Not all composts are created equal. If it is made with manure, and lots of it, then it wiil be rich in nutrients. but if it is made with leaves and grass clipping.. it won't be as rich. If you have an established garden rich in organic mater, and you keep adding more compost every year, probably you won't need additional fertilizer for most garden veggies. Your plants (veggies, flowers) will mirror what is in the soil. Example: 1- you do not water them too much but why they are pale green? --- the plants do not have vigorous growth. They seem to ------be just hanging in there. Diagnosis: Most probably not enough Nitrogen 2- The plants are lush, dark green and growing like cazy, but very little or no flowers/fruits. Diagnosis: Too much nitrogen , and possibly not enough phosphorus and or potash. There can be many scenarios. So my tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, Flowers.. tell me what is going on. Of couse, nothing can beat a good soil analysis. But You need that when you first start a garden. AFter a couple of years things become a routine, your plants mirror soil data to you. I do use both compost and chemical fertilizer, like: just nitogen, just phosphorus, just potash and all purpose triple 10-10-10 or similar. I do it little bit at a time and do it more often. I do not feed "P" to my vegetable that don't need to bloom or seed. They get just "N" and "K". Also when my peppers, tomatoes start flowerin I do not feed them "N". Whatever is in soil is enough. But insted feed them "P" and "k". If in doubt, just sprinkle some triple 10.

You'll find more info on this over on the Soil & Compost forum but basically "Composted Manure" is 80%+ manure (usually from feeder lots) that has been stockpiled and aged for 30-60 days. Manured Compost is approx. 80% composted organic materials such as straw, leaves, paper, grass clippings, paper, cardboard, wood chips, etc. to which some aged manure has been added. Given the greater availability of organic materials to make compost out of it is usually cheaper. And, I contend, usually better given the diversity of materials and nutrients it contains. Mushroom compost is also not as readily available given it is from mushroom growing operations only and yes it is the lowest nutrient value of the 3. What is best? That all depends on the quality of the stuff to begin with - there is good and bad out there. And it depends on what your primary goal is - soil tilth and drainage improvement or nutrients? All 3 or any of the 3 are beneficial to a garden. Composted manure is usually the highest in N-P-K but does little to improve soil. While manured compost usually contains good levels of N-P-K plus many of the micro-nutrients and minerals and provides excellent soil improvement. Mush compost is lowest in nutrients but an excellent soil conditioner. There are exceptions to this of course and in general farm or homemade will be better than any of the bagged stuff but if the bags are all that are available and I had to choose just 1 of them then I'd go with the Manured Compost. Hope this helps. Dave

kt.. I don't know where you found that document but it was very interesting reading. I haven't finished looking at it yet..it is pretty long..84 pages, so I skipped to the conclusions at the end. [g] I can see where you would be encouraging me to make my own compost. I did go to the NOFA website [link below] and they offer a list of companies in New England that produce organic compost. I am going to call a few tomorrow. None of them are within an hour of me. Some of them sell it by the bag, but I would rather buy in bulk and either pick up or have delivered. Yes, I would love to make my own compost. First of all, I have a small property and collecting other people's leaves would be the only way I could get anywhere near enough. Second, no one here has a strong enough back to be turning over the pile. We do already have a cold compost pile of just leaves, grass and yard waste..but it is not nearly enough. I also have two plastic composters to put food scraps into, but either we all forget to put the scraps into the container or we forget to water the pile or both. [g] Plus, then we are back to having to shovel or turn the pile at some point. Other reasons make it difficult for us to compost too, so the end result is I never have enough and my soil really needs it because I have a lot of dry shade. BTW, I always just pile the leaves on the grass and mow it and that seems to chop them up fine. I will report back if I am able to locate any. Thanks kt, :-) Here is a link that might be useful: NOFA

