Newbie from Minnesota and struggling with compost mix

Hello,
How I landed here today? I don't know! I think I have spent way too much time on the laptop today trying to figure out what to use for the compost for Mel's Mix. I would have so loved to order it from Home Depot but we couldn't justify the shipping ($60). More than the mix . . . so sad. So know I am back to trying to find stuff to put in our 1/3 compost. Went to wal-mart to see what they had... hmmm. Would that be considered using the 'cheap' stuff. There was a 5 blend organic item listed on their website but, of course, our store doesn't carry it. GRRRRRR I so want to do our 3rd SFG the new way. The other two we made this spring were done using the old way. I have had the book for long time.
I finally checked out the New way book from our Library and am so excited about it. Can anyone out there in Mn Land tell me what would be good to use that is easily accessible (from normal stores) for the compost. We do have a bag of Timberline Soil (cow manure and compost) we got a Lowes that I would like to use as 1 type.
I don't know if this is the right place to ask this. So if not, I will post my question again where it should go.
Thank you. Looking forward to reading and gleaning from other SFGer's
Rosie K

I have been square foot gardening for 6 years and have never used Mel's mix. I have a bag of course verm. compost and spag. moss, and rock dust. When I plant in the square foot I mix this in the soil. I understand that Mel's mix is the best, but when you want to square foot garden and have spent most of your money on lumber to build the garden you do what you can to improve the soil you have.

downs wrote: I have been square foot gardening for 6 years and have never used Mel's mix.

Then clearly you are not using the recipe as promoted by Mel Bartholomew, the founder of SFG.

You are correct in saying by adding the ingredients of Mel's mix to you native soil that this is not SFG. By using the ingredients of Mel's Mix in native soil it will certainly give a boost that patch.

But I am confused, you have the ingredients for the Mel's mix, but chose to add it to your native soil.... why?

Now that being said, do you use the grid and recommended plant spacings and such. How has your garden been the past 6 seasons? Photos please.

Hi Ladies for your posts,
I really want to do it completely Mel's new way. After spending way too much time on the laptop again yesterday, we have decided to bite the bullet and order Mel's Mix from home depot if the shipping hasn't gone up even more. I realize I will still need some compost when I do replant, but I am hoping our own compost will suffice.
Any input would be appreciated

I went back and looked at my first addition of Square foot gardening.
I started in 1995. Back then Mel mixed with the soil. Now He uses the new mix. I have 6 4x4 raised beds. I couldn't afford to fill them with the new mix. So I followed his advice back then. Yes I still use the same planting spacing, I have 3 vertical frames at the back of 3 beds and I use that to grow pole beans, tomatoes, and cuc's. Have a compost pile and tumbler. Get plenty of Veg's. For me and my wife.
give some to my mom and sisters. Sorry no Pictures

Rosie K wrote:Hi Ladies for your posts,
I really want to do it completely Mel's new way. After spending way too much time on the laptop again yesterday, we have decided to bite the bullet and order Mel's Mix from home depot if the shipping hasn't gone up even more. I realize I will still need some compost when I do replant, but I am hoping our own compost will suffice.
Any input would be appreciated

It is a whole lot cheaper and you will have a superior product if you make your own Mel's mix. In MN you must be able to find farmers with compost for sale. Check Craigslist or Freecycle.