Our Chickens-at-Work Composting Process
We don't use factories to make our compost. Our chickens do the heavy lifting, turning food scraps into rich, garden-ready gold.
Our chickens are essential to our composting system. Here they are foraging on a large compost windrow in front of our high tunnel, helping to turn and mix the materials naturally.
A view from the tractor as we work on the compost piles. The chickens are always nearby, ready to inspect the newly turned earth for tasty bugs and worms.
These large compost piles represent months of collected food waste and organic matter breaking down. The greenhouse in the background is part of our farm's landscape.
A look back at one of our compost piles from a couple of years ago. Even when we had to pause our food waste collection service, the chickens continued to work the existing piles.
A side-by-side comparison showing the compost before and after sifting. Sifting removes large, undecomposed pieces and aerates the final product, making it perfect for garden use.
We love celebrating International Compost Awareness Week. This shows our premium, finely sifted compost, which we sell by the bucket, alongside some fun "Soil Loves Compost" stickers.
A close-up of our premium sifted compost in a bucket. You can see the fine, consistent texture that makes it an excellent soil amendment for gardens and potting mixes.
We sell our premium aged and screened compost in 5-gallon buckets. It's a convenient size for home gardeners who need high-quality compost for their seedlings or container plants.
Even during tough times when we've had to regroup, the chickens keep working. This video shows them actively scratching and digging through the compost, a constant reminder that life on the farm moves forward.
This is what food waste looks like when it arrives at the farm, ready to be added to the compost piles. The chickens are always first on the scene to see what goodies have arrived.
About Our Composting Process & The Chickens Who Help
Our compost isn’t mass-produced. My chickens do the heavy lifting by scratching and turning the piles daily, which naturally aerates the mix. After the piles cure for at least 12 months, I hand-sift every batch through a 1/4 inch mesh to ensure you get a fine, fluffy, and clean amendment—no rocks, no large debris, just pure fertility for your soil.
The Cycle: From Scraps to Soil
It starts with the flock. Instead of just piling up manure, we integrate food waste, leaves, hay, and sawdust. The chickens scratch and dig through these piles, which breaks everything down much faster and more thoroughly than simply letting it sit. It’s a natural partnership: they get the bugs, and the pile gets mixed and aerated.
The 'Sifter Saga'
This is the part that isn't pretty. Getting this compost perfect is an ongoing project. We’ve been through five different designs of our homemade sifter. It breaks, we fix it, we redesign, and we keep going. When you buy a bucket from us, you’re getting the result of that persistence. We hand-sift until we’re left with the 'Garden Gold'—that fine, dark crumb consistency that you won't find in big-box store bags.
Why Aged Compost Matters
We cure our compost for a minimum of 12 months. Fresh compost can be 'hot' and risky for young, delicate roots. By aging ours for a full year, we create a stable, biologically active amendment that is safe for direct contact with seedlings.
How to Use It
- Seed Starting: The fine texture makes it perfect for filling trays without large clumps.
- Top Dressing: Sprinkle it around established perennials to add a nutrient boost.
- Potting Mix: Combine it with your current soil to improve drainage and moisture retention.
Everything is packed in 5-gallon buckets (approx 15-18kg). Bring your own bucket to reuse, or return ours when you’re done.
Maria Schermerhorn
I’m Maria. I started this because I wanted to turn waste into something good, and frankly, my chickens are the best employees I’ve ever had. We’ve hit plenty of road bumps and legal headaches, but we’re still here, still sifting, and still committed to putting real, local fertility back into the ground.
Looking for other farm products?
Browse our other offerings from fresh eggs to pastured chicken.
More from Farm Fresh Products by Maria Schermerhorn
More services by Maria Schermerhorn