Compost feeds area vineyards

By Lia Steakley Index-Tribune Staff Writer
2/4/03 - Madrone Vineyard Management is proving that one man's garbage is another man's gold.

After experimenting with a new compost product made from the kitchen trimmings and food scraps of luxury hotels and high-end restaurants in San Francisco, the farming company has decided to expand its use of the organic mixture to all of its properties in the coming year, said Clarence Jenkins, owner of Madrone Vineyard Management.

"Historically we have used a variety of different things in the fields. Sometimes one method may cause you to fight weed issues or risk introducing insects. But this stuff's great and it's beautifully black with no lumps," he said.

The new type of compost was developed by Norcal Waste Systems and is made possible through the efforts of three companies: Golden Gate Disposal & Recycling, Sunset Scavenger and Jepson Prairie Organics. All three entities are owned by Norcal Waste Systems, Inc.

Golden Gate Disposal & Recycling and Sunset Scavenger are responsible for collecting the table scraps and other compostable materials from the food-related businesses and residents in San Francisco who participate in the program. A modern compost operation outside of Vacaville, Jepson Prairie Organics receives the leftovers, produces the finished compost, and distributes it to farmers, landscapers and nurseries.

"We have to give back to the soil. We are trying to enhance the soil microbial growth and by adding compost we can achieve that," said Linda Hale, vineyard supervisor for Madrone Vineyards. "We can also increase the availability of nutrients in the soil for the uptake of the plant. Finally, we like to use organic material to increase the soil tithe (consistency) and porosity."

Jenkins said the relationship between urban waste and agriculture sparked his interest in the program. "Urban areas develop so much garbage and there are so many benefits to taking garbage and using it for landscaping or farming," he said. "I really believe it helps build soil structure and eventually because of that structure we get better plants."

Several vineyards around Sonoma and Napa counties are also incorporating the compost into their vineyard management routine, including: Healdsburg's Everett Ridge Vineyards and Winery; and Bouchaine Vineyards and Buckland Vineyards Management Group in Napa.

The Organic Material Review Institute, a nonprofit organization that publishes and disseminates lists of materials allowed and prohibited for use in the production, processing and handling of organic food fiber, has deemed the compost appropriate for organic farming.