Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts

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.


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.”

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.