Re: New to the forum, need help with a large project!

[RockstarParkingDude]

20 feet isn't that far.... but 10 feet would probably work just as well.

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ALL THE HELP!!! you have been so much more informative than i could have hoped for.


the golf course i work at does constantly have trucks full of sand and soils and mulches and peat. i need to get together with the head groundskeeper to ask him what availabilities of the required materials. i can probably get just about any soil materials by truckload... it is a golf course.

also, i don't necessarily have labor working for me, but i can get labor for the setup and maybe one or two people for like 12 hours a week after that to help tend it. i will actually be doing a good bit of the harvesting myself - i'm not quite high up enough to escape actual work.

if i were to go with a soil medium instead, what should i add to make it more productive? peat? lots of compost? what would work best? i've never had to think about this, the soil in my yard is incredible.

[BackyardBirdGardner]

You immediately leave our area of expertise when you go away from Mel's Mix, unless you are lucky enough to tap into one of the "older method's" experts around here. There are several here, and I'm sure they can tell you the in's and out's of amending your existing soil.

The hard thing for you to get volumes of in a golf course environment will be vermiculite. The amounts you will be asking for will make any superintendent laugh at you when he sees the price. Again, my recommendation should you decide to commit to SFG's concept: Read up on it and study with us. Then, sell your board on both the aesthetics and productivity making SFG beds will bring. It's an easy sell once you understand the concept inside and out. That will free up your vermiculite delivery. Your results may change opinions around the golf course crew.

But, that said, you may inquire with the golf crew as to the composition of their soils, too. Some around here mix their own beds. They keep similar textures to Mel's Mix for ease of switching out seasonal landscapes.

[plantoid]

The golf course accounts people should be able to bulk buy vermiculite at fantastic discounted rates direct from the suppliers ... simply by buying just one sack and getting their contact info off the bag or cheating by sneaking a look at a sack.
( industrial espionage agents wanted .. square footers sign up here ? ) .

When you think of it the % mark up is around the figures of over 600 % from manufacturer to the end user for most products. ( Those middle men just add cost into things )

Here in the UK I can get a 120 litre bag for £ 15 inc taxes from a builders merchant . If I had an account that spent over £ 20 ,000 per year I would see it drop to £ 10 a bag & if I spent over £60,000 pa I'd be picking it up for £ 3 or 4 on minimum order 500 delivery included by the manufacturer .( all figures are approximates )
Direct from the makers ...who knows ? I'd also seek out several producers if at all possible and compare prices.

[sfg4uKim]

If you're thinking 18" high for the beds, you could always put stone & soil in the bottom 10-12", then weed cloth, then Mel's Mix (MM) in the top 6-8". You could make one of the beds a bit deeper with MM for carrots, potatoes, etc. This could help with expenses.

Under no circumstances would I mix soil & MM together.

[ashort]

You immediately leave our area of expertise when you go away from Mel's Mix, unless you are lucky enough to tap into one of the "older method's" experts around here. There are several here, and I'm sure they can tell you the in's and out's of amending your existing soil.

The hard thing for you to get volumes of in a golf course environment will be vermiculite. The amounts you will be asking for will make any superintendent laugh at you when he sees the price. Again, my recommendation should you decide to commit to SFG's concept: Read up on it and study with us. Then, sell your board on both the aesthetics and productivity making SFG beds will bring. It's an easy sell once you understand the concept inside and out. That will free up your vermiculite delivery. Your results may change opinions around the golf course crew.

But, that said, you may inquire with the golf crew as to the composition of their soils, too. Some around here mix their own beds. They keep similar textures to Mel's Mix for ease of switching out seasonal landscapes.

You can find it in bulk... I bet its cheaper than you think... here is a place in MA with 75 cu ft bag...

http://www.whittemoreco.com/vermiculite.htm

[sfg4uKim]

I'd highly recommend J.P. Austin in Beaver Falls, PA for your vermiculite. I've dealt with them in the past and the owner (Jerry) even called me when there was a screw-up with our order. Good, honest company. He and Victoria from the Foundation met at a conference and I THINK (but not 100% certain) he supplies the vermiculite for the pre-packaged Mel's Mix for the East Coast.

The number is 724 846-6510.

[Unmutual]

This is all I could come up with for Pennsylvanian veggies:

Growing Guide From Penn State

Commercial Growers Guide

Biointensive Farming(from penn state again)

the middle one is from penn state also. I had no idea that a university was studying biointensive farming, guess I need to look at those vids too. It's an interesting method.

Last, but not least

Veggie Varieties from penn state

This is a listing of veggies that are known to grow in your state.

One thing about heirlooms though, they might take a generation or 3 to grow well in your location. Just keep trying, read up on seed saving and get a family line going.

[RockstarParkingDude]

amazing. thank you so much.

[Sponsored content]