Composter

1

• Composter

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Composting Market Analysis

• A comprehensive study of composting technology
  needs for small farm applications

3
Background Market Information

• Market Farms
• Multi crop farms 0.5 and 5 acres in size
• 5-10 cubic yards of compost per acre
• Composting
• Organic waste Disposal and Soil Conditioner
• Cubic yard of compost Retail price 30
• Requirements mixing, watering, and aerating

4
Current Techniques

• Large Scale Farms
• Windrow farms
• Capacity to process hundreds of tons per hour
• Over 100,000

• Moderate Scale Farms
• Tractor Attachments
• Stand alone units
• 15,000 to 80,000

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Current Techniques

• Market / Specialty Farms
• No specialized tools
• Makeshift method using front loader / manure
  spreader
• 2,000 - 5,000

• Home Gardening
• Piles and open pits
• Compost bins
• Tumbler
• 0 - 400

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Market Findings

• Purpose
• To evaluate the need of for affordable
  composting technology for Market Farmers
• Process
• A survey was administered individuals in the
  market framing community via phone, email, and
  personal interview. Responses were compiled and
  assessed.

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Sample Survey Questions

• Do you compost? Why or why not?
• If so, how do you compost?
• How long does it take to produce usable compost?
  How fast would you like to produce it?
• How much time and money do you spend on
  composting?
• What are the problems youve encountered?
• Do you have any recommendations for our design
  team?

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Consumer Needs
Technology for Market Farmers

• Process capacity of 5 to 20 cubic yards of
  compost
• Priced below 3,000
• Attachment rather than stand alone unit

Proposed product BCS attachment
9
Acknowledgements
1. Benjamin, Nate. Charlton Orchards Farm.
Personal Interview. 4 Oct. 2005. 2. Busa,
Francis. Owner and Grower for Busa Farm. Personal
Interview. 4 Oct. 2005. 3. Diver, Steve. NCAT
Agriculture Specialist. Personal Interview. 4
Oct. 2005. 4. Hill, Luella. Brown University.
Personal Interview. 29 Sept. 2005. 5. Johnson,
Sue Allen. New England Small Farm Institute.
Personal Interview. 29 Sept. 2005. 6. Kimball,
Ellery. Bluetteron Organic Farm. Personal
Interview. 4 Oct. 2005. 7. Konoug, Jon. River
Rock Farm. Personal Interview. 4 Oct. 2005. 8.
Niemi, Peter. Home Gardener. Personal Interview.
4 Oct. 2005. 9. Rose, Al. Owner of Red Apple
Farm. Personal Interview 4 Oct. 2005.