Compost I'm getting a big trailer load

[ginnie6]

of compost/mulch today! It's crazy I'm this excited over it, but I am! I"m going to fill my beds that have sunk down and add a few more boards to make them deeper. Then in a couple weeks I'll get another load to add to the area we want tomatoes and corn. We've lived off what I canned 2 years ago because last year's canning didn't happen. I'm running LOW on everything so this year I must garden. I just ordered some new beet seeds and some new beans so it should be fun.

 

[ioujc]

I hear you!!

I can't WAIT for SPRING!!! I am SOOOOOO very ready to get my garden going!!

 

[moldy]

A word of warning: last year, we got a load of beautiful compost from a local feed yard. We think whatever the cows ate was sprayed with a long-acting herbicide. EVERYTHING that we repotted with it died - 175 bare root trees from the conservation society, all but 1 tomato plant (out of probably 40); all but 8 peppers (out of around 60). Don't want to rain on your parade - but maybe try it out on a houseplant you can live without before you put it in all your beds. I still have a pile of it in the garden (not spread out) that I don't know what DH will do with.

 

[ginnie6]

A word of warning: last year, we got a load of beautiful compost from a local feed yard. We think whatever the cows ate was sprayed with a long-acting herbicide. EVERYTHING that we repotted with it died - 175 bare root trees from the conservation society, all but 1 tomato plant (out of probably 40); all but 8 peppers (out of around 60). Don't want to rain on your parade - but maybe try it out on a houseplant you can live without before you put it in all your beds. I still have a pile of it in the garden (not spread out) that I don't know what DH will do with.

My friends use this all the time and know the source it comes from. I don't have to worry about that thankfully. So sorry your lost yours though.

 

[China Connection]

I have been unlucky enough to get a bad load from a small horse yard beside a countryside road.

 

[Barry Natchitoches]

A word of warning: last year, we got a load of beautiful compost from a local feed yard. We think whatever the cows ate was sprayed with a long-acting herbicide. EVERYTHING that we repotted with it died - 175 bare root trees from the conservation society, all but 1 tomato plant (out of probably 40); all but 8 peppers (out of around 60). Don't want to rain on your parade - but maybe try it out on a houseplant you can live without before you put it in all your beds. I still have a pile of it in the garden (not spread out) that I don't know what DH will do with.

Unfortunately, this is getting to be a huge problem. Moldy is right - try your compost out on some “test” plants, to make sure it is safe to use.

Backyard chickens can significantly reduce your need to import (questionable) manure, and provide you breakfast at the same time. But, while they are relatively easy to raise, they do take some work to provide for them. And they take some time to deliver the volumn of manure you would need for your garden.

 

[rafter]

I'm going to get a load of horse/shavings compost from the barn where I board my horses. After all I am paying for it indirectly!

 

[Freeholder]

A word of warning: last year, we got a load of beautiful compost from a local feed yard. We think whatever the cows ate was sprayed with a long-acting herbicide. EVERYTHING that we repotted with it died - 175 bare root trees from the conservation society, all but 1 tomato plant (out of probably 40); all but 8 peppers (out of around 60). Don't want to rain on your parade - but maybe try it out on a houseplant you can live without before you put it in all your beds. I still have a pile of it in the garden (not spread out) that I don't know what DH will do with.

There is a garden writer/blogger/YouTuber that I watch a lot -- he goes by David the Good. He is constantly warning people about this herbicide that farmers have been spraying on their hay (and grain, so watch the straw, too) crops. He lost a big part of his own garden several years ago. He says DO NOT use hay or straw, or compost made with them, OR manure from animals fed on them. The only exception would be if you know the farmer, and KNOW FOR A FACT that he doesn't use the herbicide. David said it's very persistent in the soil, lasts several years before it breaks down, so once it's on the ground, you won't be able to use that area for gardening (or trees, berries, etc.) for AT LEAST three or four years.

Kathleen

 

[Freeholder]

I'm going to get a load of horse/shavings compost from the barn where I board my horses. After all I am paying for it indirectly!

Still be careful, because if the horses are being fed hay from a farm where they use this herbicide, their manure will kill your plants.

Kathleen

 

[Freeholder]

I was just thinking that there are going to be knock-on effects from the use of this herbicide -- as more people find out what happens to their gardens, even if they are only growing ornamentals, they aren't going to want to buy mulch hay or straw, or manure, or compost made with the contaminated hay or straw or manure. So then what are the producers going to do with all of the stuff they used to be able to sell to gardeners?

Kathleen

 

[Jeff B.]

Great that you can get non contaminated compost/manure. Bummer for those who’ve found out the hard way about the presence of herbicides.

If/when we get a larger (land wise not house) place, I’m going back to composting. It’s always been productive for me.

Jeff B.

 

[rafter]

Still be careful, because if the horses are being fed hay from a farm where they use this herbicide, their manure will kill your plants.

Kathleen

Not our horses.

 

[Marie]

If anyone needs manure in central Ne let me know I have a lil
I could spare

 

[China Connection]

By the way, find out where you can buy rock dust of buy blue metal crusher dust and add it all over your compost.