finding all the stuff I need on a budget is very hard

I can find 2 cu ft of vermiculite for about $20 at Home depot...so it sucks I need to buy 2 bags of it.

I can find Peat Moss for 3 cu ft for $13 at Home Depot...that should be enough.

I can find a few types of compost at home depot but the variety is slim pickings and its expensive.

The way I calculated it is I'm looking at $75-$100 on soil components and some of that will be extra.

I wish I could just find all components mixed and ready to go. The home depots and lowes around here don't carry mels mix, and my own compost pile isn't quite finished yet--though it has a huge variety of components.

I was hoping to buy the soil and build the frame for under $100. I'm wasting a lot of time frustrated that the bags don't come in 2.667 cubic feet quantities. Locating inexpensive compost is hard too.

Right now I'm aiming for 3 cu ft of each...my frame will be 8" so all the excess can still go in there. This feels like a wild goose hunt, and I'm not that good at it. Even the nurseries around here don't carry all the components so that I can do a 1 stop shop.

I feel your pain! Finding various composts can be a total pain in the buttocks.

For composts, try craigslist.

I know I've been able to locate horse manure to use for composting (composted pretty quick too, since I was making a "hot" pile) You might also be able to locate chicken, rabbit or goat manure as well.

Rabbit & goat manures can be used directly in the beds without composting, as long as there are no hay/seeds mixed in.

The most expensive ingredient is the Vermiculite. And take heart, once you've got them started, upkeep is much much easier.

I'd also like to suggest starting a worm bin if you can! Worm castings are the most awesome thing to add to a garden bed.

When I was starting my SFG and was having trouble with money and finding vermiculite I opted for buying a few bales of BM6. BM1 & BM8 are also available. The reason I chose that product was because it was a compressed bale of sphagnum peat and perlite. Perlite is a perfectly acceptable alternative to the vermiculite.

Where it really counts is the varieties of compost. Don't skimp on those. If you cut corners with the compost mix, your results in the garden will be less than desired.



http://www.jrjohnson.com/home.php?cat=348

The High Desert is a big area. What area are you in? Craigslist has several ads now for free compost/aged manure in the the Phelan & Oak Hills area. My offer still stands if you want to come down the hill to Bloomington for homemade compost based on goat manure and alfalfa hay(with various other goodies added). Of course I realize the fuel cost might not make this cost effective.

Lindacol wrote:The High Desert is a big area. What area are you in? Craigslist has several ads now for free compost/aged manure in the the Phelan & Oak Hills area. My offer still stands if you want to come down the hill to Bloomington for homemade compost based on goat manure and alfalfa hay(with various other goodies added). Of course I realize the fuel cost might not make this cost effective.

Hi, I drive down the hill to Rancho cucamonga all the time, so that's no biggie. Is your compost good enough that I only need yours? I would love to stop by and take you up on your offer. I just don't like the wild goose chase.

Also is your compost usable from day one or do I need to further compost it. Thank you again so much for your several offers.

I live in North Victorville by the way. About 45 minutes from Bloomington, but I can hit the 15 or 215 to the 10 or 210 pretty easily.

bvarbel wrote:

Lindacol wrote:The High Desert is a big area. What area are you in? Craigslist has several ads now for free compost/aged manure in the the Phelan & Oak Hills area. My offer still stands if you want to come down the hill to Bloomington for homemade compost based on goat manure and alfalfa hay(with various other goodies added). Of course I realize the fuel cost might not make this cost effective.

Hi, I drive down the hill to Rancho cucamonga all the time, so that's no biggie. Is your compost good enough that I only need yours? I would love to stop by and take you up on your offer. I just don't like the wild goose chase.

Also is your compost usable from day one or do I need to further compost it. Thank you again so much for your several offers.

I live in North Victorville by the way. About 45 minutes from Bloomington, but I can hit the 15 or 215 to the 10 or 210 pretty easily.

I use it straight but if going strictly by the book you might want t add in something that is more plant based such as Ecoscraps (available at HD in Mira Loma the 15 at Limonite) as mine is heavy on the manure part. I have a bin that is finished & ready to use. You may want to sift it but I don't. Then I have another working pile that probably needs a couple of turnings and some time. Then I have one that I am piling new stuff in. Then I also have lots of fresh goat manure available. I have plenty and my beds are all topped off for now so I am willing to share.