| Are you starting a new organic garden, but you don't | | | | clippings, and other items have been processed |
| have a compost pile ready to use to amend your soil? | | | | thoroughly. |
| You can now buy organic compost from most lawn | | | | A light colored mixture may contain fillers, and your |
| and garden stores. But buyer beware. Buying the | | | | quality level will drop according to how much filler is |
| proper soil is tricky, especially if you have never had a | | | | added. Also check for the presence of earthworms. A |
| compost pile of your own for comparison. Knowing a | | | | healthy earthworm population in your purchased |
| few things about what compost is and how it is | | | | compost will translate into a great benefit for the plants |
| created will help you in your search. | | | | in your garden, as earthworms naturally aerate the soil, |
| Compost is made of a combination of essentially four | | | | break down larger materials, and leave you rich worm |
| things: carbon, nitrogen, water, and oxygen. In the | | | | castings. Every organic gardener knows that the |
| proper combinations, naturally occurring aerobic | | | | presence of these creatures is incredibly important for |
| bacteria will break these sources down into what is | | | | the success of your garden. |
| commonly called compost. The process is deceptively | | | | Remember that creating quality compost, either |
| simple. Mix your carbon and nitrogen sources, add | | | | commercially or in your own backyard is a science. |
| water, and turn your pile regularly. After a certain | | | | Composting requires several elemental materials in the |
| amount of time, you end up with compost. Now that | | | | proper amounts working together for the proper |
| you know the basics of creating compost, here are a | | | | amount of time. If something seems off about a bag |
| few things to look for when you purchase bagged | | | | of compost, it could indicate an improper mix of |
| compost. | | | | materials, too much or too little water during |
| Hopefully, there are samples of the different products | | | | processing, not enough mixing, or not enough time |
| available. Using basic gardening sense, and a little help | | | | given to the bacteria and microbes to completely |
| from your nose and eyes, you can usually gauge the | | | | break down the individual parts. |
| quality of the compost. | | | | Buying quality compost is an investment in your garden. |
| Fully processed compost should smell sweet, not like | | | | One great thing about organic gardening is that every |
| sulfur or ammonia. A bag that smells unhealthy | | | | year your garden requires less and less input from you. |
| probably is. Remember though, that some great | | | | After the first initial investment, you will probably have |
| additions to compost are manure and worm castings, | | | | enough time to create your own compost for next |
| and these smells are ok. Typically, darker colored, fine | | | | season. Thus, the final thing you should consider is cost. |
| grained compost is better. This indicates a good mix of | | | | After all, high grade compost is really worth the price. |
| organic material and that the original wood chips, grass | | | | |