Kristimama wrote: > Is an all-plant compost (OMRI certified or not) sufficient OM for a productive veggie garden? I'm a complete beginner, but I don't think an all-plant compost is inferior in the least. Not sure but you seem to want to give all-plant composts an inferiority complex :-) Here's a quote from Ann Whitman's and Suzanne DeJohn's book called "Organic Gardening for Dummies" (for dummies like me): "Before buying the compost, ask about the primary organic-matter sources that were used to make the compost. Compost made from yard waste (leaves and grass clippings) is considered to be the safest and best. Other compost may contain ingredients that had contaminants, such as herbicides from agricultural crop residues and heavy metals from municipal wastes, which may affect the growth of your plants or accumulate toxins in your soil. Ask if the finished product is tested for contaminants." When I read above that "Compost made from yard waste (leaves and grass clippings) is considered to be the safest and best," I was spurred on to make my own compost. I don't think there's anything inferior about plain old leaves and grass. To the contrary, they seem to be really good stuff. So good in fact, that tomorrow I'm going to transfer the 3 cubic feet of chopped leaves, grass, and fruit peels from my small trash can to a much bigger round plastic barrel and add even more leaves and grass, doubling the size of the organic matter from 3 cubic feet to 6 cubic feet. "Let It Rot!" seems to be a popular book on Amazon.com about composting. Ordered it a couple days ago.

personally I would ask to see the product first If it looks and smells good, I would take it. I've asked questions first and only have been dissapointed on delivery buyer beware

There are all kinds of compost- sometimes you can end up with trash. Captain Compost (google him) is the best person to buy compost from in this area. He sells it by the truckload. Are you trying to start a square foot garden? I looked for all of the same things a few years back when I started mine. I now compost all my kitchen and garden waste-it is easy and fun. You can also get leaves and grass clippings free from neighbors. Susan

There are a number of Sweet Peet distributors in our area. 9G Garden Center in Hyde Park carries it, as does Acdemy Hill. It's expensive ($40/yd), but it's reliable quality and also makes a very beautiful mulch. There's free compost at the dump in Poughkeepsie. I've picked some up there on several occasions, but feel a little bad about it because it's supposed to be for residents and I live outside the town. The guys at the dump don't ask you where you're from, though. It's at the "transfer station" right off Smith Street (which turns into Rte 115, Salt Point Turnpike) in Po'k. There's free compost and mulch in Rhinebeck on Market street at the Highway Department heading west about two miles from the main intersection. I've never gotten any there because I think they're only open on weekdays (though the sign is out all the time, so maybe they're open on weekends in the summer). There's free horse manure everywhere - just call one of your neighbors and tell them what you want it for. Most will at least load your truck for you. Some may even haul it for you. The big Waste Management facility on the Kingston side or the Kingston sanitation department might recycle yard waste, but I've never asked. Soil test - the only place I know is the Cooperative Extension office in Millbrook. There may be another one on the Ulster side.