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Re: Public Compost & Herbicides

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

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I just about ruined all of my flower beds with the compost from the local
plant.  It looked great while wet, but turned into charcoal as soon as it
dried.  I would imagine it was made from wood chips with no greens to even
the stuff out.  It dried in hard clumps, but of course I had the entire bed
of 50' x 10' covered.  Not much I could do.  It has been three years and is
still not broken down in my cold climate.  I'm going to try adding blood
meal and see if I can't get the nitrogen freed up.

After this experience, I will never get the stuff again.  Also I have
noticed that the plant takes anything (sprayed, not sprayed, etc.) and
depending on the time of year, it is composed of woody scraps due to yard
clean up.  Later in the summer it is probably made from just grass.

And for me it wasn't even free.  I paid $50 for the chance to mess up my
yard.

Gloria
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ronald E Menold II" <menoldre@va.prestige.net>
To: "Square Foot Gardening List" <sqft@listbot.com>
Sent: Friday, April 20, 2001 6:24 PM
Subject: Re: Public Compost & Herbicides


> Square Foot Gardening List - http://myweb.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html
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> >     There is an article in this months' Organic Gardening Magazine all
about
> > compost from public sources. If memory serves, it is something you have
to be
> > very careful about. For example, the county sprays toxic substances on
the
> > sides of the roads to kill weeds. Then they mow, then those clippings
end up
> > in the cities "Free Compost." You put it in your garden and "Voila" your
> > garden possibly now contains a number of highly toxic herbicides. Some
of
> > these herbicides might not even be approved for human consumption. Some
of
> > these substances will remain in the soil for up to three years. Even if
you
> > are not going to be handling your garden in a thoroughly organic way you
> > might want to think about the dangers that lurk in that "Free Compost."
> > Kimberly
>
> What I do is use the free stuff for the flower beds and the homemade
> stuff for the veggie beds.
> -Ron
> menoldre@va.prestige.net
>
>
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