IOS Ranch CASE STUDY

IOS Ranch is a sustainable, 8 acre equestrian farm located on Bainbridge Island, Washington. With an average of 15-20 horses on-site, the facility produces roughly 2-4 cubic yards of manure per day. Like many communities, Bainbridge Island is experiencing loss of farmland due to increased development. Less agricultural activity on the island means less demand for locally produced compost. Considering the logistical challenges around getting rid of compost produced on site, and environmental compliance around waste disposal and storage, IOS needed a unique on site composting solution to meet their specific needs. The system footprint had to be small, the materials had to be contained, odor control had to be excellent, and the finished product had to be high quality enough to use and sell.

In 2013, IOS Ranch owner Phil Le Dorze worked with GMT to select the 22’ Earth Flow in-vessel composting unit for on farm waste processing. As a result, waste disposal costs have been drastically reduced, soil amendment costs for pastures and riding fields are eliminated, selling the finished compost is generating additional revenue, and the overall labor time has been reduced significantly. The GMT Earthflow converts manure into stable soil-amendments that can be land applied on the farm without posing any dangers to the local environment. This zero-waste scenario has furthered the IOS ranch mission of sustainability.