Waste turns into black gold

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Todd Rothe is co-founder and manager of Big Lake Organics in Ashland, Wisconsin. The firm specializes in modern alchemy – making gold for farmers out of garbage. Visit biglakeorganics.com for more information.

Jason Maloney/For Agri-View

An industrial mixer is used to create the proper blend of ingredients that provide the ratio of nitrogen to carbon needed to produce excellent-grade compost.

Jason Maloney/For Agri-View

An industrial grinder awaits mixed organic matter. The grinder chops the matter into particles small enough to hasten the composting process.

Jason Maloney/For Agri-View

Todd Rothe clears winter snow in January; Big Lake Organics produces compost year-round. Areas must be cleared to make room for compost windrows.

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A windrow of compost is covered with a tarp that's weighted down by tires and snow. The compost windrows must reach the correct temperature for days to make excellent-grade compost.

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A windrow awaits a few more cubic yards of ground organic matter. The compost is monitored and sampled to achieve a Seal of Testing Assurance certification from the U.S. Composting Council.

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Black gold, a windrow of compost at Big Lake Organics, waits for spring. The compost is produced from organic matter collected from businesses, institutions and homes around Chequamegon Bay, Wisconsin. Small farms and gardeners are enthusiastic customers. Visit biglakeorganics.com for more information.

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Tomatoes ripen in a market garden near Chequamegon Bay in far-northern Wisconsin. Farms and gardens in the area are now using compost made locally from organic matter collected by Big Lake Organics. The organic matter was destined for a landfill but is now becoming excellent-grade compost.

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A lush market garden grows near Ashland, Wisconsin. The small farms, market gardens and hobby gardens in northern Wisconsin have a new source of locally sourced compost from Big Lake Organics.

Jason Maloney/For Agri-View

Organic food waste awaits its fate. Such waste often goes to landfills. Instead it could become valuable compost that adds to the vitality of farms and gardens.

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Numerous 32-gallon containers are on their way to customers of Big Lake Organics.

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A mound of black gold – rich premium compost – is ready for a customer.

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Steam rises from a windrow of compost on a sunny winter day. Big Lake Organics compost is certified by the U.S. Composting Council. Visit www.compostingcouncil.org/page/CertifiedCompostSTA for more information.

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Todd Rothe lights up as he describes the goodness of compost produced by Big Lake Organics.

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Todd Rothe shows the machine that mixes organic material.

Jason Maloney/For Agri-View

Jason Maloney and Red

Jason Maloney For Agri-View

ASHLAND, Wis. – We often hear of someone who has the Midas touch; everything they are associated with turns to gold. But when one looks more closely it becomes evident that hard work combined with skill and good ideas are what produces the gold. And sometimes gold is found in unusual places.

Jason Maloney is an “elderly” farm boy from Marinette County, Wisconsin. He’s a retired educator, a retired soldier and a lifelong Wisconsin resident. He lives on the shore of Lake Superior with his wife, Cindy Dillenschneider, and Red, a sturdy loyal Australian Shepherd.