Also Need to Split a Load of Compost

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Permalink Reply by Dianne Felder on November 30, 2009 at 7:28pm

Thank you Judy. I had hoped to get over there last Saturday morning to take a look at what he has and decide if it is economical to get it that way. Can anyone share with me the texture of his compost? I currently get the stuff that is bagged in Tempe and I'm assuming composted at the landfill at hiway 87 and Gilbert Rd. It is 3 cubic ft for $4.47 I think (it was $4.14 but recently had a price increase) and available at either Home Depot or Lowe's. At that price a cubic yard would cost $40.23 and I can purchase it a few bags at a time. The down side is it has quite a bit of small chunks of misc "wood" (twigs, wood chunks, etc.) and some stones that I have to rake off plus it comes in plastic bags that must be added to the landfill. The bulk thing would be OK except what I don't use right away would have to be stored on the trailer or unloaded into containers for later use.

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Permalink Reply by Susan on December 1, 2009 at 5:19pm

Hi there,
Ken has two types. One is more course. The courser compost reminds me of bark-a-mulch and I bought a truck load of it. He stuck his hand in the huge pile and opened up a 90 degree hole full of micro-organism cobwebs. It was beautiful. I've heard Maya from "The Farm' say she uses the finer compost from ken because she feels the courser compost robs nutrients while breaking down. However, the finer compost, I've been told by Ken's helpers does tend to pack down and should be used for seeding lawns and mixing with the course soil types. I love the course compost in my garden as we have very compacted clay in our yard, but I did buy two bags of the fine compost last Saturday to try it out. The burlap bags weigh at least 150 lbs each and are $12 for course, $15 for fine. There's nothing like listening to Ken Singh talk about soil, plants and gardening. I've learned more from him and his son Jason in 10 mins than I have in a lifetime! Going to Ken's place is like going to a little spot of paradise in the desert. You won't believe your eyes. Everyone should go once in a while just to be rejuvinated. Make sure to hit Saturday mornings to see what is for sale in the open air market. Good luck with your garden!

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Permalink Reply by Dianne Felder on December 2, 2009 at 11:28am

Thank you Susan for all the info. It sounds like a trip to Ken's is in order. If nothing else it would be a fun outing, could be educational and I could shop the open air market. Never even knew there was one in that area. It also sounds like his compost is cleaner than the stuff from the landfill. I know that they break up wood furniture, old lumber, etc. and those chunks take forever to break down plus the weird stuff I find that doesn't break down at all that uncaring folks put in their green cans for recycling. Thank you for the good wishes for my garden. This year I did manage to get an awesome crop of bell peppers but the horrible soil I started with when we bought this house still needs a lot of work for my tomatoes to perform. My poor husband has toted more bags of compost than I care to count between putting in a new front lawn, flower beds and veggie garden and we have gone through quite a bit of gypsum and manure too. I'm going to post some before (when we bought it in 2005)and after pictures of our front yard. Actually, the front is a work in progress. At our age we have to celebrate small accomplishments so we don't "kill" ourselves so do what we can till the body gives out. Ha ha ha ha ha ha. It wouldn't be any fun at all if we hired it done. I love designing and planning and am so thankful to have a strong hubby that can help me carry it out. I just planted some Saffron Crocus bulbs in our new front planter in hopes they will grow and multiply. At least enough for me to use personally in my cooking.

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Permalink Reply by Kristin on December 3, 2009 at 11:23am

Dianne- I am in west mesa as well and could be interested in splitting a load with you if that sounds like something that would interest you...that way you wouldn't have to be as concerned with storing what you wouldn't use. Let me know!

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Permalink Reply by Dianne Felder on December 3, 2009 at 1:21pm

Thank you Kristin. I'm going to take a run out there Sat. morn. to take a look and figure the logistics of it. Like I said above, I can get 3 cubic ft of bagged compost for $4.47 (plus tx) and it seems to be pretty good except for the odd stuff I find in it occasionally and the scattered rocks in some bags. However, if the price difference isn't too much more, and the quality is better, it would save my poor husband from having to load and unload the heavy bags (expecially after a rain.....rain? hmmmmmm does it actually do that here?) I'll let you know. If you aren't in a hurry and this turns out to be something we want to do, would you be available next Sat, Dec. 12,? I'll also have to check with my husband and see what it will take to creat a leak proof situation to haul it on our 12' flat bed trailer. After all, we don't want to lose any of this precious commodity. Do you have a husband or ? that can help unload your half? I ask so much of mine that I hate committing him to unexpected heavy labor. (we are in our mid 60's with back and shoulder issues. Keep on going anyway then suffer for it. Ha ha ha ha ha ha)

