Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Buying Compost
Many gardeners will prefer buying compost from a garden center or the municipality. I
have never lived in a city where I found great compost, but there is usually something ac-
ceptable. I lived in one city where gardeners flocked to pay $75 per yard for a compost
made with fish waste and coniferous bark, complete with coniferous toxins. I didn't like the
stuff much and gardening friends determined it had a calcium deficiency, but other people
loved it and used it successfully.
When buying compost, it should smell good, not like garbage. I shouldn't have to say it,
but it should not
contain
garbage. I once received a load of 15 yards of compost that was
full of pieces of plastic, produced by a recycling company. I got my money back. Most pur-
chased compost will not have been properly cured, so although I know it's not often feas-
ible, if you have a month or two to let it continue composting on your property, that would
be good.
Ask about the raw materials. Is there toxic paper mill waste or household waste, or
pesticide-laden grass clippings in it? Don't use compost that has been made with sewage
sludge. Yes, an argument can definitely be made that we should be composting this stuff
rather than sending it raw to the landfill or our waterways, but we shouldn't be putting it in
our gardens. Most of the pathogens can be destroyed, but a smorgasbord of heavy metals,
pesticides and other chemicals survive the process and end up increasing in concentration.
The sewage sludge industry may try to tell you differently, but there is plenty of research
available on this.
