Frequently Asked Questions
Where can your products be purchased?
Retail locations are listed on the website just click on "Where to buy" listed in the menu to the left. Then select your state for an up-to-date list of all distributors in that state. Be sure to call ahead to ensure that the product is in stock.
Can I buy your products directly from the farm?
Yes and no. We are not a retail location for bagged product, we are strictly wholesale. We do our own bulk deliveries within a 15 mile radius. We can deliver anywhere from 5 to 15 yards (5 being the minimum order) Orders larger than 15 yards will be shipped through an independent carrier. 45 yards is the maximum weight limits will allow on bulk deliveries (35-40 yards where 80,00lb. limits exist). Our products cannot be picked up here at the farm by homeowners.
We have plenty of composted topsoil available @ $15/yd + delivery
How much compost do I need?
That depends on the size of your garden, how deep you intend on spreading the product, and how rich your existing soils are.
We typically recommend a 50/50 mix of compost to existing soil as a starting point. some vegetables or flowers may require less. Most of our customers will apply a few inches on the top of a garden and til the product in with their native soil. If you put down 3", make sure you incorporate into the soil 6" deep.
A great formula for determining how much compost you will need:
Square footage x inches of compost x .0031 = yards needed
This formula will also help to determine how much loam you might need to establish a new raised bed.
Yards needed x 27 will let you know how many bags to buy
Can I put plants directly into the compost?
Compost is an amendment. We've had customers tell us that they've put their plants directly into the compost and had tremendous results. But we don't recommend it. Compost never really stops working, and planting in straight compost puts the plant into a decomposition environment. The plant will fight to live while the compost trys to break it down. The high nutrient levels in the compost may cause the plant to suffer from nutrient overload. Mix the compost in with your existing depleted soils to replenish organic matter.
Our Planting Mix is recommended for new tree and shrub plantings.
It really makes a rosebush thrive!
For starting seeds we recommend:
- 2 parts Planting Mix,
- 1 part clean sand
- 1 part vermiculite
- 1 part perlite.
- Add 1 part sphagnum peat or coir if a lighter mixture is desired.
Keep in mind you won't need to fertilize your seedlings as much, if at all.
Should I use the same amount of compost every year?
That's hard to say... There is no substitute for a soil test from your local cooperative extension service. They are reasonably priced, at about $20, and will let you know what's in your soil and what you need based on what you intend to grow. Our Shellfish Compost will typically keep your soil fed for years to come. Some crops just feed more heavily than others.