Kellogg's brand composts allegedly use sewage sludge.....

I didn't realize that some of the composts that we might be putting on our garden might contain sewage sludge a.k.a. biosolids or waste from the sewage treatment plants and that it might be disguised as "compost" in the ingredients on the package.

I bought some compost from Costco yesterday and some Kellogg's Patio Plus yesterday. I'm gonna check the package and if it lists "compost" or worse.....it's going back. I thought that the manufacturer's had to tell us if they used sludge in composts or garden soils but apparently not.

Here is one article from Source Watch.

Here is an article from Mother Jones.

Right on the bag it says, Guaranteed. Keep your receipt, get a refund from Kellogg if you don't like it! They sent me a rebate for a purchase within 2 weeks! Unheard of service! I think that's a good sign.

Sourcewatch says that Nitrohumus, Topper, Amend, and Gromulch are the products that allegedly contain sewer sludge; noted by the the listed ingredient "compost".

Patio Plus has the listed ingredients: bat guano, worm poop, composted chicken manure, kelp meal, rice hulls, perlite, canadian peat moss, horticulture sand". Doesn't have the vague "compost" ingredient.

The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) provides organic certifiers, growers, manufacturers, and suppliers
an independent review of products intended for use in certified organic
production, handling, and processing. OMRI is a 501(c)3 nonprofit
organization. When companies apply, OMRI reviews their products against
the National Organic Standards. Here's the link: OMRI

Patio Plus is listed as passing their tests to comply with USDA organic standards and meeting acceptability of various material inputs in general under the National Organic Program.

Looks good to use, or you can delay your garden to make your own compost first. But then you have to worry about what in your water!

When I was up at the garden this morning I looked on the bag of Patio Plus and noticed that it didn't contain the generic "compost" (that's good). I still have the check the bags from Costco. I mainly bought the Patio plus for the flowers and herbs that I plant.

Thanks for checking the OMRI site regarding the Patio Plus. I'll have to check that site out.

We're on well water so I don't worry too much about what's in it. We're up in the foothills so I'm not worried about agriculture run off or anything.

Please be careful. Miss Mousie!

I'm down-hill and down-stream from you, in the Sacramento Delta area! Your garden may "run-off" down to mine!

Well, that's part of the reason I don't want any sewage sludge or anything. I'm trying to use organic things and no chemicals.

I'll be careful not to let my garden run off pollute you guys in the "flat lands"

Kellogg's Patio Plus was what I bought about a month ago and used to fill 2 big pots. I planted an heirloom tomato in one pot and sweet potatoes in the other. In a short time they were filled with little black bugs, (sort of like gnats or little flies) and fungus spores.

I took the unopened bag and the two empty bags, plus a sample of the contaminated soil back to Home Depot. They were really good about it and gave me gredit for the Kellogg's and let me trade out for Miracle Grow brand instead. Needless to say, I won't be buying that brand again. Good luck with yours.

Janet

DiscoGardener wrote:Please be careful. Miss Mousie!

I'm down-hill and down-stream from you, in the Sacramento Delta area! Your garden may "run-off" down to mine!

Joke warning....

If I saw this and knew we were kidding around, I'd say.....then, move uphill from me and put your manure in my water. Once I let my manure go it......rolls downhill.

I was in Orchard Supply and Hardware prepping for building new SFG's in a couple weeks and noticed Kellogg's garden products has revamped. Their entire line now seems available in both their original formula's and in organic ORMI listed* formulas.

http://www.omri.org/simple-opl-search/results/gromulch