Flying Change Farms, a recently completed equestrian boarding and training facility in Loomis, CA, has recently commissioned an Earth Flow composting system that processes a significant portion of the farm鈥檚 manure and stable waste, eliminating the environmental and economic costs of hauling manure offsite. The horse boarding and training facility has two barns with 39 stalls and 10 paddocks with shelters. Owner Grace Kamphefner wanted a manure management process that would improve the local environment and reduce costs compared to typical disposal methods.
Kamphefner is well aware of the many challenges faced by equestrian operations. 鈥淓questrian facilities face rising disposal costs and increasing regulations,鈥� she said.聽 鈥淢any properties are addressing similar issues with manure management and watershed pollution. I wanted to find a better way, and composting is the obvious answer.鈥�
After learning about the Earth Flow in-vessel composting system, Grace concluded that on-site composting would be the best solution. She also realized that this composting system pairs perfectly with the Airlite bedding that is used in the stalls, made from innovative recycled cardboard.
鈥淚 researched different composting methods trying to find a process that would be easy to operate with minimal odors and disturbance,鈥� said Kamphefner. 鈥淥nce I learned about the Earth Flow and saw one in operation, I realized this would be the ideal solution for Flying Change Farms.鈥�
The Site-Built Earth Flow 4012 composting system from Green Mountain Technologies is an automated enclosed system that minimizes odors and rapidly transforms the horse manure and bedding into valuable compost that will be used on the farm and sold to local farms and gardeners.
The Earth Flow consists of a fully enclosed 40ft by 12ft bunker with a mechanical auger that continuously mixes the composting material. This innovative design keeps oxygen levels balanced, helping to minimize odors and accelerate the composting process to just two to three weeks.
This composting project not only supports the farm鈥檚 sustainability goals but also contributes positively to the local community by providing nutrient-rich compost for nearby farms and gardens. The Earth Flow system processes waste into compost in just 2 to 3 weeks, demonstrating superior efficiency compared to conventional methods, which can take 8 to 12 weeks.
鈥淚 really enjoyed working with Grace and her team on this project,鈥� said Betsy LaForce from Green Mountain Technologies. 鈥淔rom our first call, I was impressed with her determination and eagerness to learn, and very soon after that we began working on her Earth Flow system. I love working with people like Grace who know how to make things happen.鈥�
Annual processing capacity for the Flying Change Farms Earth Flow is planned at more than 400 tons per year. Manure and bedding waste is transformed into 鈥渞eady to cure compost鈥� in the Earth Flow in two to three weeks. After 6+ weeks of curing, the compost is ready for use in soils. By comparison, conventional 鈥渢urned windrow composting鈥� of horse manure usually takes 8 to 12 weeks.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited about how Airlite cardboard bedding and the Earth Flow composter will help us to capture carbon and return it to the soil,鈥� said Kamphefner. 鈥淏ut perhaps most importantly we are doing our part to show that equestrian properties can be good neighbors and stewards of the land and the local watershed.鈥�
With the Earth Flow composting system, Flying Change Farms is addressing its waste management challenges while actively contributing to environmental stewardship in the community, showcasing that equestrian facilities can be a sustainable and responsible part of the landscape.