Compost: Getting Started

I read Mel's book over the winter. Got my 6 - 4' x 4' beds in place this past weekend. I found the reference to Griffin's in Tewksbury and got my grade 4 Vermiculite, but am trying to find a good source for composting material in the Mansfield area.If not compost material, how about using other soils like "Garden Soil" from Scotts. Would the be an alternative or is this a bad idea.

Hi there. I'm in about the same position as rjbokleman, but am in Somerville. We got our frames made, got the vermiculite and peat moss, but can't seem to source much compost this early in the season. Found some bags of Maine Coast (?) brand lobster/shellfish compost, but nothing else yet. Tried the usual big boxes and three or four most local sources. No one has anything in yet. Everyone says end of March/early April. Can we use composted manure as one component of the blend? Any suggestions from more experienced growers out there?

Ok, I keep doing research and here's what I've found so far.

If you visit http://www.farmfresh.org/ you can put in your city/town, state and zipcode and come up with a list of sources that have compost.

In addition I found a good source for organic compost http://www.sevenarrowsfarm.com/nursery/organic%20compost.html which says: "We offer premium quality Shellfish (lobster & crab only) Compost from Winterwood Farm both in bagged form and in bulk, picked up here at the farm or delivered to you. We can also supply you with a compost based Raised Bed Mix."

I'm going to call them today and see when I can pick some up.

I also spoke to a "Butch" over at http://www.groundscapesexpress.com/ who said they have compost as well for pickup only in smaller sized loads. They only deliver 4 yards or more. His # is 1-508-400-5366, and the address is 715 East Street, Wrentham, MA by appointment only. Total cost from him for 16 cubic feet would be $28.00.

Hope this helps.

Thanks rjbokleman and lavender. I'll look into some of these options. Think I probably shouldn't get more lobster/shellfish, since I already have a few bags of those already. Too bad our home pile isn't ready for prime time quite yet. Cheers.

rjbokleman wrote:Ok, I keep doing research and here's what I've found so far.

If you visit http://www.farmfresh.org/ you can put in your city/town, state and zipcode and come up with a list of sources that have compost.

Thanks for posting the link; it's a good resource for folks in the area. I put my zip code in, and the nearest source was 2394 miles from me!

They deliver.

Deborah ....thinking, "Road Trip!"

Hi, I'm probably being redundant and repetitive. I wouldn't use the garden soil. Last year, I was browbeaten into adding some topsoil in with my mixed composts, and I really wish I hadn't.

Last year was my first SFG year. The book made so much sense to me, that my goal is/was to follow Mel's plans to the letter. If I have failures, I don't want to have lots of variables to have to figure out - well, I didn't do this quite the way he said, and well, I changed this a little.

I am going to check out the link that rjbokleman posted - thank you!

This year I should have enough home grown compost to meet my needs for the four or five new beds I am adding. But I am also thinking I should combine new Mel's mix, made with all homegrown, with old Mel's mix, made with mostly purchased, so that all the beds have some homegrown.


Martha, whose fingers are very, very itchy.

HA! Great pic Boff!!

Deborah ...happy for Martha's fingers. My nails are already full of dirt.

Deb,

If your nails are full of dirt, they must be frostbit too! It was darn cold this morning. I tucked my peas in with a blankie last night, just to be on the safe side. (I know they don't need it, but it made me feel good)

road trip? Shotgun!

boffer wrote:

rjbokleman wrote:Ok, I keep doing research and here's what I've found so far.

If you visit http://www.farmfresh.org/ you can put in your city/town, state and zipcode and come up with a list of sources that have compost.

Thanks for posting the link; it's a good resource for folks in the area. I put my zip code in, and the nearest source was 2394 miles from me!

This is the New England Forum, right?

uh, I think you're right, now that I look

Dear Deborah,


Yes.


Martha

Back again. I'm still having trouble sourcing compost near Boston, MA. We've got our boxes built, protection in case of cold nights, and most of our Mel's Mix supplies. We seem to have lucked out with the vermiculite. Peat moss wasn't hard to find. But we're still having trouble finding enough compost sources. We have lobster and composted cow manure, but can't find anything else. I've called the first 15 places nearest us on the list at www.farmfresh, but they 1) aren't yet open for business for the season, 2) don't have any in yet, or 3) only sell it loose (we don't have a pick-up). Aargh! Am I crazy to think that we can get going this early? We're right by the coast, our regular garden soil isn't frozen, and we're eager to plant some early stuff in our new SFG. And this weekend is supposed to be beautiful. Are we just going to have to wait? Any other suggestions out there? Has anyone within, say, 40 miles of Boston been able to find bagged compost yet? Sorry for the rant, but we're impatient...we just know we could have some radishes soon. (We'll probably break down and plant them in our old spot, non-SFG, for now...)

Dear FoxTracks,

Thanks for the tips. I tried Mahoney's earlier in the week (Brighton and Winchester), but I've already got the Coast of Maine stuff and some composted manure. They didn't mention the compost blends. They also said that they had some unbagged but that we'd need a pick-up. Will try New England Nurseries and ask Mahoney's again about the blends.

Ceallaigh
(pronounced "Kelly"--the Irish spelling, in case anyone is curious...)

Creddy here is a source near you for locally made compost:
http://www.tsoil.com/index.htm