Why five sources for your compost? One explanation.

When I first stumbled (literally) on SFG, I had some difficulty understanding the need for five sources for the compost mix in Mel's Mix.  If there is a printed reason I haven't yet come across it yet in the SFG space.  HOWEVER, when I dug deeper into soil Science and chemistry versus nutritional value of a crop it became much more clear.  A number of us (most?) live in areas that either naturally or through previous planting/harvesting lack various chemicals that plants require to produce the nutritional  foods that our bodies and the animals we eat need.  By employing five different sources for our MM we have much better odds of creating a balanced healthy growing medium for our vegetables and fruits.

I live in a region called Cascadia (West of the Cascades) in Washington State.  A region with known soil deficiencies.  I done a little research and I've decided that it's worth a road trip or two to obtain a couple of my compost constituents from the East side of the mountains.  Due to the stroke, I will have to impose on friends and it will cost more but it feels like it will be worth it in the end.

Let the barbs commence.

Keith (Ret EE)

It will be more than worth the effort. If you would like to see some astonishing results, make compost tea. use a foliage spray along with soil drenching on a few of your plants and see the difference in only a week.

How do you make a compost tea or where are the instructions?

Chuck d'Argy wrote:How do you make a compost tea or where are the instructions?

Too complicated & detailed to describe here, but go to the following link, and scroll down to "How to Make Aerated Compost Teas".

https://rodaleinstitute.org/blog/compost-tea-a-how-to-guide/

For more info, do a google search on How to make Compost Tea.