O2Compost SOQ Comprehensive

Bailey Compost 12711 Springhetti Road Snohomish, WA 98296 360‐568‐8826 March 9, 2016 To Whom It May Concern: My name is Don Bailey of Bailey Compost in Snohomish, Washington and I am writing on behalf of Peter Moon and his company O2Compost. We own and operate a fifth generation 350 acre family farm in the Snohomish River Valley just north of Seattle, Washington that began when my great‐grandfather and his bride sailed over from England in 1913 and bought a 40 acre piece of land along the Snohomish River. My grandfather started dairy farming in 1918 which continued for the next 75 years along with growing a variety of cash crops such as peas, corn, wheat, and fresh market vegetables. Over the years and successive generations, the farm has grown to 350 acres of contiguous farm land which we actively farm today. I have known Peter Moon for over 20 years. In the early 1990s we began looking for ways to diversify our farm activities to bring in more income for our struggling dairy operations. After conversations with Peter, we decided to give on‐farm composting a try using our dairy manure and dairy bedding mixed with yard waste received from landscapers, private individuals, and yard waste received from the curb side recycling companies. Peter designed and helped set up an aerated static pile (ASP) system for composting that we still use today. Peter helped write up a plan of operations for us and secure the permits with all the required agencies. We ended up with a high quality compost product that became popular immediately with the many gardeners and garden clubs in our surrounding urban and suburban communities. Our composting operation immediately brought in much needed dollars that helped supplement our struggling farming activities. Right from the start, our composting operation brought in steady and consistent income that continues to steadily grow. Today, the income we receive from yard waste tip fees and finished compost sales is essential to keeping our overall farm activities viable. Besides selling compost to customers, we use our compost on our crop fields which saves us about 50% on our fertilizer cost. We notice that the increase in organic matter in the soil has led to noticeable improvement in plant growth and health. We really noticed a difference in our last several drought summers. The fields we were able to hit hard with compost did much

in the soil has led to noticeable improvement in plant growth and health. We really noticed a difference in our last several drought summers. The fields we were able to hit hard with compost did much better than the fields without compost. Unlike other composting operations in our area, we have not had any odor complaints, thanks to the ASP method. The ASP method lets one use a smaller area for composting and also requires less machinery use because piles don’t have to be turned. We highly recommend Peter Moon and O2 Composting for operator training. Peter Moon is able to creatively come up with a tailor made plan of operation that fits ones particular circumstance and budget. Sincerely, Don Bailey