Mix the peat moss 50-50 with some bagged manure if you can. Make sure you wet the peat moss before putting it in your raised bed. Mixing it well with the manure will keep it from drying out later.

See what kinds of organic materials you can get your hands on (leaves, kitchen scraps, waste produce from your supermarket) and dump them all in the bottom of your bed, then put the peat/manure/topsoil mix on the top to fill up the bed.

Get some blood meal for a quick nitrogen source, and use a liquid seaweed fertilizer and you will have no problems.

Ron
The Garden Guy
www.TheGardenGuy.org

hi, I mixed the peat with topsoil to give it a little better structure I also added decomposing pine straw to help with structure too. blood meal is not really what I want since it is a FAST nitrogen source I want a slow realese balanced fertilizer with even N-P-K and micro nutrients. Dynmite has all these things and is a very eco friendly company (forakan) 9 month fertilizer 13-13-13 + all maijor micro nutrients besides callcium is prety good in terms of slow realese a balance. The only organic fertilizer around here I can get besides blood meal or bone meal ( I have VIGRO bone meal already 1-11-0) is miracle grow organic choice which is of course made by scotts a very unfriendly company to the eviroment

I now dynamite has an organic fertlilizer but first of all its not locally avlibale and it is only a 3 month slow realese. the other thing is I already have the red flower and vegtable dynamite 13-13-13. it wouldn't be so bad touse it right? I'm not even 100% sure its not organic though I would assume so. My garden wouldn't be organic then I'd hate to do that but my plants would proablly be fat and happy and since its an eco friendly product that is designed to prevent runoff and over fertilization it wouldn't be so bad right?

dynamie has ammoniacal and nitrate nitrogen thats not organic is it?

I know both are usally quick realese but becuase of the special cating they last for 9 months.

So my real question is would it be so bad to use dynamite and make my plants fat and happy?

If you are looking to find justification for using synthetic nutrient sources in your raised beds, this is probably the wrong forum for it :)

If *you* feel good about your choice of how to provide plant nutrients, then does the opinions/preferences of others matter?

I guess the question I would ask is why are you even considering organic sources of nutrients? What value does using organic nutrient sources over synthetic hold for *you* personally?

Figure out what matters to you and then choose a compatible methodology.

Woodstove ashes are a source of potash. Ashes will raise pH.

I would go easy with the coffee grounds. The caffeine is not so good for roots. Low amounts are tolerable, but high amounts will stunt root growth.

There are lots of sources of Nitrogen. I'm not sure what the problem there is.

I do not want to use inorganic fertlizer I'm not sure dynamite is even a sythetic fertilizer although since they have an organic version I assume it is. I've always been an organic gardener (for my limited time gardening) execept for the dynamite. I would like to change that this year however The stores just don't have a good slow realese fertilizer that is organic I'll check the local shopright bu I doubt they will have anything. I'd love a good "homemade" source of fertilizer. is corn starch an organic nitrogen source. I'm trying to grow vegtables most of them being fruits so I don't need a lot of nitrogen. I'm sure a light layer of grass clippings once in awhile will be fine. However potash is a problem as well as micro nutrients I have bone meal as I've mentioned before and liquid sea kelp but nothing else store bought. Woodash wood work great except I don't have a woodstove. any suggestions?

I'm not sure I won't use dynamite. I feel if the enviromental impact is low (at least in terms of runoff its even better then a lot of organic fertilizers.) I don't know if this is derived from petroleum but if it isn't then it is extemly eco friendly. It's not harming my plants or any animals ceartainly than I don't have a problem with it. what I'm looking for is something well balanced and with lots of micro nutrients that isn't quick realese. Organic ismy prefrence but I already have the dynamite and it looks pretty good.

Synthetic sources of nutrients are not made from petroleum, rather petroleum products are used to manufacture them and ship them to market. Organic sources of nutrients that are in a box/bag and shipped to a store are also using petroleum products.

There really isn't much distinction to be made in that sense.

