Cincinnati Sources for Mel's Mix

Red-Leg 1/5/2012, 11:24 pm

Newbie SFGer here in Cincinnati and trying to get everything planned out for spring.

Can some of you local folks direct me to sources for creating my Mel's Mix?

Thanks!

-Darren

**llama momma** 1/6/2012, 5:57 am

Hello there -

Here is the vermiculite data base -
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/Vermiculite-Entry-Form-h1.htm

Peat - should be found everywhere. Fluff it up before measuring and adding to the box. On a windless day!

Store bought compost - if you need to buy I am sure someone else will chime in soon to help you with local sources.

The best, I mean your Very Best Compost will be your own homemade, as Mel teaches in the book. If you already have the book then Chapter 5 will simplify it for you, that is, "All New Square Foot Gardening" book, first printing revised edition 2006.

I think it is so much fun and satisfying to make your own and produce the best quality that money really can't buy. Store bought can be questionable. So...many of us start with store bought and begin making our own high quality stuff for continuous production year round.

nancy 1/6/2012, 9:55 am

Darren - I get my vermiculite at Berger Farm out on 32. Everything else comes from various sources around town. This year I will be adding Zoo Doo from Marvin's in Lebanon. I've never been so excited about buying poop!

Red-Leg 1/6/2012, 1:31 pm

Nancy,

Is there a specific time of year that Marvin's gets "Zoo Doo"?

Thanks!
Darren

madnicmom 1/6/2012, 2:50 pm

It's around $25/bag. GREAT STUFF!! I've been out there for a "green" event and a medicinal herb lecture. got 2 blackberry bushes for this year, dirt cheap.

nancy 1/6/2012, 6:09 pm

Darren,

Marvin's has made this amazing deal with the zoo & Walmart. They collect "doo" from the herbivores and produce from Walmart and are making a wonderful compost with it. How many kinds of compost is it? The answer will vary depending on who you ask. Elephant, zebra, giraffe, okapi, rhino, etc. etc. - to me it is all 5. But I will also add cow, mushroom, and chicken from the nurseries, plus what I am making myself.

When I went there last year, I was told the zoo doo would not be ready until this spring. However, I read on this very forum recently that it is ready now. Considering how much waste they get from the zoo, it should be available all year.

I promise that I will tell everyone I feed that their food was grown in elephant poop! I'm so excited about this year!

mijejo 1/7/2012, 10:04 am

I just called Marvin's. They are closed until March. However, I left a voice mail message regarding the zoopoo.

Last year, when I inquired, they indicated that none was available in bags. I had the impression that you need a dump truck, or a pickup truck to purchase it. I am not sure if they deliver. I hope I am wrong, and that they will sell to the public and even have some bagged, or let us shovel it ourselves.

Perhaps, we can be creative and collectively purchase some of this compost if their distribution is not conducive to the home gardener. If the price is right, I would love to have a lot of it. I hope to expand this year because 4 4'x16' beds are not enough to feed my family. I am also using the SFG beds for growing flowers, foliage for my pottery creations, and gourds for crafts and utility.

Red-Leg 1/7/2012, 3:15 pm

Phew! Glad I didn't make the run up to Lebanon to check it out this morning. Very Happy

I did hit Dayton Hydroponics and Reading Seed & Feed though.

ETA - I have a pickup and would be happy to pick up a load of Zoo Poo this spring if we have enough folks interested.

madnicmom 1/7/2012, 9:45 pm

Sorry I forgot to mention, If your a Facebook person, "Like" Marvin's Organic Gardens and you'll see when they open for this year, when they post it. They also post all events, lectures, etc on their page.

I just didn't "think" to post the info. Sorry again.

Dayton Hydroponics - love that store! The tri-county store is much larger than the Dayton store.

Glendale-gardener 1/9/2012, 11:52 am

Did Reading have any verm in yet? Last time I checked they were out and weren't planning on getting any more for a while but that was around September. The Tri-County Dayton Hydro is a little more expensive than Reading And Eds Feed and Seed but a lot closer for me!

I'd be in for a pickup split of zoodoo as well!

Red-Leg 1/9/2012, 1:45 pm

I didn't see any Vermiculite at Reading on Saturday, though didn't spend a ton of time in the yard or open barn. The store itself was a mess and difficult to shop. I'm hoping that might get better once the weather starts to turn and they put stock back outdoors.

Glendale-gardener 1/9/2012, 2:06 pm

that store is always a mess and always hard to shop. I haven't been in a while so hopefully right now it is worse than usual. But it is still one of my favorites. The guy that owns it buys out other garden places that are going out of business or overstocked so there are always bargains to be found in there!

madnicmom 1/9/2012, 3:09 pm

Good to see you again glendale gardener! I now work in your town. LOL

Glendale-gardener 1/9/2012, 3:42 pm

Nice to be back! I haven't been checking in as often with the holidays and now I'm working on my winter projects(rewiring crap and replacing lights in my house)

You're working in Glendale?

madnicmom 1/9/2012, 3:51 pm

Glendale Place Care Center. Night shifts. Nice place, great people but I guess it really helps that your boss is your friend. LOL

Red-Leg 1/9/2012, 3:54 pm

I used to work right around the corner in Woodlawn and absolutely love Glendale. It's one of my favorite places to just drive through the neighborhood, looking at houses and yards.

madnicmom 1/9/2012, 4:07 pm

I love the squirrels. LOL

nancy 1/9/2012, 9:28 pm

Count me in on a portion of zoo doo! I drive a tiny car.

Also - keep checking Starbucks. Mine doesn't appear to have the bin out, but Madeira & Montgomery both do. I got 3 bags of grounds over New Year's weekend and my roses are so happy! I need a ton more for my sfgs, but am very pleased to be finding grounds in January.

Glendale-gardener 1/10/2012, 3:12 pm

Do you just mulch around your roses with the grounds? How do you apply it?

And what do you mean by the bin?

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