What makes a "compost"?

I am about ready to poke out my eyes. I bought, but will likely return, some "mushroom compost" today. It's made of "sawdust, straw, topsoil, chicken waste and gypsum". Top soil? Then there is the mango "mulch compost" made from "horse and cow manure to supply basic nutrients; grape and apple pomace which are high in beneficial bacteria and yeasts to aid with the breakdown of organic matter; rice hulls and straw for good soil tilth; soft rock phosphate and greensand to boost the phosphorous and potassium". Are either of these going to work? Neither have peat moss in them to screw up that ratio but I am not finding many with just manure or composted greenage.

The 'mushroom compost? did it actually come from a mushroom farm, if it did, it is fine. I like #2 . 3 to go.

camprn wrote:The 'mushroom compost? did it actually come from a mushroom farm, if it did, it is fine. I like #2 . 3 to go.

no it came from walmart. We used to have a mushroom farm in the next county but it got shut down by the government for polluting water or some such. Sweet

I have a steer (el cheapo) and chicken ($3bag) as well as the big bag of Kellog N'Rich that is a multicompost and I thin it is legit but it is under my verm bag so I can't check easily. There is a landscape place in the next county that sells "mushroom compost" for $4 something a cubic foot not sure how "true" it is though and it means waiting another week because I would send dh to get it since he works in that town but he is gone m-f... which I can live with but I am getting super antsy And if my mom would ever get her friends truck so we could go to the county recycling place that sells yardwaste compost for $7 cuYD I'd be set. Fill in the boxes and use the left over county stuff to enrich some of our topsoil to grow "if they grow great if not no loss" flowers and pumkins.

Well it sounds to me like you have your 5 composts, including the 2 you mentioned in the OP. Go for it!