The growing large plants, outdoors, thread...

[bamboogardner]

earth worm soil factory

What is EWSF charging for a cubic yard bulk, any idea. How about the totes?

 

[Cep]

Stank, How much of that mix are you sitting on?

 

[Backyard Farmer]

What is EWSF charging for a cubic yard bulk, any idea. How about the totes?

The NorCal blend is 198 a yard.

I don't think he bags it up in totes yet.

Here is some raw compost out back at the worm farm for those of you worried about them running out lol

The NorCal blend is about to have some exciting things go on with it. Stay tuned!

 

[theJointedOne]

yea i drove by there and saw he has expanded his operation quite a bit. Im happy for him, and happy that we have this beneficial member of the industry in our area.

 

[ponobegone]

cool pic ^

 

[Stank J.P.]

Cep, I bought a yard and amended it with kelp meal, bone meal, and gypsum. I am now in the spot of trying to find something new to mix and test. Any tips? I am thinking about going with this cheap E.B. stone potting soil and amending with this stuff that Madjag posted up a couple pages back:http://www.soilminerals.com/Agricolas4-8-4_MainPage.htm

 

[OrganicBuds]

The NorCal blend is about to have some exciting things go on with it. Stay tuned!

Whew! looks like there might be some left, if you guys don't buy it all up, . Exciting new things......I'm Tuned!

 

[Pangea]

Thats awesome, one good compost source can affect quality on significant scales!

 

[Backyard Farmer]

Worm Farm going to advance forward in the coming season , NorCal Blend is going to the next level !

Working out a blending routine that will improve the texture of the soil !

New and exciting things on the horizon !

Be on the look out for some updates over the next month as R&D results come back !

Big up Dave and Larry Royal , for understanding the needs of the Farmer and working tirelessly to meet them ! !

 

[Cep]

Cep, I bought a yard and amended it with kelp meal, bone meal, and gypsum. I am now in the spot of trying to find something new to mix and test. Any tips? I am thinking about going with this cheap E.B. stone potting soil and amending with this stuff that Madjag posted up a couple pages back:http://www.soilminerals.com/Agricolas4-8-4_MainPage.htm

I asked because if you had 20+ yards and a bunch of money invested it might be worth salvaging, but if its only 1 yard then starting fresh isn't that big of deal. Before you add anything to that EB stone you should have it analyzed. It may have already been tested by the company, call and ask them. When you do have that info, many soil labs will give recommendations in tons/acre for the first 6" of soil. You can scale that recommendation down by calculating that volume of soil and adjusting the weight of inputs based on the volume you're going to use.

The potting soils or planting mixes offered by different places varies. One in my area tests at 7.4 pH and is too high in mineral inputs, especially potassium. Also, many composts are very acidic and salty.

 

[25ftGreatWhite]

stank you'll burn through your soil cash quickly if you're paying $60+ for 15 pounds of amendments. if you're going with tom's soil mix, go with the mix and don't alter it blindly.

 

[humboldt-hank]

hi has anyone tried the local mix from Randall Sand and Gravel?
''The Mountain Mix'' ~ Price: $85 per cubic yard

What's in it:
----> Base Mix (see product above)
----> Lava Rock
----> Perlite
----> Iron Sulfate
----> Zinc Sulfate
----> Copper Sulfate
----> Kelp meal
----> Feather meal
----> Glacial Rock Dust
----> Green Sand
----> Blood Meal
----> Crab Meal
----> Alfalfa Meal
----> Organic Oyster Shells
----> Azomite

they also have ''The Coffee mix''
What's in it:

----> Base Mix
----> 5/16" Lava Rock
----> Blood Meal
----> Crab Meal
----> Alfalfa meal
----> Organic Oyster Shells
----> Organic Iron Sulfate
----> Organic Steamed Bone Meal
----> Azomite

because of the high costs of bagged soil and the large amount i need....
i was going to go with one or the other of these mixes and then amend Tom Hill's mix into it. Any Thoughts on which mix would be best or reasons i should not do this.

 

[Backyard Farmer]

Adding 100 lbs of partially composted chicken and 50 lbs of bone meal to either of those mixes will result in your plants dying.

Ask them for a soil analysis from an independent Lab And post it.

 

[humboldt-hank]

here is what they sent me for a soil test. its from a test they did last year.

 

[Backyard Farmer]

Humboldt-Hank ,

I would not use those as a start for my farm for any mix, but that is just me.

 

[humboldt-hank]

Ok thank you for your thoughts Backyard Farmer, I guess i will just use good old bagged soil after all. I will look for Black Gold like Tom Hill uses. what do you think about Happy Frog or Fox Farm Ocean Forest.?? originally I was thinking of using Roots Organic regular 1.5 bags or maybe 707 blend.

 

[theJointedOne]

making your own will beat randal sand and gravel anyday.

im so tired of their commercials on kmud..lol

 

[Backyard Farmer]

Happy Frog is OK

Black Gold is what I use when I need bagged soil. It works.

 

[Stank J.P.]

I think I am gonna swallow my pride and go with ffof. I hate doing it but I guess I'm too lazy (I have a bad back also and cant be mixing 20 yards of anything)to buy all the amendments and make my own.
I will go ffof + gypsum, kelp, and a smaller dose of bone meal than tom calls for. Any thoughts on that?
Will post soil test results in a week or so.
Thanks to all you guys and your honest and valuable feedback. I would fuck this shit up without you guys and this site... and still might.
Peace.

 

[Backyard Farmer]

Sounds like you just want to do what you read works for others, best of luck. Just remember your mileage may vary.

Your best bet if you do with the tom hill method is to follow what he says to do exactly.

The brix mix foliar spray is needed to keep things balanced.