Thinking of using local soil...maybe?

[maryjanecares]

seedlings

seedlings

what do you use for your seedling mix? I wouldnt think you would use what you explained but then again.....teach me.

 

[guest2012y]

The Marwest Compost is one special product. It's made from the manure of organically raised cows and goats, mixed with native grasses on their 300 acre farm. Added to that are smashed spent organic shitake mushroom logs (or whatever the correct term is) and these are added to the compost pile.

They use the biodynamic composting method described here. Available in 1.5 c.f. bags for $8.00 and totes (1 c.y.) are also available. We ordered 2 totes to take care of the new raised beds that are being placed in our front yard.

Good stuff and priced extremely well compared to any other commercial product available in here in the valley.

CC

It's good shit....literally.
Comes with worms in the bag,not just one or two either. Best stuff in a bag next to home compost I've seen.

Feel free to answer any of maryjanecares questions if you think you can put it more eliquently Coot.

 

[guest2012y]

Capt.,

WOW, that is some living dirt. I love it. I will be starting on that once the freeze breaks. Here in Michigan we dont have exotic organics like you lucky northwesterners.

Sources?
1 bag Marwest compost (what should I look for in a local compost/topsoil???)
5 lbs. crab shell meal (is crab meal and oyster shell meal the same????) if not where do I get that also? is there alternatives (trying to stay local)???
5 lbs glacial rock dust
5 lbs Acadian kelp meal
5 lbs fish bone meal
fish meal
rare earth pyro-clay.....? what, where, how and why?
fungal compost (not mushroom) ?

This is interesting.....10 lbs char soaked in a N bat guano tea. What does the soak do for softening or help in breaking down the Char?

You already told me about the silica/neem/aloe vera foliar spray...what are your other tricks????

Cheers.

We get all our stuff from what we dig up,compost or buy at a few places like this one here...
http://www.concentratesnw.com/

 

[Clackamas Coot]

You have to look a bit closer but there are also a ton of worm cocoons as well in the Marwest product. You know that the compost is alive on some level anyway.

CC

 

[guest2012y]

what do you use for your seedling mix? I wouldnt think you would use what you explained but then again.....teach me.

Personally....I use half of my recycled soil mixed with a seedling starter mix recommended by Coot. This is of course when the seedlings are of proper size for transplant into a richer soil.

 

[maryjanecares]

sources

sources

ALRIGHT. thanks guys I re-read one of the threads and found Naomisorganics.com WOW that is great.

Now I wonder if there is a source closer to me in Michigan? The shipping is a killer not just in cost but in resources used to get it to me.

Capt. and CC...........thanks.

 

[Clackamas Coot]

ALRIGHT. thanks guys I re-read one of the threads and found Naomisorganics.com WOW that is great.

Now I wonder if there is a source closer to me in Michigan? The shipping is a killer not just in cost but in resources used to get it to me.

Capt. and CC...........thanks.

Yes.

Here's some suggestions to find those sources........

1. Local garden clubs - especially the ones promoting growing your own food

2. University/college agriculture extension services. Check their web site as they often have sources.

3. Check to see if Wilbur-Ellis has operations in your area. They are the largest distributor of fertilizers and organic soil amendments (and a slew of other services and products for farmers, ranchers, dairymen, poultry operation, swine, horses, etc.) They can tell you which farm stores they service in your area.

4. State organic farmer groups are another good place to source.

IOW, there is absolutely no reason to have products shipped from Portland or anywhere else. These products are mainstream organic amendments and not something new and shiny - you need to go to an 'indoor garden center' for that experience.

HTH

CC

 

[maryjanecares]

Clackamas Coot......seedling mix?

Clackamas Coot......seedling mix?

Capt. mentioned you helped him create a seedling mix.....do tell?

lots of questions and I am also trying to get my post count up so I can PM.

 

[guest2012y]

He recommended to me a brand to use....forgot the name,it's not near me ATM. Peat based,really fine particles.....
I just mix that commercial organic bagged brand with half of my own recycled mix.

