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Any fertilizer that is not a Weed-N-Feed combo containing a herbicide is safe. Most places sell big bags of 12-12-12 or similar granulated "Lawn and Garden" fertilizer. I also use high nitrogen 28-4-4 lawn fertilizer in my compost pile. I have seen this type for sale this time of year.

soice ham - excuse my ignorance, why do you use a fertilizer in your compost pile? will stuff brake easier?

The fertilizer products you've been looking at don't specify that they 'are safe around edibles' because they don't need to. Unless you are using a combination product, such as a weed/feed, there is no problem using any kind of fertilizer on garden plants.

The SOIL may prefer other formulations, but the plants don't really care much.

Yep, it is all the same stuff - N-P-K. Just don't use any of the lawn stuff with weed killer or crab grass control, etc. as other have said.

adamark - adding any source of nitrogen to the compost pile speeds up decomposition assuming the pile is mostly browns (carbons). I prefer organic N's like manure and grass clippings but any source of N will work.

Dave

I see, that makes sense that the only issue would be pre emergent and weed killers. Thanks for clearing that up.
emgardener, I am doing exactly what you're doing for my vegetables but my lawn is a bit too big and I'm just one person :)
So what is everyones opinion on store bought vs. home made fertilizer?

Go to the big stores, like Homedepot/Lowels/Walmart, and look for 20lb~30lb bag fertilizers with 10-10-10 or 12-12-12. The price is around $15/bag. Those fertilizers with weed killer and/or grub killers are much more expensive. Do not buy those.

chaff

Anything that doesn't contain herbicide or pesticide would be considered "safe." Since you sound like you're trying to do the right thing though, I would encourage you to stay away from chemical fertilizers too. Although they are considered "safe" by conventional definitions, they harm the soil. There are lots of choices for organic lawn food, and the prices are coming down. One of the cheapest options though is corn meal or soy meal. You can buy it pretty cheaply from a feed store. It will break down quickly, does a good job of feeding the lawn, and is of course perfectly safe.

-Diggity

Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Imperative

I'd like to second Diggity on the corn gluten meal. I am absolutely amazed at how that alone has vastly improved my lawn. It is so lush and green this spring compared to my neighbors'. It looks as good as the one neighbor who uses a lawn company.

I have a completely organic yard/garden, so I buy the Epsoma organic corn gluten meal. It is pricey, but I don't know how it compares to chemical fertilizer in price (never look at it). At Diggity said, you can get regular (non-organic) corn gluten meal for cheap at feed stores.

Bellatrix

I have woodchip compost and adding nitrogen speeds it up and provides a greater end product of slow release "organic" fertilizer. Less carbon must be "burned off" by microbes before the stable 15:1 C:N ratio is reached.

Thanks Bellatrix - just a point of clarification though: Corn meal and corn gluten meal are different products. Corn gluten meal (CGM) is much more expensive, but it also acts as a natural pre-emergent weed killer. If you aren't concerned with pre-emergent weed suppression and all you want is a natural fertilizer, then regular corn meal is all you need.

-Diggity

Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Imperative

Compost Tea!

I'm surprised no one has mentioned that. I actually uncovered it myself recently when one of my compost tumblers was filled with water from a recent rain. When I drained it, it was a very nice brownish color - looked exactly like tea.

Make some of this... for free.. and water your plants with it. The only fertilizer you will need.

I'm trying to come up with a way that I can have it added to my rain barrels so it is automatically sent out to all plants in my irrigation system.

I have a 55 gallon drum that I just put together with a spigot on the bottom. I'll fill it with leaves and other dead plant material - then fill it about 1/3 with water; let it sit for a few weeks and I'll have some good fertilizer.

Here is a link that might be useful: BsnTech Gardening Blog