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George Washington called the ability to turn everything one touches into manure “the first transmutation towards Gold,” and his repository for dung was designed to compost animal manure and other organic materials into fertilizer for nearby gardens and orchards. The original 31-by-12-foot open-walled structure was built in 1787 and reflects Washington's dedication to progressive farming techniques. Archaeologists uncovered remnants of the brick foundation walls and the virtually intact cobblestone floor, which were incorporated into a reconstruction completed in 2001. Washington's dung repository is the first known structure in the United States devoted to composting.
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Mount Vernon, Virginia · United States
