as aerating channels, but we couldn't find any.
Step 2. Spread the straw into an even layer, wet the top with water.
Step 3.Top the straw layer with cow manure.
Step 4. Lay fresh weed on top.
Step 5. Sprinkle lime all over the compost base.
Step 6. Repeat steps 2 through 5, until the pile reaches a hight of 1.5m.
Stomp on it.
Dance on it.
Don't forget to add enough water.
It's time to put in our biodynamic secret ingredient!!
Dig 6 deep holes at the sides of the compost heap, mix the 6 solutions with soil, then insert into holes.
(alas, I don't know what those secrete solutions are)
Another solution is water soluble, it is stirred at different depth, first clockwise, then counterclockwise for some time, then poured onto the heap.
The last step, cover everything with straw.
Tada, say hello to our Beautiful compost heap!
Decorate with flower if desired. = )
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