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Permalink Reply by Kristin on December 3, 2009 at 3:22pm

Dianne- I am excited to hear about your findings when you head out there this saturday. I am not in a terrible hurry at all- I just saw that someone else was in the same corner of the valley as me and looking into Ken's 'infamous' material...
I do have a BF whom I could enlist to help me unload my half :) I also have a wonderful roommate who has been known to wield a sledgehammer and shovel alongside me- so I see no reason in overextending both you and your husband (especially since you are being so kind as to allow me to buy some of your compost load off of your fancy trailer!) and time permitting, I could make myself available to help you unload your half if you'd like, as I'm in my late 20s and although sometimes I think I have back issues...it's really just because I put myself through a lot and mostly I am just sore! :)
Dec 12 is going to be a busy day for me-my BF is a groomsman in a wedding that day, and that morning I had planned on an 8 mile run as I'm training for a half marathon...BUT if this opportunity presents itself, I may postpone the run to help you with the compost! I am up for anything :) just let me know! Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Chris Byers on December 3, 2009 at 3:32pm

Kristin, One thing I can tell you is shoveling compost may not train you the same as a practice run for the legs but it will work out the lungs just as well if not more so! :) So you will not be missing out by skipping training that day!!

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Permalink Reply by Kristin on December 3, 2009 at 4:59pm

good point Chris! I'm sure both activities will leave me equally sore!

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Permalink Reply by Dianne Felder on December 3, 2009 at 3:34pm

We are really not in a hurry either I was just thinking it would be better to get a load moved just in case it ever does "rain" here again. Fluffy is easier to move than wet. And my "fancy trailer" is anything but. It has been put to good use for a lot of years and at this point is just handy to have around, it even has a "dump" feature. If we ever get our storage/garden shed built out back, we will probably sell it, locking us into using our Ford Ranger to tote what we must. No bulk loads then. Ha ha ha ha ha. Aaaawwwwwww, to be 20 again. Respect your back. I worked like a man for many years when we had acreage, egg ranch and livestock and it really took it's toll. Women just aren't built to do the same work as men, believe me. I'll keep you posted and you stay in touch. Have fun running 8 miles, ugh!!!!

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Permalink Reply by Kristin on December 3, 2009 at 5:09pm

Dianne-

If you're not in a huge hurry then would it be at all possible to try for Dec 19th as opposed to the 12th? I've discovered that my roommate is unavailable to help, and I'm not sure my boyfriend is available either so if it's not a huge inconvenience it would be much appreciated to do things on the 19th. But I don't want to be a pain...
Or if you'd like to still pick it up on the 12th but would be available to unload it another day I'm open to that as well. I agree fluffy is best! The whole working as if we're men thing runs in my family- all of the women in my family work hard and try to keep up with the boys!(that and we're stubborn!) :)
leaving work now but I'll jump back online tomorrow to check in! good evening y'all!

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Permalink Reply by Dianne Felder on December 3, 2009 at 11:56pm

It looks like we may be getting rain anyway next week so there really isn't any hurry if that's the case. We have a couple more raised beds to build before we need most of it anyway so we can plan it around schedules and weather later. With Christmas so close it may have to wait until Jan. Ha ha ha ha. We're pretty flexable.

Permalink Reply by Kristin on December 4, 2009 at 1:48pm

Wow look at that...it is supposed to rain! (I hope it actually does!) I am more than comfortable with waiting...Lord knows I have a ton of prep work I should be doing in the yard to get ready for it anyways! My yard is literally under construction- I'm ripping out all of the stuff that I don't want to stay so that I can have a somewhat clean slate to begin to get things how I see them in my head (a huge task trying to measure up to what is in my head!) so just let me know whenever you're ready. I'll just be working in the meantime! Still looking forward to hearing more about the material though- and certainly excited to ready about the big bags that are available as well!I think that if you get a load of the fine I'll get a few bags of the coarse- or vice versa so that I can have some of both for my yard experiment :) happy gardening!

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