So, I ask again :) Why do *you* care about the organic/synthetic distinction? Is it primarily your desire to reduce dependence on petroleum use?

If so you are probably better off riding your bike to a nearby store and buying Dynamite (no, it's not organic) than you are driving all over the place hunting down this ingredient and that ingredient.

Again, what is important to *you*?

hi, I mostly care about the total impact on the enviroment. I want to have as little impact as possible. Based on that I think using dynamite isn't a problem for me although not organic it is earth friendly I don't think I'm harming anything by not having an organic garden as long as I still have as little impact as possible. My garden isn't truly organic anyway since I didn't pay the extra $3.00 for organic seeds. someday you guys will forgive me and until then I guess I'll just have to enjoy my "eco friendly" garden rather then be an organic gardener.

You don't need forgiveness ;)

It's your garden and thus, your rules.

Considering the ecological/environmental impact of your actions without regard to the organic/synthetic distinction isn't at all the kind of thing one should feel guilty about or apologize for.

I do not want to use inorganic fertlizer I'm not sure dynamite is even a sythetic fertilizer although since they have an organic version I assume it is. I've always been an organic gardener (for my limited time gardening) execept for the dynamite.

Inorganic fertilizers are chemicals lacking carbon. Non-organic fert is made with petrochemicals or other synthetics.

Now. Purchase some greensand for your K deficiency. It is a "natural" product that is mined. Bone meal as above is a good choice as well. Nothing wrong with these products, except they are shipped using petrochemicals as is every other fert. Nitrogen, by nature, is fast releasing, as that is what nature intended. Slow-release ferts use mined minerals as well, BTW.

Dan

$3.00 extra for organic seeds ? huh ? let me see here, A tomatoe plant that was grown in an organic field I guess would have organic seeds ok, I got it. Sorry to anybody who did spend the extra money for those seeds,,,YOU GOTTA BE SOME KIND OF STUPID TO DO THAT. ok, I got that out of my system.

I'm a small time organic garlic grower, Most big operations are not, I don't really care how they grow that plant, when it comes to me it's grown in good soil with lots of horse poo because it makes a difference to ME, the plant has no idea what I'm using to give it nutrients..it will grow to whatever size if I use MG or Nuptunes. Organic seeds..that's too funny

From an economic standpoint paying more for organic seeds is pointless, but some choose to buy them in order to support the organic growers.

I would agree that the plants growing from organic seeds or non organic seeds will grow into the same plant and be equally healthy.

For fertilizer i cannot recommend highly enough Steve Solomon's Complete Organic Fertilizer, which is made up of the following:
4 parts seedmeal
1/2 part kelpmeal
1/2 part lime - equally divided between agricultural lime and dolomitic lime
1/2 part bone meal

All are readily available at your local feed store. Currently a 50lb. bag of cottonseed meal runs about 26.00 50 lbs of bone meal: 17.00
25 lbs. Dolomitic lime 7.00
Agricultural lime - also cheap - I don't have a price because I'm still using the bag I bought 3 years ago.
50 lbs. Kelp meal - The priciest amendment, but also the most valuable, filled with trace elements - 65.00

With that you're set for the next year or two. Today I used a 5 gallon pail for the part and found that 2 50lb. bags equals 4 5 gallon pails. Now I have a garbage can full of organic fertilizer ready to use for the next year or two.

Steve moved to Tasmania a while ago when he saw the global collapse now happening. He also runs a huge free online library of books that are no longer in print dealing with soil and health at soilandhealth.org

Hi...

I was just passing by the Organic Forum, not having visited here in quite awhile and of course, the title with Dynamite drew my attention. I'm a little confused about the response that daylilyfanatic has received. I was expecting someone to make the effort to really encourage him/her to go organic all the way. At the least to share their own reasons for growing organically.

So here are my reasons why I garden organically....

