Pnbrown: Who says it's ok digging Forrest soil? In the other thread I mentioned that I do take topsoil out if the woods for my garden, but my garden I never till.. I am taking small amount of topsoil maybe a few buckets full.. I am not digging up the whole forest for my garden... Maybe large farms it is unrealistic... But for us small gardeners i believe it is superior! If the large farms had the money I'm sure they would do it as well! Most farmers do till in manure and other amendments.. So they already are importing large quantities of amendments.. The only difference to my method is you aren't tilling it in, you are leaving it on top of the soil and planing in that.. Now you mentioned covering sod with soil is a gold idea is you planned ahead, but it is unrealistic for someone wanted a garden in April/may.. I cannot disagree with you more.. Tilling is much more labor intensive and inconvienent than merely piing up soilnandbcompost in a raised be and planting? Why couldnt you use my method and and plant in April/may? In fact i think my method is alot easier, quicker, convenient, better for the environment and better for the soil.. Joe

For compost, especially south of Carrboro, I would suggest semi-aged cow manure with bedding from Clark Farms which is south of Siler City. They have 2000 head of cattle and need to get rid of the stuff. They grind it and pile it for awhile and a friend of theirs has a Tandem dump truck (15-20 cu yards)who will deliver. They charge $50/load and their friend Gerald charges me $60 for delivery to near Silk Hope (20mi) You would probably be half again as far ($20-30 more??). That is still probably much cheaper than you would find elsewhere for terrific compost. I have taken 2 loads two times. The first time gave quite a barnyard smell for a week and needed a month more curing but the second lot was more completely composted. Obviously heavy on nitrogen and grew huge squash plants that ate my tomatoes that I thought were safely distant, and grew a great lawn on a red clay ditch where grass won't grow at all alone. I still have some and it grew no weeds from the pile. Of course it is a perfect medium for weeds in your garden and won't do as mulch. Gilbert and Doug Clark 919 742-3818

I saw your post and am looking to give away my horse manure. I will be composting it, but it is still fresh now. I am in Andover, and if anyone is interested in picking some up, message me.

I don't think bags and shovels are going to cut it if he needs 20 cu. yards, LOL! Last year I got one cubic yard, of mulch and it was basically a dumptruck full of it. I know the Town of Brookhaven where I live gives it away for free, or maybe that's mulch. There's a composting company down the road from me on Horseblock Rd. in Yaphank, I'll provide you with a link. If they don't deliver it, I bet they can provide you with a name of a distributor that does. As to your question about bagged vs. truck delivery. I'm not sure about compost. I just started making my own so have never purchased any. However, I can tell you this about having mulch delivered via truck. Its very convenient. However, there is one advantage of bagged mulch is that it appears to be much cleaner. I don't know if the process of having it in a plastic bag, kills off critter eggs through the heat that can be generated or what, but I found that my back yard, was INFESTED with wood roaches last year. I will never buy mulch in bulk like that again. Have you ever seen a wood roach? They can put a NYC roach to shame. Here is a link that might be useful: Long Island Compost