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Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts
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jimmy cee
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Re: Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts
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
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
ralitaco-
Posts : 1312
Join date : 2010-04-04
Location : Hampstead, NC
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Re: Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! This really helps!!!
mrcmb99- Posts : 14
Join date : 2019-04-20
Location : Livonia, Michigan
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Re: Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts
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.
RT, Lobster compost - if one hangs around this Forum, one learns all kinds of things. Camprn was the one who mentioned it.
Scorpio Rising likes this post
Re: Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts
Bumping this thread for new members.
Scorpio Rising likes this post
Re: Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts
Great thread, thanks!
Scorpio Rising-
Posts : 8570
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 61
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts
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
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
JAM23- Posts : 190
Join date : 2021-01-01
Location : Illinois; Zone5b
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Re: Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts
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?
Anyone else have comments?
Scorpio Rising likes this post
Re: Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts
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.
My Response:
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.”
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.
Scorpio Rising likes this post
Re: Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts
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.
[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.

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.


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.

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.

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.


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Re: Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts
There is a compost called "Whole Paychecks"! 

GimmeShade-
Posts : 26
Join date : 2023-06-13
Location : Arizona
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Re: Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts
Funny!GimmeShade wrote:There is a compost called "Whole Paychecks"!![]()

Scorpio Rising-
Posts : 8570
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 61
Location : Ada, Ohio
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Re: Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts
Whole Foods sometimes has their brand of veggie-based compost. Lovingly referred to as Whole Paycheck.

Re: Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts



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

GimmeShade-
Posts : 26
Join date : 2023-06-13
Location : Arizona
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Re: Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts



GimmeShade-
Posts : 26
Join date : 2023-06-13
Location : Arizona
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» Mixing store bought composts
» Store Bought Compost
» First timer and overwhelmed. Help!
» Can I compost store bought tomato sauce
» Best Florida Compost - store bought
» Store Bought Compost
» First timer and overwhelmed. Help!
» Can I compost store bought tomato sauce
» Best Florida Compost - store bought
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