Non-Manure Compost

The other day, while perusing Craig's List in pursuit of other types of compost, I came upon an ad for cranberry compost in Bandon, which is on the Southern Oregon coast.

Does anyone know whether this would be an appropriate addition to Mel's Mix?

I would suggest that you ring the company to determine what they mean by 'Cranberry compost'. Until I hear more about what is in this I cannot reasonably answer your question.

Just an fyi, Whole Foods makes a good non-manure compost from all their spent veggies. You can do a Google search for Whole Foods compost and learn about their program. I've used it and was pleased.

Thanks, RoOsTeR!

There's a Whole Foods Market 3/4 of a mile from here. Last summer, when I first arrived, I snagged the last two bags they had. As you mentioned, it's great stuff!

Whenever I visit a nursery or garden store (or even a big box store), I spend a few minutes checking out what's available and reading labels.

I just left a message for my mint compost resource in La Pine, asking to reserve at least three cubic feet when that nursery reopens. They also sell a custom-blended, certified organic compost, but I don't know what the ingredients are.

And I asked a friend in the Portland area, who plans a quick trip to the coast this week, if he could possibly bag some seaweed for me to add to the compost tumblers. Grape pomace may be available from some tiny local wineries.

I can get straw inexpensively, chop some of it up, and add it to the tumblers. Not to mention the omnipresent cardboard, shredded paper, etc., as well as chopped noble fir and pine needles. Kitchen and garden scraps, of course, nearly all go into the tumblers. I have yet to shred my bags and bags of leaves....

And I'm even considering splurging the $35 it would cost for a bag of lobster compost + shipping from the East Coast.

Donna, I would bet there is a comparable product available on the west coast made most likely of crab or fish leavings and forest waste...

Another thing I consider when looking for non-manure compost is that generally they will be less potent with less nitrogen.

Look what I found, don't know if this gets up into your area.
http://www.sonomacompost.com/product.shtml

camprn,

Thanks for your helpful suggestion!

The Sonoma Compost sounds like it's quite similar to the one available at Whole Foods.

I've seen only one sea-based compost available locally, and it contains peat. However, it's possible that something like it is available on the coast.