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Re: Public Compost & Herbicides

Square Foot Gardening List - http://myweb.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html

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From: "Maggie Raptis" <maggiehc@yahoo.com>
...snip...
> Should I count on the fact that I didn't notice major
> damage done before?
> Should I worry about pesticides or other residual
> chemicals, since I'm now using the compost on edibles?

I am not an expert on this, this is just my experience.

When I first setup my raised beds I was in the same
position.  I filled up 3 (or so) 30 gallon trash cans
with the free city compost.  I mixed this in my 
first beds with some peat and vermiculite.  I don't know
if there was anything bad or not in the compost but
everything grew so much better in the new beds with
the city compost then they ever did in rows in
the clay soil here abouts.

In hindsight I think I should have screened it though.
For awhile I kept finding pieces of glass, toy soldiers
and the occassional piece of god knows what, sticks
pens etc.  Since then I have screened the beds one 
square at time while replanting.  Gotten rid of the
mystery debris etc. 

I no longer use the city compost, though it was
a good start.  Now I generate all my compost from
kitchen scraps and the occassional mowing with
the bag on.  

So I think it will be okay to start with, but unless you
city compost is a lot better then ours only use it to 
get started.  Once you are using your own compost
you know exactly what is in it and what is not.

I use corregated metal mesh (like the 
kind used to hold stucco to buildings) 
for my screens.  I have one piece
cut into a circle and fit over a trash can, I then
just scoop in a shovel full or two of compost
and shake it around.  Anything still in the
top goes back in the next pile to cook some
more, anything that makes it though the mesh
is ready to use.  I also have a few "trays" made
by folding the mesh like a long shoe box.  I use this
if I want to screen an individual square.

Ron Souliere - Lincoln Nebraska, one month
to last frost, 4 dozen pea plants allready up


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