Re: Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts

ralitaco 4/20/2019, 4:16 pm

MrCMB, you will find that at least on this forum, there is no such thing as stupid question. We have the best people on here.
I have been doing SFG on and off for a few years and I struggle with the compost mix too. That is easily the hardest part of the process, at least until you start making your own (so they tell me). If you cannot find 5 different sources, that is ok. Just do the best you can. The peat and vermiculite with 3 types of compost will grow quite a bit quite successfully.

Hopefully someone in your area (Michigan) can chime in with where they get theirs. I know the big box store in NC have mushroom, cow and chicken manure. I have found some horse manure for free on craigslist.

My only suggestion with the store bought stuff is to sift it first. I have found sticks, rocks and even cigarette butts in the bags I've sifted.

Also, thanks Sanderson for the pics. who knew there was such a thing as lobster compost

mrcmb99 4/20/2019, 9:15 pm

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! This really helps!!!

**sanderson** 4/21/2019, 2:01 am

Mr. C, glad we could help.

RT, Lobster compost - if one hangs around this Forum, one learns all kinds of things. Camprn was the one who mentioned it.

**sanderson** 1/22/2021, 6:16 pm

Bumping this thread for new members.

**Scorpio Rising** 1/23/2021, 1:33 pm

Great thread, thanks!

JAM23 1/23/2021, 9:25 pm

Hello!

There is a local recycling company near me that sells compost that is made from leaves, brush trimmings, grass clippings, branches, wood chips, clean food waste, horse bedding, sod and dairy manure. It is an OMRI listed product, as well as, goes through STA testing. I am able to purchase from them directly in a cubic yard, or bagged by the cubic foot at my local Whole Food Market. My question is, could this count as a complete "blended compost" since it contains many of the same things you would compost at home, or just one compost type out of the required 5 composts? I have some homemade compost started, but will not have enough to start new beds this spring.

Thanks!
New to SFG-JAM23

**sanderson** 1/24/2021, 3:03 am

Jam, It would be interesting to know the percentages of each ingredient. The only one that concerns me is the sod, as commercial sod has some kind of dirt backing with a nylon or plastic netting to hold it together. If it is a minimal part, the compost may meet the definition of "blended" compost. I would screen out wood pieces with 1/4" hardware cloth.

Anyone else have comments?

**sanderson** 2/15/2023, 11:10 pm

New member, Tappingmom in the PNW, sourced the following composts that I am listing here. If you compare her original post with this one, you will see that I have only listed what I, and other Foundation members, consider good.

DAIRY/CHICKEN
G&B Organics Purely Compost
· Green waste compost containing bark fines, composted dairy manure, composted chicken manure, seabird guano. OMRI. No Peat moss added.
Malibu Compost Biodynamic Bu’s Blend
· Manure from organically fed/humanely treated/outdoor raised dairy cows, straw, vineyard wood chips, and biodynamic concentrations of yarrow, chamomile, valerian, stinging nettle, dandelion, and oak bark.

SEA
SeaCoast Compost
· Diverse wild-caught seafood by-products (fish, crab, shrimp), organic cow manure, pristine red alder and enlivening biodynamic preparations. Slow-aged for 2 years. No peat moss added. Added information: 25% cow manure, 40% seafood waste, 35% red alder.

WORM CASTINGS
Plan B Organic Vegan Worm (African Nightcrawler) Castings
· Castings only with no additives of any kind. National Organic Program.
· Based on other responses in this forum, should my 1/3 compost component of the MM only contain 5% or 10% of this?

VEGETATION
Dirt Hugger Compost
· Dirt Hugger compost is a dark, rich, organic compost made from local whole orchard fruit, wood, brush, yard debris, spent brewery yeast and grains, and curbside collected food scraps. We screen compost to less than 3/8” size, and it is perfect for amending the sandy loam or clay soils in the Pacific Northwest. No peat moss added.
Cedar Grove Compost
· Made from locally recycled garden prunings, food products, and vegetable trimmings. Contains no biosolids or steer manure. No peat moss added.
Portland Leaf Compost
· Leaves collected by Portland, Oregon’s Leaf Collection Program from street piles. “Our compost turner has a restacking system that allows for a single pass for turning and restacking the compost. During the turning process, the compost is aerated and, because of our frequent rainfall, water is added. The temperature and moisture content of the composting leaves are monitored daily to determine when to turn the pile to facilitate the composting process. The final compost product is used by City crews for soil amendment (mixed with soil in areas in preparation for revegetation), erosion control in areas with exposed soil (e.g., roadside ditches and maintenance projects, etc.), donated to community gardens, and sold to the public.”

My Response:

1. Malibu Bu's Blend - I just discovered this and was thrilled that no screening was required. Bu's on the left. Contains some cow manure.

2. G&B Organics Purely Compost - I use this because I can buy it locally. (Fresno CA) I did screen it last year as there were more wood fines than i could tolerate. 2021 and 2022 were brutal on once respected brands of compost.

3. Worm castings - To help prevent phosphorus build up, limit to 5%. Good stuff.

Espoma Mushroom Compost - All I'm finding is the Mushroom Compost Blend which is actually a soil amendment with the added wood. Too bad Espoma had to mess up this product. No.

4 and 5. Dirt Hugger and Cedar Grove - I have heard good things about Cedar Grove. I would buy it if it was sold here. Dirt Hugger sounds good.

Ocean Rich - no.