 

[Clackamas Coot]

maryjanecares

Sun Gro Horticulture (worlds largest potting soil packer) is the company that produces the Sunshine Mix(es). Like Sunshine Mix #1 thru Sunshine Mix #4, etc. These are in 3.8 c.f. bales like below:

They also have 2 organic mixes - Sunshine Growers Organic Mix and Sunshine Growers Organic Seedling Mix. The ONLY difference between one and the other is that the seedling mix uses smaller particles in the base mix, i.e. organic Canadian Sphagnum peat moss, organic coir and a combination of pumice, perlite and vermiculite. These bags come in 2.8 loose-filled bags.

They're based in British Columbia and their main packing plant in the US is in Hubbard, Oregon. You can call them for a distributor in your area.

Pro-Mix and Sunshine Mix completely own and control the horticulture (nursery stock) industry. Completely and totally. Look for products from Premier Horticulture (Pro-Mix) as there isn't a dime's worth of difference in their products as far as quality vs. Sunshine products. Both companies pull their peat from the same bogs licensed by the Canadian government.

Pro-Mix or Sunshine Mix - if you want a peat-based soilless mix to start with to add your humus and amendments then either of these company's products will serve you well.

HTH

CC

 

[guest2012y]

The bag lasts forever since I don't do seedlings that much,and I only mix a 50/50 mix for seedlings that need that particular soil at that time of their lives. My clones can go straight into my recycled mix....no problem. The seedlings tend to be a bit sensitive to richer soils at first.

 

[maryjanecares]

East Coast sourcing

East Coast sourcing

Well i attempted to google seafood by-products USA east coast and NOTHING usable came up.

Would love to put together a consortium of sorts for us east coasters wanting this stuff.

 

[Clackamas Coot]

maryjanecares

I checked with our state organic farmer group - Oregon Tilth for information in your part of the world.

How about the Michigan Organic Food & Farm Alliance? The would be a good place to get information on soil amendments and general help in growing organically.

Or the Michigan State University Organic Farming Exchange?

That should give you a good start anyway.

HTH

CC

 

[maryjanecares]

Tell me what you guys think

Tell me what you guys think

Diarydoo.com its semi local for soil.

 

[Clackamas Coot]

Here's a list of organic farms in your neighborhood - always a good source, i.e. asking them where they source their amendments.

 

[Clackamas Coot]

Diarydoo.com its semi local for soil.

I'd definitely give it a run. Looks like other dairy products that are either processed by thermal composting or earthworms (Worm Power in NY state for example).

CC

 

[guest2012y]

Isn't there some kind of organic/hydro store around there somewhere. I got my local hydro guy to carry 80% of what I need at the price I want.
EDIT: Now you can take things to another level if you use plant materials that live around you to fertilize and grow your plants via Jaykush's methods. There may be some component you can't find that is growing at your feet. Check his threads.

 

[love2gro]

Has anyone ever used 'Filthy Rich Top Soil' to add to their mix?

This is what it has:
It consists of a balanced blend of organic humus, compost, river loam, sand, barnyard manures and lime for pH balance

Would this be a good replacement if one didnt want to go collect 'real topsoil'?

 

[guest2012y]

Has anyone ever used 'Filthy Rich Top Soil' to add to their mix?

This is what it has:
It consists of a balanced blend of organic humus, compost, river loam, sand, barnyard manures and lime for pH balance

Would this be a good replacement if one didnt want to go collect 'real topsoil'?

Sounds good....I'd call them up and ask about the sources of the materials if it's not clearly listed.

 

[Clackamas Coot]

love2gro

I know of that product - it's out of Eugene, Oregon from Rexius. It's available at several locations in and around Portland and of course Eugene.

If you're in Oregon you have several other options. Their products are geared towards the landscape industry and general farming.

Of all their products, the Filthy Rich Organic Potting Soil is the best of their product line(s).

HTH

CC