Supporting companies that go to a lot of trouble to grow organic and offer organic products and staying away from companies like Scotts and Monsanto, in my way of thinking is an important way to see real change. To reward companies that are really trying to do it right and not reward companies that have been wrong all along and causing problems in the environment, who wouldn't listen to reason any where along the way, until it started to effect their pocketbooks, that is important to me.

Because man is not as smart as he thinks he is and all things natural that were created by, in my own belief, God, always win out over man made synthetic methods and products. I sleep better at night knowing I am not poisoning my family, my neighborhood etc. and that 20 years from now I am not going to find out that something I am doing now was harmful. Adding leaves and food scraps, manure, etc., makes me feel I can relax and not worry or wonder if I am doing the wrong thing.

Because I have a healthier garden and I love the idea that I am trying to support my own little ecosystem in my backyard. I love seeing yard waste breakdown and earthworms increase and smell how sweet it smells when it is finished. I love seeing butterflies showing up and when aphids show up on my plants I leave them alone and get such delight in finding them gone the next time I look, because ladybugs have showed up to have a meal.

Because I remember a time when I was a kid when there were lots more birds, and fireflies at night and a certain scent of earth in the air in spring and summer when you drove down the street with the windows open, the air had a certain indescribable essence, and I saw gorgeous untouched meadows and tons of bees and I would like to see that again someday, or at least my kids see it again. And since we all contributed to that problem, sometimes by making what seemed like small insignificant decisions that were just not well thought out, I would like to correct that and make better decisions...

:-)

prairiemoon2, thanks for sharing your own reasons for gardening organically. I have my own reasons, some the same, some different.

I think, though, that people have a good point in saying that your own personal commitment to the process, and your own reasons, will have a large impact on your motivation to keep at it, and on the exact choices that you make.

To pick a somewhat related example, many people are happy to use bone meal or blood meal as organic fertilizers in their garden. Personally, I think that's a great use of what would otherwise be waste products from the meat industry. Some vegetarians, however, prefer to use only vegetarian sources for fertilizer, and I can certainly see where they're coming from.

Some of the farms near where I live use a system called "Integrated Pest Management," and if I understand that right, the idea is to keep mostly organic, but if you find yourself with a pest problem, you do whatever you need to do to get it dealt with, and don't feel bad about it. This isn't a bad approach, really, though it's not strictly organic. Home gardeners might choose to do something similar.

Some people like to use peat moss, which is certainly an organic material with a lot of value in the garden...but it's non-renewable, so some others prefer not to use it, and feel that for this reason, it doesn't belong in a strictly "organic" garden. I see both sides of this, and I do plan to use up the bag of it that's sitting in my shed. After that's gone, I'll re-assess.

I think the original poster already had some dynamite fertilizer in his possession...and if so, his own values might lead him to make use of what he has rather than throwing it away, and then make a different choice for his next purchase. Being non-wasteful is a very "green" approach, though in this case, not "organic."

I think it's important to examine your own reasons for gardening organically, as well as what that phrase really means to you, and to work your garden in accordance with your own values...and it sounds like you're doing exactly that, so bravo for you! I know I'm striving to do the same.

Hi leira....

Thanks for your thoughtful response. I understand that under the 'umbrella' of organic gardening there are different choices to consider. Whether to use bone meal and blood meal is only optional and a choice not to use it, still allows you to use other organic choices. Same with the choice of whether to use peat moss.

I have felt uncomfortable for awhile with the 'green' movement' that sometimes seems to be more concerned with not wasting without an equal concern about toxins. If you had Miracle Grow, or Sevin left over, and you believed them to be harmful, would you use up the rest of them before changing over? I guess I have a hard time following that logic. In our community they do have a Hazardous Waste day and I would think disposing of something in that way would be a better choice to me. Using up the remainder of peat moss already purchased is a different ball of wax. It isn't harming your garden.

I'm not sure I am following your suggestion that organic gardening can be 'what ever the phrase means to you'. Seems to leave a lot of room for rationalization and many definitions of organic and do you end up with a watered down version that is fairly useless? How can there not be a line where everything under the line is considered organic but over the line is not?