Black Gold - use liberally! This list was distilled from a (much) more extensive list that is available online through the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania. (If the URL gets axed [it did], I typed Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania in my search engine & got it...at the home page, click on "Composting" on the left, then scroll down & click on the PROP's Compost Directory. You'll get a map of PA where you can click on your county.) If your county isn't listed here, listings for it may be found at the PROP website, but I didn't include it here because it didn't state specifically that compost was available free to residents. In many cases, there was a site listed without any information as to the materials produced or the availability, or there wasn't a site in that county. HOWEVER...their database is always being updated. (They hadn't listed the City of Bethlehem's compost site which has been in existence for at least 15 years!) Soooo, if you're aware of a site in your area that offers compost (and/or mulch) free (or for a small fee) to residents, please let me know and I'll add it here. You could send the addition to them as well! THANKS! In deference to Spike's prohibitions, I've taken out people's names, but I don't feel that city/borough locations & phone numbers will change. ADAMS COUNTY: McSherrystown Borough, 338 Main St, McSherrystown, PA 17344 No set hours, Call the Maintenance Shed at (717)-637-4835 to make arrangements. Products: Compost {100 - 1,000 yards3 per year} Feedstocks: yard debris, bark, woodchips Compost Analysis: No Availability: Give away to residents ALLEGHENY COUNTY: Crafton Borough, Ewing Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15205 Phone: (412)-921-0752 Products: Compost - 200 yards3 per year Feedstock: Leaves - Curbside pickup Compost Analysis: no Processing time: 1 year Availability: Facility use and give away to residents Edgewood Borough, Dixon Park, Aberdeen St, Edgewood, PA 15218 Phone: (412)-242-4824 Products: Compost - 300 - 600 yards3 per year Feedstocks: Leaves - Curbside pickup Compost Analysis: no Processing time: 1 year Availability: Giveaway and delivery Forest Hills / Churchill Borough, Pittsburgh, PA 15235 Phone: (412)-351-7330 Products: Compost - 500 yards3 per year Feedstocks: Leaves - Curbside pickup Compost Analysis: no Processing time: 6 - 7 Months Availability: Giveaway Greentree Borough Park, Greentree, PA 15220 Contact: Greentree Borough Superintendent Phone: (412)-921-3221 Product: Compost Feedstocks: Leaves Availability: Residents are welcome to take compost at any time and notifiy the Borough office when supplies are low. Robinson Township, 5001 Leona Ln, Pittsburgh, PA 15205 Phone: (412)-788-8120 Products: Compost/Mulch 1,000 - 5,000 yards3 per year Feedstocks: Branches, leaves, logs Compost Analysis: no Processing time: 1 year Availability: Giveaway to residents Upper St Clair / Peters Township, Boyce Park, Upper St Clair, Pittsburgh, PA 15241 Phone: (412)-831-9000 Product: Compost - 100 - 1,000 yards3 per year Feedstocks: Leaves - Curbside pickup Compost Analysis: no Processing time: 1 - 2 years Availability: Periodically given away when in excess Wilkinsburg Borough, Hunter Field, Wilkinsburg, PA 15221 Phone: (412)-244-2900 Products: Compost - 1,000 - 5,000 yards3 per year Feedstocks: Leaves - Municipal collection Compost Analysis: no Processing time: 1 year Availability: Giveaway to residents and facility use BLAIR COUNTY: Antis Township Compost Site, N 2nd St, Bellwood, PA 16617 Phone: (814)-742-7361 Products: Compost - (1,000 yards3 per year) Mulch - (3,000 yards3 per year) Feedstocks: Leaves, grass clippings and brush Compost Analysis: yes Processing time: 5 - 18 months Availability: give away and sell to residents Distribution Locations: At the site Blair County Yard Waste Compost