Sea Coast - maybe try 1 bag. Or ignore it. The bottom line with plant and animal composted materials, regardless of the hype, is that they end up with basically the same % of nutrients. Crab and shrimp shells do play an important role with fighting root knot nematodes because of their chitin, but I doubt you have any in your area. Manures, especially poultry, and worm castings can contribute to phosphorus build-up so they should only contribute to 20% and 5% respectively of the total composts.

You scored!!

I'm going to add your list and my comments to an existing compost thread.

**sanderson** 6/19/2023, 2:33 pm

Bump

I'm bumping for all, but especially for Newbies.

I've been adding composts found throughout the U.S. to my list. Some are regional.

Malibu Bu's Blend. I rate it as an A since screening is not required It's ~ 60% cow manure in the finished product so 2 bags of plant-based composts are needed to keep the manure to 20% of the blended compost. [West coast adjacent to CA where it is made.]

Superior compost. May need screening for wood pieces. [Based out of Louisiana]

G&B Purely compost. Need 1/4" screening as it contains ~15% wood pieces.

Blue Ribbon Organics. [Based out of WI.]

NU Earth Compost. Plant-based. [Based out of ID.]

New Earth Top Shelf Compost. [Based out of TX]

Stout Ollie Compost. Organic/pasture fed cow manure and feed. [Based out of SC. Available in SC, NC and half of TN.]

Purple Cow. Plant-based despite the name. Razz

[Based out of WI and available in what I call north of the Ohio River and Great Lakes area]

E B Stone. Another good plant-based compost I found for CA, greater Phoenix area of AZ, greater Reno area of NV, parts of OR and WA. They also have worm casting and composted chicken manure, but I didn't buy any of these so I can't rate their quality.

Compost - Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts - Page 3 Compos10

At only $8 cu. ft. with very little screened out material, it is a good buy. I used a gold miner's 1/4" sifting pan to check for green waste material not fully composted.

Compost - Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts - Page 3 Compos89

Compost - Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts - Page 3 Compos90

Guest 6/19/2023, 2:48 pm

There is a compost called "Whole Paychecks"! lol!

**Scorpio Rising** 6/19/2023, 11:16 pm

GimmeShade wrote:There is a compost called "Whole Paychecks"!

Funny!

**sanderson** 6/20/2023, 12:16 am

Whole Foods sometimes has their brand of veggie-based compost. Lovingly referred to as Whole Paycheck. Razz

Guest 6/20/2023, 7:21 am

and there needs to be an emoticon for a forehead slap, because that completely went over my head. Shocked

This is a great thread, BTW.

**sanderson** 6/21/2023, 5:36 am

Guest 6/21/2023, 11:28 am

One for Whole Paycheck's, one for not realizing you can view more emoticons, and one for good measure.

**sanderson** 6/21/2023, 11:40 am

**sanderson** 12/4/2023, 1:27 pm

Adding to the list.

Kansas - FednHappy worm castings.

https://www.fednhappy.com/?fbclid=IwAR1X_LEGe_KGN3sDbQbZxY3mS7FcnLGbUrqXbLEc8Ok_YmgxRhesD22J6vM

**sanderson** 12/11/2023, 1:37 pm

Nature's Way Resources - Another possible source of compost in Texas. It looks like there is the main site for bulk and some retail outlets, which I assume may be bagged.

https://www.natureswayresources.com/retailers.html

**sanderson** 2/5/2024, 5:04 am

Does anyone in the Georgia area use Wakefield Premium Compost? If so, are the wood materials fully composted, or do you have to screen it?

https://wakefieldbiochar.com/products/premium-compost/

OhioGardener 2/5/2024, 8:54 am

sanderson wrote:Does anyone in the Georgia area use Wakefield Premium Compost? If so, are the wood materials fully composted, or do you have to screen it?

https://wakefieldbiochar.com/products/premium-compost/

I am not in Georgia, and I haven't used this product, but anyone looking to buy it should be aware of cost differences. Here locally, both Home Depot and Tractor Supply Co. sells it. But, at Home Depot it sells for $27.29 for 1 cu ft, and at Tractor Supply Co. it sells for $11.99 for 1 cu ft. That is a large difference in the cost. Lowe's discontinued it, and now only sells the Wakefield Biochar.

**sanderson** 2/9/2024, 4:10 pm

Thank you for the information.

**donnainzone5** 2/9/2024, 8:36 pm

My current understanding is that biochar isn't a true compost and may have negative effects in one's SFG.

**sanderson** 2/9/2024, 10:52 pm

Correct, biochar is not part of our recipe. I think the Wakefield compost is just compost. The company makes biochar as one of their products.

**sanderson** 3/2/2024, 3:29 pm

Ohio area. Anyone tried this? Does it need screening? NOTE: Limit all manure-based composts to 20% it possible.
Poultry manure is higher in phosphates than cow or horse, etc.

Compost - Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts - Page 3 Compos19

OhioGardener 3/2/2024, 3:56 pm

sanderson wrote:Ohio area. Anyone tried this? Does it need screening? NOTE: Limit all manure-based composts to 20% it possible.
Poultry manure is higher in phosphates than cow or horse, etc.

The farm that produces this is about a 2 hour drive from me. This product does not need screening - their bagging process screens it before bagging. This is pure composted chicken manure. It is very expensive, almost $40 for a 40# bag, but you cannot use very much of it due to it being pure composted manure.

Here is a picture of it before it is screened and bagged

Compost - Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts - Page 3 Rooser10

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