I have gardened 25 years in the same location without using a synthetic chemical fertilizer and without using chemical pesticides. I feel very good about that decision. I am trying to grow roses right now, without chemicals and the jury is still out on how well that is going. If I were younger and healthier, I could put in a lot more work to make that happen, but as it is, I am allowing the situation to find it's own solution. If it ends up I am unhappy with the appearance and performance of the roses due to pests, I would rather shovel prune and grow something else, than resort to chemical products.

As far as 'integrated pest management' goes. Not really sure what all that allows for. I know growing food is challenging. I look at someone like Eliot Coleman who has shown himself able to grow a lot of food and still remain organic for my encouragement and inspiration.

If you had Miracle Grow, or Sevin left over, and you believed them to be harmful, would you use up the rest of them before changing over?

I do actually have some Miracle Gro left over, or rather MirAcid, which is their fertilizer for acid-loving plants. I bought it ages and ages ago for some acid-loving houseplant, as I recall. I trot it out and use it occasionally, and if we ever get the front yard landscaped and put in something acid-loving out there, it will probably get trotted out again. It gave the newly planted holly bushes at my previous house a great start, and now they're trying to take over the place without having seen any fertilizer or acidifying agents in years. At this rate, I may die before that one little package gets used up, but it does still come out occasionally.

I don't really think that Miracle Gro is toxic, at least not on a "dispose of it at the hazardous materials site" sort of level, but I do think it's not a good long-term solution for a garden. I don't think it will do well for your soil in the long run. I prefer not to use it, myself.

I'm not sure I am following your suggestion that organic gardening can be 'what ever the phrase means to you'.

That's not really what I was saying. What I'm saying is that we each need to maintain our own gardens as we see fit, and I hope that more people will put some thought into the sort of sustainability and other benefits that organic gardening offers. I'd rather see someone garden in a mostly organic fashion, rather than giving up on it entirely because they didn't feel they could meet some list of requirements.

When I go to the store and purchase organic produce, I want to know what that means, and I want to believe that there's some process for oversight to make sure that the sellers are living up to what they've promised. A backyard garden, however, doesn't necessarily need that sort of label.

As far as 'integrated pest management' goes. Not really sure what all that allows for.

Yeah, me either. I do understand, however, that if you're faced with the choice of keeping your "organic" labeling but losing your entire crop, vs. using some less palatable insecticide but still having a crop at the end, that a person or a farm might choose to do whatever needs to be done to save the crop. I don't think I could fault anyone for that, but label it appropriately if you're trying to sell it to me.

but label it appropriately if you're trying to sell it to me.

Nobody's trying to sell it to you, especially with the label formulation as its been packaged above.

Market growers trying to save their crop to make payments to the bank use some sort of chemical (preferably non-synthetic) only at the appropriate life-cycle stage and enough for control.

IPM requires a high degree of ecological systems knowledge and monitoring, and as such farmers good at IPM are among the best out there, and most of them have close ties to the community and give back to others in spades. An old GF used to work closely with IPM farmers and I'll take them as neighbors any day.

HTH.

Dan

Integrated Pest Management, IPM, is a systematic appraoch to controlling problems in the garden and it is used by both organic and "conventional" gardeners and farmers. There are 5 steps involved in IPM,
1) Identify the problem.
2) Determine if the problem needs some means of action.
3) Determine the least toxic action that needs to be taken.
4) Apply that least toxic means to the problem.
5) Return to step one.
Integrated Pest Management is not simply substituting one chemical for another even if that chemical is an "organic" one. Places that do, properly, use IPM have found that the cost of pesticides (as in anything that kills something whether an insect or plant disease) has been reduced and the plants being grown are healthier because of that.
An organic gardener/farmer should be using IPM principles as a normal part of what they do.

An organic gardener/farmer should be using IPM principles as a normal part of what they do.

A-men sister.

(I'd also add: regularly monitor)

Dan