MM supplier for those near Gainesville, FL

I wanted to let you all know that I found a "hydroponics store" in Gainesville, FL that carries everything needed to start a SFG!!! (I put quotations because they are SO MUCH MORE than a hydroponics store; that's just the focus of their website.) They also carry organic and heirloom seeds from the Seed Exchange; plants (veggies and ornamental) from area growers; pots; plastic kits, trellises, boards and joiners to make a SFG (these are NOT cheap); organic fertilizers; houseplants; and a collection of some of the loveliest orchids I have ever seen! One-stop shopping, and their prices seemed reasonable to me, based on what I'm seeing in other posts here. My husband lost the receipt, so I'm giving estimates on prices based on an email with a guy there, but I'll come back with official prices after we locate it.

Gardener's Edge
5408 NW 8th Ave
Gainesville Fl, 32605
352.375.2769
http://877gehydro.com/

Y'all tell me if any of these composts are not best-quality, please!

First we have Black Kow at about $5:

Second is Black Hen at about $5:

Third is Mushroom Compost (made by Black Kow) at about $5:

Fourth is Black Castings (made by Southern Organics) at about $5:

Fifth is All American Turkey Compost (made by Lady Bug Natural Brand) at about $5:

Then there's the Vermiculite at about $39:

Finally, the Peat Moss at about $20:

We also found some pruning shears that are perfect for using on small plants but have large handles for my arthritic hands, so I do believe those will be my Mother's Day gift from my boys.

I could've spent so much at this store! I've been wanting to start collecting orchids, and they have the loveliest orange ones with pink centers...only $20...and a bunch of little ones for only $8. I want to take their orchid care class next month, then I'll start collecting.

Hey Michelle

These prices are pretty darn good. The Vermiculite is a bit high. I get mine here in Atlanta for $29.

The prices here are up right now. I guess they are everywhere. I get Moo Poo here for $3 off season. The Black Kow is steady year round at $8 and change. The Black Hen runs between $12 and $16 when you can find it. It moves off the shelves.

I have property outside Gainesville in Bronson. I will keep this address in mind and check it out the next time i am down that way.

So nice to see a place that has that kind of inventory.

You sure those castings were that price? I have never seen them that low before. I'd probably have bought a pallet.

Yeah, we found the receipt & the prices he gave me via email were definitely way off! I had to pay, as I wasn't finding anything but Black Kow, and none of the other types, anywhere else. But it's an investment.

Black Kow $5.00
Black Hen $10.50
Black Mushroom $7.00
All American Turkey $15.00
Black Castings $30.00
Peat Moss (3.9 cu ft) $20.00
Vermiculite (3 cu ft) $39.00

Vermiculite I normally see in 2 cu ft bags, and this price was only a little change more per cu ft. Peat moss is the same as here.

I have had a wicked time trying to find 5 different kinds of compost and just couldn't figure out why. I had an epiphany after reading the last 2 posts and realized - I live in a large metropolitan area! Most of you live in areas where farming is still done!
However, there is a planting mix I saw at Lowe's today, and reading the ingredients shows it is pretty close to ideal. I'd say it's about a 75% match. I guess I will have to go with that.
I don't know why it took me so long to realize my situation.

Nana, this place I found the compost at is over 50 miles away from where I live. While farming is done very close to my small city, I was only able to locate one type of compost here in town. Since I had a dr appt at a University of Florida clinic down in Gainesville, it was convenient for me to pick this stuff up Tuesday, but I don't get to Gainesville often. I think a variety of good compost is just difficult to find.

givvmistamps wrote:Nana, this place I found the compost at is over 50 miles away from where I live. While farming is done very close to my small city, I was only able to locate one type of compost here in town. Since I had a dr appt at a University of Florida clinic down in Gainesville, it was convenient for me to pick this stuff up Tuesday, but I don't get to Gainesville often. I think a variety of good compost is just difficult to find.

Thank you Michelle.
However, I don't have that option. I am handicapped and use an electric scooter so have to depend on what is known as a medical van. They have a limited, though really good, area of transport.
I'll try to see the furthest they go and see if it is rural enough to have what I need.
Lee

Nana/Lee, have you spoken to others who are using the community garden? They might be going where these supplies are sold, and could pick up extra supplies for you.

OR, if there's a Lowe's near you, their item number for bagged Mel's Mix is 708281. Maybe they'd order it in for you. I know they carry it in some stores in CA, and maybe other states, but not in FL yet that I've been able to find...I'm going to go over there and try to talk them into carrying it.

I don't know the item number for MM at Home Depot; I've been trying to find out so I can try to talk them into carrying it.

givvmistamps wrote:Nana/Lee, have you spoken to others who are using the community garden? They might be going where these supplies are sold, and could pick up extra supplies for you.

OR, if there's a Lowe's near you, their item number for bagged Mel's Mix is 708281. Maybe they'd order it in for you. I know they carry it in some stores in CA, and maybe other states, but not in FL yet that I've been able to find...I'm going to go over there and try to talk them into carrying it.

I don't know the item number for MM at Home Depot; I've been trying to find out so I can try to talk them into carrying it.

Al this laughing is me! No one is using SFG there. SOme have the boxes but are using the regular soil there! I tried talking to several of them and none are interested. They use the same Lowe's and Home Depots I do because they all live in my area.
Thanks for the info re: Lowe's.
Lee

Just let them watch how much better your garden grows; then you can show them how much better MM is! Good luck finding the ingredients. I hope you can talk the Lowe's into ordering it for you.

Oh my goodness how lucky you are to have a one stop shop even 50 miles from your house. I can tell you that I would have traveled that far to get the five different composts alone! Or if I was headed to Disney I would rent a car topper for the trip home and fill it

Have fun with the orchids, my mother has a great time with them I think she has like 15-20 varieties by now.

Thanks so much for this. I just bought the SFG book for my mom who lives in Gainesville and she's going to be setting up her garden soon. I just forwarded her the thread.

I just went by a flower seller who sets up seasonally and saw what I thought was Scotch Broom. Went into the "shop"(lol) to ask about it and found he has about 6 or 7 different kinds of compost! A tad expensive but he has them! And I can get there on my scooter! YAY!!!
Can you tell what my mood is?
Lee

@ Izrun: I'm so glad my find of a supplier will help someone else!

@ Lee: Hooray for local sellers!!! I'm so glad you found someone who can supply what you need where you can get to them!!!

Hey Michelle, wanted to give you a heads up of another place in Jax that has just about everything and much cheaper than I've found elsewhere. I wish I would have found it a bit earlier, but better late than never On Kings Road in downtown Jax (just down from the main post office), there is a feed store called Standard Feed.

Black Cow under $5
Black Hen under $6
Mushroom Compost under $5
4 Cu Ft Coarse vermiculite $23

They also have worm castings but I can't remember the price, although much less than the local ACE sells it for. They were really friendly and have a great selection of seeds, too. They had some summer spinach seeds, but were sold out. Anyway, just wanted to share.

Thanks for sharing Keely! That will help a lot of people who are looking closer to JAX than to G'ville!

Did you post this on the Vermiculite database? That's an important find...and you can put notes in there about the compost at the end.