Skip to product information
1 of 3

The Josephine Porter Institute

Biodynamic Pfeiffer™ Compost Starter

Biodynamic Pfeiffer™ Compost Starter

Regular price $12.50 USD
Regular price Sale price $12.50 USD
Sale Sold Out
Units

The Pfeiffer™ Compost Starter is a specialized recipe developed by Dr. Ehrenfried Pfeiffer for improving composting operations.

Among our most popular selling items, Pfeiffer™ products were originated in the 1940’s by Dr. Ehrenfried Pfeiffer with the purpose of helping to make biodynamics more accessible to home gardeners, conventional farmers, and composters. JPI is the exclusive owner of these proprietary formulas. The Pfeiffer™ Biodynamic (BD) Compost Starter contains all of the compost preparations (BD #502-507), Horn Manure BD (#500) plus a concentrated mixture of cultivated strains of beneficial soil bacteria, enzymes, fungi, and plant growth promoting factors which increase the proliferation of microorganisms resulting in more rapid decomposition of materials, stabilization of nitrogen, and transformation to colloidal humus.

The Pfeiffer™  Compost Starter offers the benefits of the Complete Set of Biodynamic Compost Preparations plus a wide range of diverse microbiological cultures and enzymes.

Composition of the Pfeiffer™ BD Compost Starter This potent Compost Starter contains the biodynamic agricultural preparations BD #500, #502, #503, #504, #505, #506, and #507, which give this product its unique effectiveness. It also contains a concentrated mixture of several cultivated strains of beneficial soil bacteria, enzymes, fungi, and plant growth promoting factors. Properly prepared for use, each ounce can yield more than 1.36 billion CFU’s (colony forming units) of beneficial organisms.

Benefits of the Pfeiffer™ BD Compost Starter This Compost Starter helps to ensure proper introduction of the BD preparations with minimal knowledge of biodynamic agriculture. It is unequaled in its composting effect, yielding a rapid breakdown of material. Under proper conditions of moisture, aeration, and organic matter (as given in the Carbon/Nitrogen ratio below), the BD Compost Starter will:

  • Quickly decompose raw organic matter, breaking it down into simpler compounds
  • Re-assemble these simple compounds into complex long-lasting humus
  • Fix nitrogen from the air and otherwise make it available for plant nutrition
  • Increase the availability of minerals, transforming them into their available form
  • Hold the soil and improve its structure
  • Prevent leaching and washing away of soil, and lessen or eliminate erosion
The special humus producing character of the BD Compost Starter yields high quality compost full of beneficial soil organisms and colloidal humus. Benefits include:
  • Improved soil structure. Soil is easier to prepare and cultivate
  • Improved water drainage. Water more readily is absorbed and penetrates deeper.
  • Root growth is stimulated.
  • Nitrogen release is steady and without losses.
  • Nutrients are preserved and made available. Absorption of nutrients is facilitated.
  • Health soil micro-life is fostered and maintained.
One unit (one ounce) of BD Compost Starter is sufficient for approximately 1 to 1.5 tons (or 1.5 to 2.25 cubic yards) of material. One unit is the smallest quantity we can ship. One ton will be a cube of material measuring on average 4.5’ x 4.5’ x 4.5’ for most materials intended for composting. Activation of one ounce should be sufficient for up to 1.5 tons.

Activation and Application instructions (pdf): Pfeiffer BD Compost Starter

For additional information, visit: JPI Preparation Articles & Instruction Handouts"

Ingredients

How to use

Shipping

Our current shipping policy is as follows: all orders will be shipped via USPS within two business days after payment is received, unless different shipping instructions are received at the time the order is placed.

Final shipping cost depends on the amounts ordered, proper shipping container size, as well as destination shipped to. If your order is returned due to an incorrect shipping address you will be responsible for the postage to reship the package. 

 

If you have any questions or concerns please email us at info@jpibiodynamics.org contact our office at (540) 745-7030. Thank you for your ongoing support.

Return policy

We offer a Full Money Back Guarantee on all our preparation products when returned within 30 days. However, we must advise that all publication (books, DVDs, etc.) sales are final. All refunds will be provided as a credit to the credit card used at the time of purchase within five (5) business days upon receipt of the returned merchandise. Return shipping costs are your responsibility. If 30 days have gone by since your purchase, unfortunately we can’t offer you a refund or exchange.

Returns

To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.

Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.

Additional non-returnable items:

  • Gift cards
  • Downloadable software products
  • Some health and personal care items

To complete your return, we require a receipt or proof of purchase.

Please do not send your purchase back to the manufacturer. There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted: (if applicable)

  • Book with obvious signs of use
  • CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened.
  • Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error.
  • Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery

Refunds (if applicable)

Once your return is received and inspected, we will send you an email to notify you that we have received your returned item. We will also notify you of the approval or rejection of your refund.

If you are approved, then your refund will be processed, and a credit will automatically be applied to your credit card or original method of payment, within a certain amount of days.

Late or Missing Refunds (if applicable)

If you haven’t received a refund yet, first check your bank account again.
Then contact your credit card company, it may take some time before your refund is officially posted.

Next contact your bank. There is often some processing time before a refund is posted.

If you’ve done all of this and you still have not received your refund yet, please contact us at jpiadmin@jpibiodynamics.org.

Sale items (if applicable)

Only regular priced items may be refunded, unfortunately sale items cannot be refunded.

Exchanges (if applicable)

We only replace items if they are defective or damaged. If you need to exchange it for the same item, send us an email at jpiadmin@jpibiodynamics.org and send your item to: 652 Thompson Rd, Floyd, VA, 24091, United States.

Gifts

If the item was marked as a gift when purchased and shipped directly to you, you’ll receive a gift credit for the value of your return. Once the returned item is received, a gift certificate will be mailed to you.

If the item wasn’t marked as a gift when purchased, or the gift giver had the order shipped to themselves to give to you later, we will send a refund to the gift giver and he will find out about your return.

Shipping

To return your product, you should mail your product to: 652 Thompson Rd, Floyd, VA, 24091, United States.

You will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.

Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.

If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.

View full details

Customer Reviews

Based on 3 reviews
100%
(3)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
M
Mary O
Yes, in my backyard !!!

The compost starter and spray are also perfect for those who can only work on a small scale. I use it on my yard and spread some around the parks near me.

M
Michael Navascues

I have used it for many years in my small compost pile; it does help breakdown the materials I put into it.

T
Tyrone Kelley

Biodynamic Pfeiffer™ Compost Starter