Recycling Facility, 1014 Blacksnake Rd, Ashville, PA 16613 Compost Site Phone: (814)-941-6675 Products: Compost, Screened Compost, Mulch, Screened Mulch Feedstocks: Leaves, grass, garden waste, brush & trees Each batch of compost is analyzed at the PSU lab. Reports available upon request. Processing time: 5 - 18 months Distribution locations: Picked up at site only CLEARFIELD COUNTY: City of Dubois, PO Box 40816 W. Scribner Ave, Dubois, PA 15801 Phone: (814)-371-2002 Products: Compost Feedstocks: Leaves and grass Facility located behind municipal garage, Drop off/pickup for residents, Open to public COLUMBIA COUNTY: Berwick Compost Site, Test Track (Incinerator Area)Berwick, PA Phone: (570)-752-2723 Products: Compost Feedstocks: Grass clippings, leaves, brush, yard wastes Compost Analysis: No Giveaway - Free to the community Bloomsburg Recycling Ctr, 901 Patterson Ave, Bloomsburg, PA 17815 Phone: (570)-784-4532 Product: Compost, Mulch Feedstocks: Yard and Garden wastes, leaves, Christmas trees, limbs up to 4" in diameter. Compost Analysis: Yes Process Time: 6 months Free to Residents of Bloomsburg Catawissa Borough, 118 N. 3rd St, Catawissa, PA 17820 Phone: (570)-356-7359 Product: Compost (100-1,000 yards3 per year) Feedstocks: leaf waste Distribution site: Township Building on Ferry St Give away to the public CUMBERLAND COUNTY: Camp Hill Borough Yard Waste Facility, 2701 Columbia Ave, Camp Hill, PA 17011 Phone: (717)-730-3964 Product: Compost (100-1,000 yards3 per year), Mulch Feedstocks: Leaves, yard waste Processing Time: 5 months Product Availability: Free to residents while supplies last � residents must load materials themselves Distribution Locations: Yard Waste Facility Carlisle Borough Yard Waste Facility, Post Rd, Carlisle, PA 17013 Phone: (717)-249-4422 Product: Compost, Mulch Feedstocks: Leaves, Yard Waste Availability: Free to residents while supplies last � residents must load materials themselves Distribution Locations: Yard Waste Facility East Pennsboro Township Yard Waste Facility, Humer St, Enola, PA 17205 Phone: (717)-732-0711 Product: Compost (>100 yards3 per year), Mulch Feedstocks: Leaves, yard waste Availability: Free to residents while supplies last � residents must load materials themselves Distribution Locations: Yard Waste Facility Hampden Township Yard Waste Facility, Roth Ln Treatment Plant Phone: (717)-761-0119 Product: Compost, Mulch Feedstocks: Leaves, Yard Waste Availability: Free to residents while supplies last � residents must load materials themselves Distribution Locations: Yard Waste Facility Lower Allen Township, 1993 Hummel Ave, Public Works Garage, Camp Hill, PA 17011 Phone: (717)-975-7575 Product: Compost (200 yards3 per year), Mulch Feedstocks: Leaves, yard waste Compost Analysis: yes-PSU Processing Time: 1 yr Availability: Free to residents who load themselves; loaded or delivered for a fee Distribution Locations: Public Works Garage South Middleton Township Compost Site, 615 Lindsey Rd, Carlisle, PA Phone: (717)-258-5324 Product: Compost (1,200 yds3 per yr), Mulch Feedstocks: Leaves, yard waste Compost Analysis: no Processing Time: 9-10 months Availability: Free to residents while supplies last � residents load materials themselves Distribution Locations: Compost Site Upper Allen Township Public Works Bldg, 100 Gettysburg Pike, Mechanicsburg, PA Phone: (717)-761-7963 Product: Compost: (>100 yards3 per year) Feedstocks: Leaves, yard waste Compost Analysis: no Processing Time: 2 years Availability: Free to residents who load themselves; delivered for a fee Distribution Locations: Public Works Bldg DELAWARE COUNTY: Newtown Township, 209 Bishop Hollow Rd, Newtown Sq, PA 19073 Phone: (610)-356-0200 Product: Compost Feedstocks: Leaf and yard waste Availablity: Free to customers ELK COUNTY: Ridgway Borough/ Sewage Facility, Rt 949 Phone: (814)-776-1125 Product: Compost (250 yards3 per year) Feedstocks: leaves, branches Compost Analysis: no Processing Time: 1 yr Availability: Giveaway to residents St. Mary's City Phone: (814)-781-1718 Product: Compost (>100 yards3 per year) Feedstocks: leaves, branches Compost Analysis: no Processing Time: 1-2 yrs Availability: Giveaway to residents & facility use ERIE COUNTY: City of Erie Phone: (814)-870-1255 Product: Compost (200 yards3 per year) Feedstocks: leaves, grass, Christmas trees Compost Analysis: no Processing Time: 1 yr Availability: Giveaway to residents/ use by facilities Edinboro, S Perry Ln- Frank Tucci (owner of property) Phone: (814)-734-1812 Product: Compost (50 yards3 per year) Feedstocks: leaves Compost Analysis: no Processing Time: 2-3 years Availability: facility use- giveaway to residents Distribution Locations: Frank Tucci's property Harborcreek Township Phone: (814)-825-8588 / 1-800-458-0476 Product: Compost (500 yards3 per year) Feedstocks: leaves/ brush from municipal collection Compost Analysis: no Processing Time: 4-5 months Distribution Locations: Municipal Grounds Availability: Giveaway Waterford Borough, W 2nd St Area Phone: (814)-796-2633 Product: Compost (>100 yards3 per year) Feedstocks: leaves, grass clippings Compost Analysis: no Processing Time: 1 year Availability: Giveaway FRANKLIN COUNTY: Greene Township, Mickeyvan Rd Phone: (717)-263-4990 Product: Compost, mulch Feedstocks: leaves, branches Compost Analysis: no Processing Time: 3-6 months Availability: Giveaway to residents LAWRENCE COUNTY: Neshannock Township Phone: (724)-658-4972 Product: Compost Feedstocks: leaves from municipal collection Availability: Giveaway- arrangements necessary LEHIGH COUNTY: Lehigh County Compost Facility, 5375 Old Packhouse Rd, Orefield, PA 18069 Phone: (610)-799-4177 OR (610)-782-3046 Product: Screened compost (5,000+ cu. yds/yr), mulch Feedstocks: leaves, grass, brush, woody waste-municipal & collection site Availability: Giveaway & municipal uses, sale Processing Time: 9 months Compost Analysis: yes-Penn State LYCOMING COUNTY: Bradford City, Bradford, PA Phone: (814)-362-3884 Product: Compost (>100 yards3 per year) Feedstocks: leaves, yard waste Compost Analysis: no Processing Time: 1-2 yrs Availability: Giveaway to residents Kane Borough, 112 Berch St Phone: (814)-837-9240 Product: Compost (100-500 yards3 per year) Feedstocks: leaves from municipal collection Processing Time: 1 yr Availability: Giveaway MIFFLIN COUNTY: Mifflin County Solid Waste Authority, PO Box 390, Lewistown, PA 17044 Phone: (717)-242-3301 Product: Compost (>100 yards3 per year), mulch Feedstocks: Leaves, yard waste Processing Time: 1 yr Availability: Giveaway & municipal use MONROE COUNTY: Stroud Township, 1211 N 5th St, Stroudsburg, PA 18360 Phone: (570)-421-3362 Products: Compost Feedstocks: Leaves, grass clippings, tree branches, and brush Availability: Free to township residents when available. MONTGOMERY COUNTY: Plymouth Township, 700 Belvoir Rd, Norristown, PA 19401 Phone: (610)-277-4103 Product: Compost, Mulch Feedstocks: Leaves, brush, branches less than 5" in diameter Facility Location: Township Bldg Compost pick-up and material drop off PHILADELPHIA COUNTY: Fairmount Park Recycling Center, Ford & Chamounix Dr, PO Box 21601, Philadelphia, PA 19131 Phone: (215)-685-0108 Product: Compost (5,000 + yards3 per year), wood chips, firewood Feedstocks: Leaves, animal manure Compost Analysis: yes, but not recent Processing Time: 5-7 weeks Availability: Giveaway to residents & by parks dept Distribution Locations: Philadelphia Philadelphia Water, Aramark Tower - 5th fl, 1101 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19107 Phone: (215)-685-4065 Product: Screened Compost Feedstocks: anaerobically digested biosolids Processing Time: 90 days Quantity: Sale and giveaway Distribution Locations: BRC, Queen Ln and Baxter Plant sites WESTMORELAND COUNTY: City of Lower Burrell, 2800 Bethel St, Lower Burrell, PA 15068 Phone: (724)-335-9875 Product: Compost (100-500 yards3 per year) Feedstocks: leaves, brush from municipal collection Processing Time: 7-8 months Availability: use by parks dept & resident giveaway Ligonier Borough, 120 E Main St, Ligonier, PA 15658 Phone: (724)-238-9020 Product: Compost (150 yards3 per year) Feedstocks: leaves, brush from municipal collection Processing Time: 7-8 months Availability: use by parks dept & resident giveaway City of New Kensington, 301 11th St, New Kensington, PA 15068 Phone: (724)-335-8005 Product: Compost Feedstocks: Leaves & brush from municipal collections Availability: Used by the City and free distribution to residents